English as a Second Language (ESL) teaching is on the rise in the U.S. While each state has a different approach to how ESL is taught in their schools, a well-written resume can help a motivated teacher get a foot in the door. Due to the competitive nature of ESL teaching positions, a strong resume can be very advantageous in securing an interview and getting a job.

Layout
The layout of the resume is essential. The traditional list style of education, experience and skills isn't the best setting to highlight your ESL expertise. Reshape the resume so that the objective is prominently displayed, followed by qualifications, experience and education. Be, particularly sure to check for any spelling or grammatical errors.

Target the ESL Job with an Objective
Make the objective as clear as possible so as to target the job. For example, "An ESL position that best reflects my experience and abilities," is general and vague. An objective such as, "An ESL position at Township High School that best reflects my teaching expertise with Latino and Asian ESL students," shows that you researched the specific position.

ESL Qualifications
Highlight your ESL qualifications in a bullet-point format. The qualifications are short and to the point, such as, "Five years of international ESL teaching experience in Mexico." Any ESL teaching awards or honors should also be mentioned in this section. List any ESL publications, and the languages you speak.

ESL Experience
Write what you, specifically, did in your ESL teaching positions. Did you re-write the curriculum? Did you raise the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores for your high school students? Think about not only listing dates and employment, but, what you did to improve your students' English.

Education and Volunteerism
Be sure to list any academic honors or scholarships in the education section. You should also list any relevant volunteerism activities you have participated in. This will show your pro-activity and enthusiasm for ESL.