Substitute Teacher Resume Examples & Tips for 2025

You jump in to teach students when others can’t. Today, let’s switch the roles. I will be teaching and you will be learning. Today’s subject: how to write a substitute teacher resume. 

I will present some great substitute teacher resume examples and share some amazing tips with you. We’ll end our lesson by learning what to add to a resume to result in an interview-winning job application. Shall we?

This guide will show you:

• A substitute teacher resume sample better than 9 out of 10 other resumes.
• How to write a substitute teacher resume that will land you more interviews.
• Substitute teacher resume examples of how to present your skills and achievements.
• How to craft a substitute teacher job description for your resume to get any job you want.

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Here are some more guides you might find interesting:

• Academic Advisor Resume
• Elementary/Primary Teacher Resume
• First Year Teacher Resume
• High School Teacher Resume
• New Teacher Resume
• Preschool Teacher Resume
• School Counselor Resume
• Teacher's Aide Resume
• Tutor Resume
• Resume Examples for All Careers

Substitute Teacher Resume Example

1. Format Your Substitute Teacher Resume Correctly

A poorly formatted substitute teacher resume might land in a recruiter’s recycle bin, and there won’t be a chance for any make-up work afterward. Make sure you do it right to make a great impression from the very first glance at your document.

Here’s how I always approach resume formatting:

• Find a modern resume template. Make it stand out while keeping it professional. 
• Organize a resume with the following parts:
• Resume Header (with your contact details and, optionally, LinkedIn profile)
• Resume Profile (Summary Statement or Resume Objective)
• Work Experience
• Education
• Relevant Skills
• Additional Information
• Follow a reverse-chronological resume structure. That’s the best of 3 resume formats, expected and well-known by hiring managers.
• Use a professional resume font like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial. Set its size to 10 to 12 points.
• Set the right resume margins. That’s an inch on each side and a line spacing of 1.15.
• Name your resume file correctly. Include your name, job title, and the word “resume” so it’s 100% clear.

Pro Tip: What’s the perfect length of a resume for a substitute teacher? I usually advise aiming for a one-page resume; however, if you have many relevant and impressive achievements, you can also write a two-page resume.

2. Demonstrate Experience on a Resume for Substitute Teachers

Did you know that each year around 600 thousand substitute teachers cover over 30 million teacher absences in K–12 schools? Demand for substitute teachers has always exceeded labor supplies. That being said, you still need to create a job-winning resume if you want to land a nice, cozy teaching position at a reputable school—and listing a relevant substitute teaching experience is critical.

Here’s how to create a work experience section for a substitute teacher resume:

• Tailor your resume to the job offer to prove you’re the perfect fit for that particular job.
• Include the school name, the dates you worked there, and the facility's location at each entry.
• List your achievements using up to six bullet points. 
• Start each bullet point with the right action words. 

Let’s see some examples:

Substitute Teacher Resume Examples: Work Experience Section

Relevant achievements with quantifiable measurements vs. listing duties every substitute teacher has. See the difference?

But what can you do if you lack the relevant experience? Let’s see an example of how it’s done:

Substitute Teacher Resume With No Experience—Relevant Activities

See that? Despite writing a resume with no experience as a substitute teacher, this candidate could still present relevant activities connected to teaching. 

Pro Tip: Showing your impressive achievements and not your duties will distinguish you more from other substitute teachers interested in the job you’re after.

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3. Show Your Educational Credentials

As an educator, you must have a resume education section that shines. That’s as surprising as the test that was announced three times already. Achieving that might be even more beneficial than getting an A!

Here’s what to include in your education section on a resume for a substitute teacher:

• School Name and Location
• Years in School
• Degree
• High GPA
• Relevant Coursework
• Dean’s List
• Latin Honors
• Phi Beta Cappa

Still learning? Don’t worry! A high school diploma, an unfinished college degree, or a college diploma might work just fine—just make sure to check your local state requirements for substitute teachers.

Let’s see some examples:

Substitute Teacher Resume Examples: Education Section

The first example is great: it consists of relevant academic achievements, such as graduating with Latin Honors and receiving the Dean’s Award. The second example only states that this candidate has attended relevant courses. Which, let’s face it, is something every substitute teacher should do. That’s unimpressive.

Pro Tip: Consider joining the National Education Association. It looks great on a resume for substitute teaching because it shows you're serious. It can also pay off big in networking potential.

4. Put Relevant Skills on Your Substitute Teacher Resume

With the increasing popularity of skill-based hiring, you cannot miss the opportunity of showing your best traits on your substitute teaching resume. Use this section well, and you’ll prove you’re the most desired candidate on a pile of resumes!

Here’s how to create a skills resume section:

1. Write a master list of all your skills. 
2. See what professional skills are listed in a job offer.
3. Choose the skills that overlap. These will go on your resume.
4. Make sure to include hard and soft skills.

