How to Write an Application Letter for a Teaching Job in a School

Learn how to write an application letter for a teaching job in a primary and secondary school in Nigeria.

Rejection emails can be disappointing to receive, especially when the establishment in question is one you’ve always wanted to work in. For a growing economy like Nigeria where the employment sector is not quite out of its infantile stage, negative feedback to letters can be frustrating.

For applicants, this means returning to the drawing board, researching potential organizations, sending out applications, and preparing for more interviews. No one wants to be caught in that rat race for too long. But how many graduates or school leavers are equipped with the necessary knowledge to scale their careers? That’s one blog post for another day.

However, as touching the advantage of being equipped with the necessary knowledge to always guarantee a positive response, we are! That is why this is the article you should be reading.  The times are changing and every day the standard keeps going up on the quality of teachers academic institutions are looking for.

Because we our focus remains on providing you with complete value for your time, we’ll start by breaking down the basic concepts of applying for a teaching job in schools.

Application Letters: What Are They?

We hate to bore you with complex definitions so think of it this way. Application letters are the tickets that save you a spot in the institution of your choice. Like purchasing groceries at the supermarket. You need currency for that. If the supermarket is your institution, then application letters are the currency you need.

We have guided multiple graduates and school leavers on their job-seeking journey. And there’s one thing they all say in common: no one will take you seriously if you can’t prove you are the man for the job. Your application letter should showcase your relevant abilities, experience, and skills.

You just need to know how to write it.

Step by Step Guide on How to Write an Application Letter for a Teaching Job

Our recommendation is simple. And we call them the 6 golden keys to an irresistible application letter. They are:

• Address the letter to the appropriate recipient
• Always include your contact information (address, email, and so on)
• Maximize your first paragraph by introducing yourself and stating how you found the vacancy
• Explain in concise detail, the certifications and education history that qualify you for the position
• Outline your experience and if available, share past achievements in the field
• Conclude your letter on a high note

Let’s expand on these keys:

Address The Letter

One tip that always works is to research who you are required to address your letter. Is it the Principal or the Head of the Department? You need to know these specifics.

Find the institution’s website or reach out to the school to verify the personnel handling recruitment.

Include Your Contact Information Technology

Why is this essential? It helps your potential employers reach you if you do get the job. And even if you don’t, the school knows where to send feedback. Nobody likes to be kept hanging. You most definitely don’t so never leave out your current contact information.

Maximize Your First Paragraph

They say the first impression matters. This saying applies to the circumstance of writing a letter of application. Your first paragraph is an opportunity to grab the reader’s attention and keep them engaged enough to be interested in what you have to say in the other paragraphs.

After introducing yourself, go on to inform your potential employer of how you came across the vacancy. You can then state why you’re interested in the job.

Explain Why You Are Qualified

The teaching profession involves intellect and the ability to communicate before anything else. Besides soft skills which give your application a boost, your educational history, and other acquired certificates come first if your candidacy must be considered.

This provides a strong foundation for the paragraph where you explain what makes you qualified. Want to know an inside secret? It especially helps if your alma mater is one of excellent reputation.

Here, you should give your potential employer a close of who you are as an individual and as a professional. Why should you be given the position? How do your credentials make you a perfect fit? Don’t spare any useful detail.

Outline Your Experience

While some schools take on candidates with no prior experience to train them on the job, some schools are not ready to take on that chance. If you have some solid experience under your belt then rest assured that you’re on the right track.

Spare no detail in outlining your experience in the profession. This does two things for your application; first or provides your potential employer with an idea of your expertise. Secondly, it gives them insight into how much progress you’ve made in your career path.

On the flip side, if you only have a teaching-related experience without getting it from an actual academic institution, it helps to include it in your application. What is important is that you have met the proper education requirements and you have had a shot at teaching before.

Spice things up by sharing on accomplishments you are most proud of and you might end up being just a shoo-in for the position.

Conclude Positively

Your application letter should end on a note that is both polite and positive. Do this by letting your reader know you appreciate the time allotted to reading your letter and look forward to their response.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should you list your entire career history?

This depends on how much experience you’ve accumulated over the years and how relevant and recent they are. You don’t want to overwhelm them with information. The key is to keep it simple and short.

What skills should I list?

Only list the skills your potential employer is looking for. You don’t just want to show them your versatility, you want to show them how that versatility applies to the needed skillset and can be useful to the school.

What tone should my letter convey?

One thing we always tell our candidates when guiding them on their career paths is to write confidently. If you don’t believe you are qualified for the job or stand a chance of getting it, it would reflect in how you write the letter and phrase your words.

Is the position your dream job? Let the recipient of your application get that impression. All you need to do is strike a balance in conveying your enthusiasm. You don’t want to turn them off with excessive flattery.

How long should my paragraphs be?

We recommend that your paragraphs should be long enough to get your point across without overloading your reader with too much unnecessary information. Avoid repetitions. When sharing, go straight to the point and avoid digressing. This distracts your reader and leaves them with the inconvenient task of digging through your application for the information they need. Not all recruiters have the time or patience for that.

Does all my information have to be authentic?

Yes! We can’t stress this enough. If you want your potential employers to trust you enough to offer you a position in their establishment, you have to be transparent enough to earn it.

The truth is if you do get away with providing false information, you are not going to be secure in your position because you’d have to worry about them finding out. If they do, that small white lie could end up costing you a job you worked so hard to get. You would have no one to blame but yourself should this happen.

Conclusion

Applying everything we’ve shared in this simple but comprehensive guide is all you need to kickstart the journey of bagging your dream job. No fees, and no extra secrets; it’s all in this article you’ve just read. And this has been our top-shelf solution for everyone who has ever asked the question of how to write an application letter. Works every time.