IGCSE Teacher CV and Portfolio: A Practical Hiring Guide

Your CV must answer four questions in ten seconds

A school leader or established tutor scanning applications wants to know: Which exact subject and level can you teach? Do your qualifications support that claim? What evidence shows you can improve learning? Can you be trusted with students, families and deadlines? Design the top third of page one to answer those questions before listing every course you have attended.

Use a precise headline such as ‘Cambridge IGCSE Biology 0610 trainee teacher | Medical graduate | lesson planning and paper-marking portfolio’. Follow it with a three-line profile built from facts, not adjectives. ‘Passionate, dynamic and hardworking’ is invisible because almost every applicant writes it. Syllabus codes, student age ranges, observed demos, accurate marking samples, safeguarding training and measurable responsibilities are evidence.

A two-page structure that works

Page one should carry your professional profile, qualifications, relevant experience and strongest results. Page two can hold training, technical skills, additional experience and references. Keep chronology clear and explain gaps honestly. International schools commonly request a CV and cover letter, while many also verify degrees, teaching qualifications, experience and background checks later in the process.

• Header: name, city/country, professional email, phone and a clean portfolio or LinkedIn URL—no unnecessary personal identifiers.
• Profile: target syllabus, subject foundation, teaching stage and one credible differentiator.
• Qualifications: degree, teaching qualification where applicable, relevant exam-board or teacher-preparation training and dates.
• Experience: action + context + evidence. Example: ‘Marked two Cambridge 0620 scripts against official mark schemes and produced misconception-led reteach plans.’
• Core skills: lesson planning, formative assessment, paper correction, parent reporting, online platforms and safeguarding—not generic software lists.
• References: two people who have observed your professionalism or teaching; ask permission before sharing their details.

Build a portfolio when experience is still small

A beginner cannot manufacture years of results, but can produce high-quality evidence. Create a six-item portfolio: a syllabus map, a four-week scheme of work, one full lesson plan, a ten-minute demo clip, two anonymised marked responses with feedback, and a reflection explaining what you would change. Label every artifact with the syllabus code and paper context.

Never publish student names, faces, phone numbers or unredacted scripts. If you have not taught real students, say ‘simulation’ or ‘training assessment’. Honest training evidence is stronger than an inflated claim that collapses in an interview. Store the portfolio as a lightweight PDF or a simple view-only page; hiring teams should reach the strongest sample in two clicks.

Turn unrelated experience into relevant proof

Career changers often hide valuable evidence. A pharmacist may have explained complex mechanisms to non-specialists, followed safety procedures and worked accurately under pressure. An engineer may have trained colleagues, diagnosed errors and designed step-by-step processes. Rewrite those experiences around transferable behaviours, then connect them to real teaching evidence. Do not pretend that professional expertise equals classroom experience; show how it supports the transition.

Finish with a tailored cover letter. Name the school or organisation, its curriculum and the contribution you can make. Refer to one concrete portfolio artifact and one reason the role fits your development path. A focused application signals the preparation and precision expected from an exam-class teacher.