Preschool Teacher Resume Example [+Pre K Job Skills]

You’re baby steps from the best preschool teacher resume on Earth.

You could make more money doing something else. But then you’d miss all that laughter, play, and love.

You’d miss hearing, “Why does ice melt? Why is this crayon orange? Where do monkeys sleep?”

You wouldn’t mean something to those blooming lives.

But they don’t pass out preschool teacher jobs like crackers and apple slices.

Your preschool resume needs to stand out like Maria Montessori at a tiny table.

This guide will show you:

• Preschool teacher resume examples better than 9 out of 10 others.
• How to write a preschool resume that gets more interviews.
• Tips and examples of how to put skills and achievements on an early childhood education resume.
• How to describe your experience on a resume for a preschool teacher to get any job you want.

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Not writing a resume for preschool jobs? Writing a kindergarten teacher resume, a resume for high school teachers, or a resume for other jobs in education and learning? Switch to one of our other guides:

• Teacher Resume
• Student Teacher Resume
• Education Resume
• Elementary/Primary Teacher Resume
• Substitute Teacher Resume
• RBT Resume
• First Year Teacher Resume
• Camp Counselor Resume
• Librarian Resume
• New Teacher Resume
• Teaching Assistant Resume
• Teacher’s Aide Resume
• Paraprofessional Resume
• Tutor Resume
• Child Care Resume
• Babysitter Resume
• Special Education Teacher Resume
• High School Teacher Resume
• Coaching Resume
• Kindergarten Teacher Resume
• Resume Samples for All Jobs

1

What's the Best Format for a Preschool Teacher Resume?

Does preschool teacher resume format matter?

Absolutely.

Imagine a center director. Her name’s Sharon. (Nice “I teach mini-humans” t-shirt.)

She’s got 75 preschool resumes to read.

You’ve got to show your talents fast.

The reverse-chronological resume format does that. It puts your most recent accomplishments at the front of the line.

Keep it eye-friendly with strategic white space and big headings. Use the best resume fonts so Sharon doesn’t have to squint.

Finally, save your preschool teacher resume as a PDF. Today’s PDFs are machine-readable so they play well with hiring software. Plus they won’t throw a tantrum in transit.

But make sure the job offer doesn’t rule them out.

Pro Tip: Switching into preschool teaching from some other job? Consider the combination resume format. It pulls in relevant highlights from your work experience.

Want to check the ABCs of preschool teacher resume format? See our guide: 3 Resume Formats: How to Choose the Best One [Examples]

“This candidate looks great!”

Your preschool resume must make the director say that in the first seven seconds. It's how long recruiters take to scan your resume, according to our HR statistics report. If not, she’ll skim your early childhood education resume.

So, make her pay attention like a great student during circle time.

Do it with a preschool teacher resume objective or resume summary.

Got enough experience to finish Anna and Elsa’s sandwiches? Use a resume summary. It wows the director with your experience.

Haven’t said “gentle hands” more than 20 or so times yet? Use a resume objective. It can sell your passion.

The real trick? Stuff both with measurable achievements.

These two preschool teacher resume examples paint the picture.

Preschool Teacher Resume Examples [Resume Summaries]

There’s a big boo-boo in the first of our lead preschool teacher resume samples:

That’s not exactly running with scissors, but it won’t start a stampede of interviews. Why? It says you did things, but not how well.

To get the job, you’ll need to follow the next of our preschool resume examples:

Wow. This is obviously not your first time growing sunflowers. Those measurable achievements make it work.

Can’t point to accomplishments like that? See our next two preschool teacher assistant resume examples.

Two Entry-Level Preschool Teacher Resume Objectives

Is your preschool teacher experience is more like a blank lesson plan? Use a teacher resume objective.

That used to mean showing your burning passion for the job. That’s what this sample preschool resume objective does:

Wow, he really cares. Unfortunately, so do lots of people with more experience.

So, add achievements. The next of our preschool teacher assistant resume examples gives a demonstration:

That’ll make the director drop her copy of Powerful Interactions.

Don’t have accomplishments?

Use transferable achievements.

I’ll show how next.

