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Early Childhood Teacher CV example

Centre managers look for your certification, the age group you teach, and how you work with Te Whāriki and with whānau. This example shows an early childhood teacher CV that puts those up front, with bullets about children's learning rather than a timetable of the day.

Written for New Zealand, with notes for Australia · Checked

Free. Then compare it with a real Early Childhood Teacher job ad.

The example

A Early Childhood Teacher CV, start to finish.

Mei Chen is made up, and so are the employers. The layout and the wording are what New Zealand employers expect: no photo or date of birth, the most recent job first, and every bullet showing what was done and what came of it.

Mei Chen

Early Childhood Teacher, fully certificated, under-twos and preschool

Auckland · 027 555 0162 · mei.chen@email.com

Profile

Fully certificated early childhood teacher with six years in centre-based and kindergarten settings, most recently leading the under-twos room. Grounded in Te Whāriki, confident writing learning stories that families actually read, and committed to strong, respectful partnerships with whānau. Speaks Mandarin and English.

Skills

Te Whāriki · Learning stories and assessment · Infant and toddler care · Planning from children's interests · Partnerships with whānau · Te reo Māori in everyday routines · Transition to school · Mentoring beginning teachers · Mandarin and English

Experience

Early Childhood Teacher, Under-twos Room Leader, Pīpī Early Learning Centre

Mount Roskill, Auckland · 2022 to now

  • Lead a team of three teachers caring for 10 infants and toddlers, planning primary caregiving routines around each child's rhythms
  • Write regular learning stories for my key children, and grew family comments on our online portfolios from a handful a month to most families
  • Settled 14 new infants in the past year using gradual, family-led settling plans
  • Mentor a provisionally certificated teacher through her induction, meeting weekly and observing practice each term

Kindergarten Teacher, Kākāriki Kindergarten

Henderson, Auckland · 2020 to 2022

  • Taught a group of up to 40 children aged two to five alongside three other teachers
  • Completed induction and mentoring and moved from a provisional to a full (Tūturu) practising certificate
  • Built a transition to school programme with two local primary schools, including visits and shared learning stories
  • Started weekly Mandarin and te reo Māori songs, which helped several new Chinese families feel welcome

Education

Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education), Unitec

2019

Other details

Certification
Full (Tūturu) practising certificate, Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
First aid
Current paediatric first aid certificate
Driver's licence
Full

Referees

Available on request

Mei wrote a cover letter to go with it. Read the early childhood teacher cover letter

Skills and keywords

What early childhood teacher job ads look for.

Use the ad's own words where they're true of you. An ATS, and a recruiter skimming, both look for them.

  • Te WhārikiThe early childhood curriculum in Aotearoa. Show how you use it in planning, not just that you know it.
  • Fully certificatedMany ads ask for it by name. Say whether your practising certificate is full or provisional.
  • Learning storiesThe usual way centres assess and share learning. Say how often you write them and who reads them.
  • Under-twosName the age group you teach. Infant and toddler rooms often hire separately from preschool rooms.
  • Whānau partnershipsShow how you involve families: settling plans, portfolio comments, shared goals.
  • Te reo Māori me ngā tikangaTe Whāriki is a bicultural curriculum, so give real examples from your practice.
  • Paediatric first aidOften required on day one. Say it's current.
  • Room leaderIf you've led a room or mentored a teacher, say so. It's the step before a head teacher role.

Bullet points

9 strong lines to borrow from.

Each says what was done, how, and what came of it. Swap in your own facts: a line is only strong if it's true.

  1. 1Led a team of three teachers in an under-twos room of 10 infants and toddlers
  2. 2Planned primary caregiving routines around each child's sleep, feeding and play rhythms
  3. 3Wrote regular learning stories for key children and grew family comments on online portfolios
  4. 4Settled 14 new infants in a year using gradual, family-led settling plans
  5. 5Mentored a provisionally certificated teacher through induction with weekly meetings and termly observations
  6. 6Built a transition to school programme with two local primary schools
  7. 7Wove te reo Māori into daily routines like kai time, sleep and tidy-up
  8. 8Planned an extended inquiry into insects from children's own questions, which ran for six weeks
  9. 9Welcomed new Chinese families in Mandarin and helped them understand how the centre works

Common mistakes

What costs early childhood teacher CVs interviews.

  • Describing the daily routine instead of your teaching.

    Every centre has kai time and mat time. Say what you planned, why, and what children learnt.

  • Not saying whether your practising certificate is full or provisional.

    Put it in your details with the Teaching Council's name. Managers check it before anything else.

  • Mentioning Te Whāriki only as a word in your summary.

    Link it to something you did, such as planning from a strand or goal, or a learning story that followed it.

  • Leaving out the age group.

    Say whether you've taught infants, toddlers, preschoolers or all three. It changes which room you'd fit.

New Zealand and Australia

What changes across the Tasman.

New Zealand

Early childhood teachers in New Zealand register with the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand and hold a practising certificate. New graduates start on a provisional certificate and move to a full one after induction and mentoring.

New Zealand CV format

Australia

In Australia, ACECQA publishes the list of approved early childhood teaching qualifications, and some states and territories also require early childhood teachers to be registered or accredited, so check where you're applying. Australian employers usually say resume rather than CV, and expect about two pages.

Australian CV format

Sources: Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand: types of practising certificates, ACECQA: early childhood teacher registration and accreditation.

Jobs open now

Education jobs in New Zealand, ready for your CV.

94 open roles, straight from employers' career sites. Apply directly with the employer, and tailor your CV to each early childhood teacher ad before you do.

  • EducationToday

    Service Manager

    Ministry of Education · 5001+ employees

    A public health organization providing innovative healthcare delivery in the Counties Manukau region of New Zealand.

    Lower Hutt, Wellington
    $120.2k-$140.5k a yearOnsiteFull timeMid levelManages people

    Leading teams · Delivering learning support · Developing workplans

    Proven team leadership, experience developing workplans, leading complex teams, understanding of learning support and inclusive education; relevant tertiary qualification or equivalent experience; full driver's license; travel across region required.

    Retirement savings
  • EducationToday

    ECE Registered Teacher / Team Leader | Busy Bees Cambridge

    Busy Bees Aotearoa · 1001-5000 employees

    A childcare provider offering nature-inspired learning environments and professional development for teachers.

    Cambridge, Waikato
    OnsiteFull timeMid levelManages people

    Providing care · Planning curriculum · Building relationships

    Level 7 ECE or Primary qualification, current teacher registration, rights to work in New Zealand, and ability to lead a team.

  • EducationToday

    Kaiārahi Toiora (Start Term 1 2027)

    Te Kura · 201-1000 employees

    A New Zealand distance education provider supporting learners across Aotearoa.

    Hamilton, Waikato+2 more
    OnsiteFull timeMid levelManages people

    Leading pastoral care · Supporting learner wellbeing · Developing team capability

    Proven leadership in pastoral care, learner support, wellbeing or inclusion; ability to develop others through coaching and mentoring; strong relationship management; experience with Māori and Pacific learners; data analysis skills; legal right to teach, reside and work in New Zealand.

See all 94 education jobs

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Something else on your mind? Email support@smartcvs.ai and a person will reply.

I'm provisionally certificated. Should I say so?

Yes. It's normal for new teachers, and it tells the centre you'll need induction and mentoring. Say how far through you are.

Should I attach learning stories to my CV?

Not to the CV itself. Mention that you can share examples, and remove children's names and photos before you do.

How long should an early childhood teacher CV be?

Two pages is plenty. Put your certification, age group and current role on the first page.

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