Before applying for a new teaching position, it is essential to create a cover letter to submit with your resume. This is especially important for teachers looking for their first teaching jobs, since they need to set themselves apart from the competition. A professional, informative new teacher cover letter, positions you as a strong candidate for the job.
Your cover letter for the teaching position, along with the resume,
reiterates your academic and professional qualifications. They also showcase
your personal goals and interests. Moreover, they highlight your teaching
philosophy and explain what draws you towards this profession.
Teacher Cover Letter Essentials
Make it personal to you
When you start writing your cover letter, it’s a good idea to assume that
every other applicant has the same qualifications, experience and goals as you
do. When you take all of that away, what’s left? The answer to that is what
sets you apart from all the other applicants.
This letter is your chance to sell yourself as a teacher, so focus on
showing your personality and highlight your specific strengths in relation to
the needs of school you’re applying to. Engaging the reader and showing them
you have made a real effort will make them want to invest the time in meeting
you in person.
Be careful: ‘Personal’ does not mean ‘casual’. When expressing what makes you uniquely perfect for the job, it can be easy to come across with too much familiarity. Don’t forget the purpose of your letter and keep your professionalism at the forefront. Similarly, don’t go over the top: ‘passionate and committed’ does not mean ‘intense and obsessive’!
Make it personal to them
If at all possible, address your correspondence to someone specific. If
the job advert includes a name, use it! If not, do a little digging online or
within your network to see who will likely be on the receiving end and try your
best to appeal to that person. Knowing your reader will help you strike the
right balance between professionalism and approachability.
Similarly, scour the job listing for any pain points the school are
hoping the appointee will address. Make sure you hit all of them with specific
examples to say how you can be an asset to their team. If there isn’t anything
specific like this to go for, do your homework and add a line or two to show
them that you know the school and have thought about why you’re a good fit.
Be careful: If you are not sure who is going to read your application, err on the side of caution and don’t make any assumptions. Your goal here is to engage your reader, so it would be better to use a generic salutation than a specific one if you aren’t absolutely sure who will receive it.
Close the deal
By the time the reader reaches the closing paragraph of your cover
letter, they should already have all the information they need to add your name
to their shortlist. Your final round-off is a great opportunity for you to show
that you have put thought and consideration into your application and signpost
the reader towards your CV or encourage them to contact you directly.
This is the final impression you will leave your reader with. Hopefully,
they’re already sold on your fantastic cover letter but get the tone right to
keep any doubts out of their mind.
Be careful: Make sure your closing statement is aligned with the level of formality and professionalism in the rest of your letter. If you used the reader’s name ‘yours sincerely’ is appropriate, or ‘yours faithfully’ if you don’t know their name. Just writing ‘thanks’ or ‘let me know’ with your name could sound abrupt or over-familiar so it’s better to use a formality.
Edit, re-edit, and then edit again!
Try to put yourself in the position of your reader. Their goal is to find
great candidates for their shortlist and you have the opportunity to make that
job easy for them. Have you answered all their questions? Are they excited to
meet the amazing teacher behind this cover letter or are they thinking about
their next coffee break? Give them a positive experience and they will be much
more likely to reward you with a spot on their shortlist.
Be careful: Teachers are held to the highest standards when it comes to spelling and grammar: don’t let a typo risk your credibility as a brilliant teacher. Proof-read your letter several times and then send it to a trusted friend to proof-read it for you.
Quality over quantity
What you leave out of the letter can sometimes be as important as what you include, so think about ways you can keep your letter succinct but impactful. Your letter should be one side of A4 at an absolute maximum and be sure to break it down into chunks to improve readability.
Here is a sample cover letter for a teaching job vacancy.
P.O Box 34000 – 00100,
Nairobi.
The Principal,
XYZ,
P.O Box 000 – 00000,
Nairobi.
Dear Sir/Madam,
RE: APPLICATION FOR A TEACHING POSITION
It is with great excitement that I submit this letter and resume as my
application for the position of High School Teacher. I believe that my skills
and passion for teaching would make a positive contribution to your school.
I completed my undergraduate from
Kenyatta University. And, as an undergraduate, I minored in child psychology.
While completing my degree, I had the opportunity to do my training as a
student teacher, which has given me hands-on experience in dealing with young
children. During my training, I have fulfilled responsibilities that have
prepared me for the role of a full-time teacher.
My aim is to help students achieve
their goals by creating an inclusive and encouraging learning environment that
is full of interaction and positive energy. With strong interpersonal skills, I
have the ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, and fellow
colleagues.
I am capable of adapting my
teaching style according to the specific needs of my students. Also, I make it
a point to keep myself updated with the current technologies and latest
teaching methods.
I love working with students and
creating activities and lesson plans that can engage them. Furthermore, I am
passionate about teaching, and understand the importance of shaping young minds
and leading them in the right direction.
Please do not hesitate to contact
me for more information. Thank you for your consideration, I will eagerly await
an opportunity to discuss this role in greater detail.
Yours Faithfully,
Signed,
Job Seeker.
Good Luck!
Writing a teacher cover letter shouldn’t be a
daunting task. Remember that your reader is looking for a great teacher (you!),
and all you need to do is make their job easier by writing a stand-out cover
letter.
Use these tips and examples to help you get
started on writing your own cover letter. Your experience and expertise will
speak for itself if you give it a voice! Good luck!