Pro Tip: Don’t write your preschool teaching resume objective or summary first. Create it from the highlights of your finished resume. It’s easier that way.

When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.

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When you’re done, Zety’s resume builder will score your resume and tell you exactly how to make it better.

Want to start working with your little tadpoles a lot quicker? Imitate the sample preschool teacher resume up top. Also, see our guides:

How To Write A Resume Summary: 21 Best Examples You Will See

+20 Resume Objective Examples - Use Them on Your Resume (Tips)

3

How to Describe Your Preschool Teacher Experience

Let's get back to our center director, Sharon.

Two big blunders in preschool resumes will make her need the peace and quiet corner.

The first is more clutter than a 10-foot toy box.

The second? Not enough experience to fill a tiny teacup.

Solve both problems by focusing on her needs.

If you’ve got so much experience your blood tests positive for fingerpaint, list your last job first.

Put your best achievements in 3-5 resume bullet points. Make sure they match the job offer. See the lead preschool teacher resume examples below.

Preschool Resume Examples [Experience]

One of these sample preschool teaching resume sections is not like the other:

The hiring manager would have to be eating paste to skip that. Your resume for preschool jobs just sold her.

But dry-erase those achievements, and:

That’s the bowl haircut of the preschool teacher resume world.

But what if you’re writing a new teacher resume with no experience?

See these next two entry-level preschool teacher resume examples for a lesson.

How to Write a Preschool Teacher Resume With no Experience

Why would a director hire you with no experience?

Because you’ve got experience.

Maybe it’s not in teaching preschool. But it can still be relevant.

It’s like The Very Hungry Caterpillar applying for a job as a food taster. He could say, “I’ve never been a food taster before.”

Or—

He could do it like the best of these entry-level preschool teacher resume samples:

Two Entry-Level Preschool Resume Examples [No Experience]

What stands out in these two preschool teacher assistant resume examples?

Goodnight, moon. That candidate might get hired to clean the whiteboards.

So add transferable achievements. See the next of our preschool teacher assistant resume examples:

Thinking cap—activated.

Pro Tip: Coming up blank for teaching experience for a preschool resume or daycare teacher resume? Even working with pre-K kids as a ski instructor or leading trainings in a retail job can transfer. Babysitting on a resume also counts as experience.

Don’t turn your early childhood resume into naptime. Wake up the director with action words. See our guide: 240 Resume Action Words & Power Words to Make Your Resume Shine

Your education matters to the center director.

But just listing it is lazy.

To connect with the director, add bullet points that matter to her.

Start with:

• School Name and Location.
• Years in School.
• Degree.

Then add achievements that match the job description.

Our next preschool resume examples lead the way:

Preschool Teacher Resume Examples [Education]

Both these preschool teacher resume samples are for a job that values classroom management and lesson plan creation.

That’s The Intentional Teacher.

Our next preschool resume example is practically absent:

Pro Tip: Should you list GPA on a resume for preschool teachers? Only if it’s impressive or recent. If not, use the space for something that will wow the director.

Want to make your preschool resume education section pop like Pippi Longstocking? See our guide: How to Put Your Education on a Resume [Tips & Examples]

If you’ve got the right skills, what else matters?

But—

Saying you’ve got skills and proving it are as different as cupcakes and brussels sprouts.

To convince the director, pay close attention to the job description.

Highlight the responsibilities and skills it lists.

Then, fit your preschool resume bullet points to it like an Astronaut in Training romper.

The next two preschool teacher resume examples show how.

Preschool Teacher Resume Examples [Skills]

Pretend Sharon put these skills in the job description:

Don't just say you've got those skills.

Work them into your bullet points like this:

Wow. That candidate used listening ears! Do that, and preschool hiring managers will raise their hands to get your attention.

List of Skills to Put on a Preschool Teacher Resume

Need some preschool teacher resume skills to start?

Use the ones below. Add to them from preschool teaching offers in job websites.

The list makes great resume keywords too.

Take the steps above, and your resume for preschool jobs will make you stand out like the Paw Patrol.