Here are some teacher resume skills to get inspired:

Substitute Teacher Skills: Examples

Let’s see what they can look like listed on a resume:

Substitute Teacher Skills: Resume Examples

Pro Tip: Sometimes, there isn’t a clear substitute teacher job description for the advertised role. In cases like this, it’s a good idea to build connections. Try to meet important staff members at the school where you want to apply. By talking to them, you can discover what specific skills and qualities they value in a substitute teacher. This way, you can better tailor your resume and approach to fit the school's needs.

5. Add Other Sections to Your Substitute Teacher Resume

Most hiring managers spend 7 seconds on a resume, according to our HR statistics report. You want to make sure your document catches their attention for more than that. But how can you create a resume that stands out? Add some relevant additional sections. 

Here’s what more you can include on your substitute assistant resume:

• Awards on a Resume
• Certifications on a Resume
• Conferences
• Hobbies and Interests
• Language Skills
• Memberships 
• Publications and Articles
• Volunteer Experience

Let’s see some examples:

Substitute Teacher Resume: Examples of Additional Sections

Once again, you see how precise the first example is. See the contrast between these two, as the second one states only vague things? Teacher of the WHICH Month Award? Substitute Teacher Certification given by whom? Plus, these are irrelevant interests. That’s not a good use of additional sections on your resume.

Pro Tip: The certification required on a substitute teaching resume isn't governed by the state. Contact your school district for the specific qualifications you'll need. Not every school requires certification. But when they do, you have to display it the right way on your substitute teacher's resume. If you don't, you might as well be showing up for class in nothing but your underwear. First, put your certification in your title. Then add it to your resume summary or resume objective. Last, show it in a special certifications section, below your education section.

6. Write a Substitute Teacher Resume Summary or Resume Objective

Your resume is almost ready. Time to write a quick summary that will go on the very top of your document? Why just now? Because everything you’ve written is already on the paper. Summarize it all correctly, and your future employer will surely read the entire piece.

There are two types of resume profiles you can choose from:

• Use a resume summary if you've got a lot of relevant experience.
• Use a resume objective if you don’t have that much experience or are writing an entry-level resume.

There are two simple formulas to use:

• How to write a substitute resume summary?

• How to write a substitute teacher resume objective?

Let’s see some examples:

Substitute Teacher Resume—Examples of Summaries

The first summary has it all: achievements, numbers, strong opening sentence. The second one is dull and uninspiring. I doubt any recruiter would continue reading a resume after such a poor introduction.

Substitute Teacher Resume—Examples of Objectives

The first example is specific and targeted. It presents achievements with their measurable impact. The second example is very vague and self-centered and doesn't impress the reader with any achievements. 

Pro Tip: Start your personal profile with a strong resume headline. it's a brief sentence that highlights your experience and skills. Its purpose is to make a great first impression, catch the reader's attention, and convince them to read on.

7. Attach an Impressive Cover Letter

You want your students to walk an extra mile if it will help them achieve better results. I want you to do the same before you apply for the job. Your task: add a substitute teacher cover letter to your resume. 

Here’s how to write a cover letter:

1. Begin your cover letter strongly by expressing how passionate you are about teaching. 
2. Explain further how this particular school will benefit from hiring you. Mention your most impressive achievements and most relevant skills.
3. Offer a precise date for an interview and ask whether it suits your reader. What seems like a bold move works as a great call to action.
4. Finish your cover letter with an interview offer. Seems bold, but works great!
5. Consider adding a postscript, offering to explain how you achieved something spectacular.
6. Format your cover letter to make it consistent with your resume.
7. Stick to the right length of your cover letter. Keep it under a page long.

Pro Tip: Cover letters are necessary. 83% of recruiters agree that they boost your chances of gaining their attention. Make sure not to miss that chance.

Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:

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See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Key Takeaways

Now that you know everything about writing an amazing substitute teacher resume, let’s review what we’ve learned here today:

• Format your substitute teacher's resume. Use a modern, professional resume template and organize your document into sections. Follow the reverse chronological format, as recruiters prefer it.
• Show relevant experience on your resume for a substitute teacher. Highlight your most relevant achievements, use action words, and always tailor it to the job you’re after.
• Highlight your education, mentioning your school names, their locations, relevant achievements, and degrees earned.
• Tailor your skills list to the job description by choosing relevant hard and soft skills.
• Add other sections to your substitute teacher resume, such as certifications, awards, memberships, etc.
• Write a summary or resume objective to explain why you’re the perfect candidate.
• Add a cover letter to convince your recruiters you’re the one they’re looking for.

Have you got any questions about how to make a professional resume for substitute teaching? Give me a shout in the comments section below, and I’ll surely reply!

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Sources

• John C. Roach, "Substitute teachers needed: closing the gap on supply versus demand"
• Matthew A. Kraft Megan Lane Conklin Grace T. Falken, "Preferences, inequities, and incentives in the substitute teacher labor market"
• Matt Sigelman, Joseph Fuller, Alex Martin, "Skills-Based Hiring: The Long Road from Pronouncements to Practice"
• Riia O'Donnell, "Eye tracking study shows recruiters look at resumes for 7 seconds"
• Arcadia University: "Is a Cover Letter Necessary in 2022? Do I Need a Cover Letter?"
• National Education Association, Substitute Teachers