Top 5 ESL Teaching Resume Tips

ESL Teaching Resume Tips

I've had a couple people emailing me in the last weeks asking for some feedback on their resumes and it was hard to help them because they didn't even really have the basic things right. Here are my top 5 tips for your ESL teaching resume.

1. 1 page! Nobody wants to read more than this.

2. Relevant things only. Nobody cares what your BA was in it's not something directly related to English, TESOL or education.

3. Don't list references. This is a big waste of space and it's assumed that you'll have these.

4. Don't mention the obvious. For example, you know how to use a computer or the Internet. Doesn't everybody these days?

5. The picture. Get one professionally done! This is the most important thing.

For even more tips about your ESL teaching resume and a sample tip, be sure to check out my book on Amazon:How to Get a University Job in South Korea.

Resume to Apply for Korean University Jobs

A short video about a mistake that people often make when applying for university jobs in South Korea: a too complicated resume.

For all the details about getting a university job in Korea, including a resume template check out this book on Amazon:

How to Get a University Job in South Korea: The English Teaching Job of Your Dreams

Resume to Apply for Korean University Jobs

Resumes for University Jobs in South Korea

 A reader question about resumes for applying for university jobs in South Korea:

"Regarding a resume - In your book's sample resume you didn't include an 'Objective' section.  Should I omit this?  Or personalize it for each uni I'm applying to?"

Readers: I have indeed included a sample resume template in my book,  How to Get a University Job in South Korea: The English Teaching Job of Your Dreamsso check that out if you're looking for a uni job in South Korea. I think you'll find it helpful.

But, onwards to the question. I didn't include an "objective" section because all the most current stuff I read about resumes said not to include it and that's it's kind of old-style.

I think the whole thing is pretty ridiculous anyway, especially for an ESL teacher-like isn't your objective to get a job at a South Korean university (or company XYZ)? Anything that you put besides that would basically just be a lie. I guess you could say something like, "I want to help students learn English." But, doesn't everyone who teaches ESL?  It's just so obvious and fake and ridiculous that I refuse to put it in on my resume.