Pro Tip: The skills above are just a short list. Maybe you’re skilled in reflective practice, Teaching Strategies Gold, or newsletter writing? If the job description lists it and you’ve got it, put it in your preschool resume.

Make sure your preschool resume skill section is developmentally appropriate. See our guide: +30 Best Examples of What Skills to Put on a Resume (Proven Tips)

Where should you show preschool teacher licenses and certifications?

Near your name? In your resume objective? In a special certifications section? In your job descriptions?

How about all four?

Showing you’re certified in many places isn’t overkill. It helps the director see you’re qualified, no matter where she glances first.

Put your main certification everywhere it fits. Add others to a special certifications section.

See this preschool teacher resume example:

Don’t show every certification on a resume for teacher jobs. Only show the ones that fit the job description.

Pro Tip: Do you know your state’s licensing requirements for preschool teachers? PreschoolTeacher.org maintains a great list of state and setting requirements.

What else should you add to a preschool teaching resume? See our guide: What To Put On A Resume To Make It Perfect [Tips & Examples]

Imagine that you have a superpower.

You can bring the center director six months into the future. You can show her what a great employee you’ve become.

You can’t.

But you can do the next best thing—by showing her you’re great to work with.

Do that with special resume sections in a resume for preschool teacher jobs.

See that work in two sample preschool teacher resume clips.

Preschool Teacher Examples [Other Sections]

Don’t do this in your preschool resume:

On a resume for a preschool teacher, everything should speak to your teaching chops.

Now look at this more hirable preschool resume example:

Wow. It’s moving-up-day for that applicant. That preschool teacher resume makes the others look like dirty diapers.

Even the CrossFit helps, since preschool teachers need to stay in shape.

Pro Tip: Did you get high Praxis test scores? Those look great on a resume for preschool teacher jobs. Don’t say, “references available on request” since that’s understood.

Scratching your head over what extras to add to your resume for preschool teachers? See our guide: +20 Best Examples of Hobbies & Interests To Put on a Resume (5 Tips)

Who needs to send a cover letter with a preschool teacher resume?

You, if you want the job.

But don’t send a plain vanilla preschool teacher cover letter.

You know, the one that says, “Here is my resume,” in your best robot voice.

Stand out like a PJ Masks onesie instead, with a customized cover letter.

Start with the hiring manager’s name. Then show you know her needs. Next, prove you can meet them.

This short preschool teacher cover letter makes the point:

Always end a cover letter with a call to action. Try:

Pro Tip: Follow up on your assistant preschool teacher resume cover letter. If you don’t, you may fall through the cracks even if the director likes you.

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:

Create my cover letter now

See more cover letter templates and start writing.

Want to make your preschool teacher cover letter sparkle like you glittered it? See our guide: How To Write A Cover Letter in 8 Simple Steps

9

Don't Add Contact Info to Your Resume Without This

Don’t make this entry-level blunder on your preschool teacher resume.

Of course your contact info should include:

• Full Name
• Updated Phone Number
• Professional Email Address

Like so:

But also, add a LinkedIn address to a resume for preschool teacher jobs.

These days, 87% of employers use LinkedIn when hiring.

Not sure how to do it right? Use our LinkedIn profile guide.

Pro Tip: Should you put your mailing address on a preschool resume? It’s not required, but if you live close by, your address can show you’ll have a short commute.

Need more step-by-step instruction to make a preschool teacher resume that isn’t out at recess? Want a lot more interviews? See our guide: How to Make a Resume: A Step-by-Step Guide (+30 Examples)

Here’s a quick recap of how to write a preschool teacher resume that shows your mini-human superpowers.

• Write a preschool resume objective. In it, put your best 2–3 accomplishments that fit the job.
• Read the job description carefully. Match it to your bullet points like memory-game cards.
• Add other sections that show you’re great to work with. Include volunteer work, publications, interests, and conventions.
• Write a preschool teacher resume cover letter. In it, tell the director why you want the job, and why you’re a perfect fit.

Do you have questions on how to write a resume for a preschool teacher? Not sure how to describe your pre-K skills or achievements? Give us a shout in the comments! Let's get you hired fast!