How do you approach writing a cover letter for a teaching job?
If you’ve finished writing your resume and are happy with the end product, it’s time to tackle that all-important teaching cover letter. Make sure it shows your personality and passion for education.
I know it is not easy to fit all you want to say into one short teaching application letter. As your cover letter serves as a school district’s first impression of you, you want to make it great. Writing a cover letter for a teaching job to show passion will pay huge dividends.
Often, to impress, teachers tend to get long-winded when writing their cover letter. But longer doesn’t equal better. Remember, you have room on your teacher’s resume to include additional skills, keywords, and accomplishments.
If you are guilty of writing a cover letter for a teaching job that is too long, you must change your method now.
Don’t worry! Lots of teachers make this same mistake, and it’s nothing that can’t be fixed.
When Writing a Cover Letter for a Teaching Job, You Need to be Concise
Your cover letter is a school principal’s first impression of you as a candidate for the available teaching position. Therefore, your cover letter’s style and message are essential in determining whether or not an employer will read your resume and call you in for a job interview. So the writing of your cover letter is critical.
Hiring managers tend only to glance at cover letters and resumes to decide whether or not the applicant should be brought in for an interview. You have 15 to 25 seconds to grab their attention. Since they see 100+ applications for each open position, they only scan to select the few lucky candidates. This is why it is critical your application letter for teaching is written in an easy-to-read format and that it is also brief in length.
Create a Cover Letter Template
Tailor your first cover letter to apply to other school districts. Call it your teaching cover letter format or template if you like. Ensure this template cover letter is powerful and an excellent starting point so you can easily tailor it to meet the needs of each submission.
Take the time to review many of our sample cover letter templates or examples.
When writing a cover letter for a teaching job, please don’t make it longer than one page and contain 4 or 5 short paragraphs. Many people make the mistake of providing lengthy autobiographies within their cover letter, regurgitating much of the resume’s information. This is a waste of the reader’s time. You want to include unique and original information that shows your enthusiasm, passion, and personality.
To avoid creating a lengthy application cover letter, briefly address four key topics: your introduction, the position you are applying for, what makes you the perfect candidate, and a closing paragraph requesting an interview. By including no more than these four topics, you will not bore your audience with a long-winded letter.
If you’re unsure of what you should include in your teaching cover letter, here are some tips to help you:
Your Teaching Cover Letter Should Be Specific
The first paragraph of your letter should include some essential details:
- Which position do you wish to submit your application for?
- What is the job reference number? (If you have one)
- Where did you hear about the vacancy?
The second and third paragraphs should include the following:
- A summary of your skills, experience, and credentials
- Your teaching and classroom management style
- A few critical achievements in the classroom and the school community
- What you can bring to a teaching position
The concluding paragraph should include this:
- Thank the reader for the time and consideration of your application
- Reiterate your interest in the position
- Ask for an interview/meeting and follow-up.
Reviewing these excerpts from sample application letters for teacher positions would be beneficial.
What Can You Offer the School Community and Students?
Researching the school district or organization will make a difference in what you communicate in your letter. You should explain why your skills and attributes benefit the school community and what you can contribute. What you include needs to be relevant; if you discover that the school is big on music, and different languages, mentioning any experience in those areas will add value to your candidacy.
Be Genuine and Let Your Personality Shine Through
The beauty of writing a cover letter for a teaching job is that you can make it personal. It’s a chance for the selection committee to get a glimpse of your authenticity. Don’t be tempted to download a second-hand cover letter template to use. The reader will know, and you’ll come across as lazy and unimaginative.
Injecting some personality into your letter of introduction doesn’t mean filling it with irrelevant anecdotes, but putting thought and creativity into your writing is critical. Try to connect with the reader and let your passion for teaching and learning shine through.
Learn more about Candace Alstad-Davies by reviewing this about me page. While you are there, you can review testimonials and frequently asked questions.
Professional resume writing help is always available. We also write many other documents, including cover letters, teaching philosophies, LinkedIn profiles, and CV curriculum vitae.
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If you have questions, please connect by sending an email to emailing Candace or call toll-free at 1 877 738-8052.
