How to write a teacher resume that gets an interview

Jump to section

Australian principals shortlist in under two minutes. In that window, they are looking for four things: your subject area, your year level, your sector fit, and evidence that you understand professional teaching standards. Generic resume advice misses all of this. This guide covers what actually works — including the format differences between government, Catholic, and independent school applications that most advice ignores entirely.

1. The most important thing most applicants get wrong

Before you open a resume template, you need to know whether the school you are applying to actually wants a resume.

In NSW government schools, classroom teacher applicants do not submit a traditional resume and cover letter. You submit a PDF document addressing the specific selection criteria for the position — typically 2–3 criteria, each response limited to half an A4 page. That is 1–1.5 pages total. A polished two-page resume attached to this application will not be read. [Source: NSW Department of Education, 2026]

In Victoria, the Department of Education uses an Applicant Pool system. You register once, upload a CV and cover letter, and are automatically matched to classroom teacher and graduate teacher vacancies based on your preferences. Written selection criteria are not required at application stage — they are addressed at interview. [Source: Victorian Department of Education, Schools Vic, 2026]

In Queensland, classroom teacher applications are submitted through the Teach Queensland portal and require a resume (2–3 pages), a one-page cover letter, and supporting documents. No standalone selection criteria document is required for classroom positions. [Source: Teach Queensland, 2026]

In Catholic and independent schools, the format is what most people picture: a traditional 2–3 page resume plus a one-page cover letter. Some Catholic dioceses also require written selection criteria responses — check the job advertisement for specifics.

2. The NSW government application: selection criteria done right

If you are applying to NSW DoE, your application is the selection criteria response document. Here is how to write one.

Structure and page limits

Each criterion gets a maximum of half an A4 page. Three criteria means a 1.5-page document maximum. Applications that significantly exceed this may be excluded before panel review. [Source: NSW DoE, 2026] Use a minimum of 10pt font and standard margins (approximately 2.5cm on each side). Submit as a PDF via IworkforNSW (Taleo).

How to answer each criterion

Use between two and three concrete examples per criterion. Each example needs a clear outcome — not just what you did, but what happened as a result.

Where the role description references the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (APST), frame your examples explicitly around the relevant standard. Do not merely list standard numbers — demonstrate the standard in action.

Referees for NSW applications

For classroom teacher positions, at least one referee should be a principal or head teacher who has observed your teaching directly. If you are a graduate, this means your final practicum supervisor. [Source: NSW DoE, Merit Selection Procedure, 2026]

3. The traditional resume: contact, summary, and experience

For Catholic schools, independent schools, Queensland government schools, and other states that expect a full resume, here is the section-by-section breakdown.

Contact details

Name, phone number, professional email address, and city/state. LinkedIn is optional. Do not include a photo — it is not standard practice in Australian professional applications, and many ATS systems will not display it correctly anyway.

Professional summary

This section decides whether a principal reads the rest of your resume. Keep it to 3–5 sentences and lead immediately with your teaching area and level. The summary should answer the four questions a principal is already asking:

What not to write: "I am a passionate educator dedicated to making a difference in the lives of young people." Every applicant writes some version of this. It contains no useful information.

Teaching experience

List roles in reverse chronological order — most recent first. For each role, include: job title, school name and suburb, date range, and 3–5 bullet points describing your teaching work and outcomes.

4. Presenting prac, CRT, and casual experience

Listing prac/professional experience placements (graduates)

Do not create a separate "Practicum" section. Prac placements belong under Teaching Experience — they are teaching experience. Format each placement as:

Write 3–4 bullet points per placement covering: what you taught, the approach you used, and either an outcome or supervising teacher feedback. Include any extra contributions such as attending staff meetings, communicating with parents, or co-curricular involvement if applicable.

If you completed multiple short prac blocks, list the two or three most substantial placements in full, then add a single line noting additional placements and their date ranges.

Listing casual relief teaching (CRT) experience

If you have worked as a CRT across many schools, do not list every school individually. List your primary agency or the two or three schools where you worked most regularly, then add a note covering additional schools and the date range.

Bullet points for CRT roles should emphasise adaptability, the year levels and subject areas you covered, and your approach to behaviour management in unfamiliar classrooms.

5. Demonstrating APST alignment without padding your resume

The worst thing you can do with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers is list them. "Proficient knowledge of all seven Australian Professional Standards for Teachers" tells a principal nothing. What works is demonstrating a standard through a specific, outcome-linked example in your role descriptions. You do not need to name the standard — a reader who knows the APST will recognise the alignment immediately.

In selection criteria responses (NSW government applications), you may be explicitly asked to demonstrate a standard — in which case name it, then give the concrete example.

6. Sector-specific considerations

Catholic schools

Most Catholic school applications expect some evidence of how you relate to or align with the school's Catholic ethos and mission. Read the job advertisement carefully — if it mentions "Catholic identity," "faith community," or "mission," address this directly in your professional summary and cover letter. This does not require you to be Catholic. It does require you to demonstrate an understanding of and respect for the school's values.

Keywords that appear in Catholic school job ads and should appear in your application where relevant: pastoral care, student wellbeing, inclusive practices, collaborative planning, faith community. [Source: edutalent.com.au, 2026]

Independent schools

Independent schools vary enormously. A small non-systemic school might take an informal approach (a resume and a phone call). A large GPS or elite independent school may run a highly structured panel process with a written task component.

For any independent school application, research the school's curriculum offerings, co-curricular programme, and stated values before you write anything. If you have co-curricular skills — coaching a sport, leading an ensemble, drama production — list them clearly. These carry real weight in the independent sector.

Queensland government schools

Include your Queensland College of Teachers (QCT) registration number on your resume — or, if you are a pre-service teacher, your QCT applicant number. Missing this is a common reason for applications being delayed. [Source: Teach Queensland, 2026]

If you are interested in rural or remote placements, an interests section on your resume is worth including. Teach Queensland explicitly notes that skills like coaching, music, and community volunteering are valued for rural postings. [Source: Teach Queensland, 2026]

7. Skills, education, professional learning, and referees

Skills section

List skills that are specific and relevant. Good hard skills: explicit instruction methods, NAPLAN data analysis, differentiation for learning support students, Google Classroom, OneSchool (QLD), the Australian Curriculum v9.0. Good soft skills: collaborative planning within PLCs, parent communication, classroom management, restorative practices, evidence-based assessment. Skip: "Microsoft Word," "time management," "attention to detail" — every applicant lists these.

Education and registration

List qualifications in reverse chronological order: degree title, institution, year of completion. Include your current teaching registration with the relevant state authority and your registration number (or NESA accreditation level for NSW).

Professional learning

List recent, relevant professional development — prioritise anything within the last 2–3 years. Include: course or workshop title, provider, year. Older PD is generally not worth listing unless directly relevant to the role. Formats that count: AITSL-registered courses, university short courses, accredited workshops, mandatory training (child protection, first aid).

Referees

Include three contactable referees. At least one should be a principal, deputy principal, or head teacher who has observed your teaching. For graduates, this means a supervising teacher from a practicum placement.

Before submitting any application, contact each referee and send them a brief one-page summary covering the school's context, the key points you want them to reinforce, and two or three examples you referenced in your application. A referee caught off guard by an unexpected call cannot give a well-prepared reference.

8. The most common mistakes

These are the patterns that experienced hiring panels notice immediately:

? Frequently asked questions