When you apply for a teaching position, the technical and soft skills you offer are high on the list of prerequisites. We'll cover technical skills in another article. But first, look at soft skills and learn why they are the backdrop against which you will be assessed both as a teacher and an individual. Listing your soft skills on your resume identifies you as a candidate who will be a good fit in the classroom and the larger school community.
The importance of soft skills
Soft skills are crucial in an interview because they are the traits that can set you apart from others with similar technical abilities. After all, you will not be the only applicant for the position you have applied for. Your soft skills can and should drive you to the top of the list. Why? Because schools want to know that a potential teacher has the following soft skills:
- work well with others
- communicate effectively
- adapt to new situations
Soft skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership can make you stand out in an interview. These skills can also demonstrate your ability to handle stress, work under pressure, and think critically. In many cases, your soft skills can be just as essential as your technical skills regarding hiring decisions. That's why it's always a good idea to focus on developing your soft skills alongside your technical abilities.
What are soft skills?
Soft skills are those personal attributes, habits, and social behaviors that enable you to interact with others effectively. These skills are often intangible and difficult to measure; however, they are highly valued by private schools because they facilitate positive relationships, collaboration, and communication.
Examples of soft skills include:
- communication
- problem-solving
- teamwork
- adaptability
- creativity
- leadership
- time management
- emotional intelligence
Unlike technical skills specific to teaching, soft skills are transferable and can be applied in many contexts. Developing and demonstrating solid and soft skills can help you succeed in your teaching career and personal life.
This video by executive and leadership coach John Whitehead explains soft skills.
How do your soft skills fit into your resume?
When applying for a high school teaching position, highlight your educational qualifications, subject matter expertise, and soft skills on your resume. These skills enable you to work effectively with students, colleagues, and parents, and they are often just as important as technical skills in determining your success as a teacher.
Below are the top soft skills you should include on your resume when applying for a private high school teaching position:
- Communication As a high school teacher, you'll communicate daily with students, colleagues, parents, and administrators. Strong communication skills are essential for conveying ideas, listening actively, and building positive stakeholder relationships. Highlight your experience with public speaking, writing, or leading group discussions.
- Creativity High school students can be a demanding audience. Keeping them engaged and interested in the material can be a challenge. The ability to bring creativity and innovation to lesson plans can make all the difference in capturing their attention and helping them retain information. Be sure to highlight any experience you have with developing creative lesson plans, using technology in the classroom, or adapting to different learning styles.
- Leadership As a high school teacher, you'll lead a classroom of students and work with colleagues to achieve common goals. Strong leadership skills are essential for setting expectations, motivating students, and collaborating with colleagues. Highlight your experience leading teams, managing projects, or mentoring other educators.
- Teamwork Collaboration is critical in education, and high school teachers must work closely with other teachers, administrators, and support staff to ensure that students receive a well-rounded education. Highlight your experience working on teams, contributing to group projects, or facilitating group discussions.
- Adaptability High school teaching can be unpredictable, and teachers must be able to adapt to changing circumstances and handle unexpected challenges. The ability to stay calm under pressure, think on your feet, and adjust your teaching style to meet the needs of different students is essential. Remember to highlight your experience adapting to new situations, handling unexpected changes, or taking on new responsibilities.
In summary, when applying for a private school high school teaching position, be sure to highlight your soft skills in addition to your technical qualifications. Communication, creativity, leadership, teamwork, and adaptability are essential for success in this field. By emphasizing these skills on your resume, you can increase your chances of landing the job and positively impacting your students' lives.
This video from communications coach Alexander Lyon explains some common soft skills.
Where should your soft skills be listed?
List your soft skills and technical abilities in your resume's skills section. It's essential to provide specific examples of how you have demonstrated these skills in the workplace. By highlighting your soft skills, you can show potential employers that you are qualified for the job and possess the interpersonal qualities that make you a valuable asset to any team.
When should you talk about your soft skills in the interview?
Discuss your soft skills during the interview process. These are the personal attributes and qualities that make you a well-rounded teacher, and showcasing them alongside your technical abilities is essential. Be prepared to provide specific examples of how you have demonstrated these skills in the workplace. In addition, by highlighting your soft skills during the interview, you can show potential employers that you possess the interpersonal qualities that make you a valuable asset to any team.
This video from career strategist Linda Raynier discusses preparing for an interview.
Have a trusted mentor review your resume.
After updating your resume, email it to a trusted mentor or friend for review. Take advantage of this step. Your mentor will read your resume like the person at the school who decides which applicants get interviewed will read it.
Practice interviewing.
Because your soft and technical skills piqued the school's interest, the school now wants to interview you. It doesn't matter whether the interview is in person or on Zoom; practice interviewing. Practicing interviewing is essential for increasing your chances of being one of the finalists and, hopefully, landing the job. It allows you to hone your communication skills, build confidence, and better understand what employers seek in a candidate. By practicing interviewing, you can also become more comfortable answering common questions and developing strategies for handling complex or unexpected questions. Ultimately, practicing interviewing can make the difference between getting your desired job and missing out on an opportunity.
Now, how about taking this self-assessment of your soft skills. We're not going to send the results to anybody. It's your chance to see which soft skills you posses, which ones you're comfotable with, and which need some improvement.
Soft Skills Self-Assessment Quiz
Rate yourself on a scale of 1-5 for each question, where:
1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Neutral
4 = Agree
5 = Strongly Agree
- I can effectively communicate complex ideas in simple, understandable terms.
- I adapt my teaching methods easily to accommodate different learning styles.
- I maintain a positive learning environment, even when faced with challenging behavior.
- I collaborate well with colleagues on developing and sharing teaching resources.
- I manage stress effectively and remain calm under pressure.
- I regularly seek feedback from students and parents to improve my teaching methods.
- I'm confident in my ability to solve unexpected problems that arise in the classroom.
- I can build rapport and communicate effectively with students from diverse backgrounds.
- I'm skilled at mediating conflicts between students.
- I effectively manage my time and prioritize tasks to meet deadlines.
Scoring:
40-50: Excellent soft skills
30-39: Good soft skills, with some areas for improvement
20-29: Average soft skills, consider focusing on development
10-19: Soft skills need significant improvement
After completing the quiz, reflect on your lowest-scoring areas. These represent opportunities for growth in your soft skills as an educator.
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