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Instructor skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted experts

Richard Bett Ph.D.,

R. Scott Hengen

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical instructor skills. We ranked the top skills for instructors based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 11.1% of instructor resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an instructor needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 instructor skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how instructors use customer service:

Planned, scheduled and facilitated customer service training; conducted employee performance evaluations; designed Gate Agent performance evaluation standards and format
Instructed and developed 4 customer service representatives through the Verizon WorkForce Development program, preparing them to become Verizon Corporate Instructors.

2. CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR is a medical procedure that involves chest compression to help a patient breathe. This artificial ventilation helps in keeping the brain function in place and regulates blood throughout the body. CPR is a lifesaving procedure that is used in emergencies.

Here's how instructors use cpr:

Coordinated and supervised CPR certifications for the University at Albany Police Department.
Qualified divisional personnel in Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

3. Course Curriculum

Here's how instructors use course curriculum:

Developed Proficiency Examinations and course curriculum
Created and implemented course curriculum integrating active learning methods, technology, and innovative instructional methods as taught to university freshmen.

4. Professional Development

Professional development means to have the essential training certification or education with the purpose of earning and having a successful career. Every job requires a different set of skills. However, new skills may be needed in the future. Professional development, in this regard, helps people to develop and polish the skills and become efficient workers.

Here's how instructors use professional development:

Participated in quarterly professional development activities
Set up and conducted parent conferences, developed behavior modification schedules, attended professional development, maintained federal individual education profiles.

5. Classroom Management

Here's how instructors use classroom management:

Acquired additional hours of professional development in classroom management, curriculum development, and information related to gifted & talented students.
Address challenges related to classroom management and student learning immediately Monitor student progress and report on daily session summaries.

6. Student Learning

Here's how instructors use student learning:

Demonstrated experience in developing curriculum, assessing courses to improve student learning, measuring student learning outcomes and evaluating course efficacy.
Conducted and organized small group and individualized classroom activities based on differentiated learning needs to ensure student learning at full potential.

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7. Learning Environment

Here's how instructors use learning environment:

Demonstrated expertise in Microsoft technologies and maintain the necessary instructional skill set demanded in today's learning environment for Information Technology.
Participate actively in the development, implementation, and monitoring of practices that promote a safe classroom and laboratory learning environment.

8. Mathematics

Here's how instructors use mathematics:

Prepared lesson plans and assignments for computer applications, computer programming, information technology, project management, and mathematics classes.
Tutored students ranging from K-12 in mathematics and increasing student attentiveness through incentives and innovative learning methods.

9. Classroom Environment

Here's how instructors use classroom environment:

Fostered an academically challenging and efficient classroom environment that will promote students success and value toward attendance.
Solicited outside contributions of computer hardware from local companies and national vendors for use in classroom environment.

10. Course Content

Here's how instructors use course content:

Maintain responsibility for the creation of course content, training materials, and any required documentation, including educational technology.
Course content emphasizes exploration of emerging narrative voices, content marketing best practices and contemporary technology s impact on storytelling.

11. Teaching Methodologies

Here's how instructors use teaching methodologies:

Utilized multiple teaching methodologies that included visual, linguistic and auditory materials to reinforce or re-teach.
Evaluated, designed and implemented curriculum testing and teaching methodologies.

12. PowerPoint

Here's how instructors use powerpoint:

Developed and updated customized curriculum, reference guides, and materials, including project-specific training and PowerPoint presentations.
Created specialized PowerPoint presentations exploring specific topics directly related to the enrolled students' interests and life experiences.

13. Ethics

Ethics is a branch of knowledge that involves recommending, defending, and systemizing aspects of right and wrong behavior.

Here's how instructors use ethics:

Instructed all areas of massage therapy program including anatomy, physiology, pathology, contraindications and ethics.
Facilitated group discussions on a wide breadth of philosophical topics, including political philosophy and ethics.

14. C++

C++ is a general-purpose programming language that is used to create high-performing applications. It was invented as an extension to the C language. C++ lets the programmer have a high level of domination over memory and system resources. C++ is an object-oriented language that helps you implement real-time issues based on different data functions

Here's how instructors use c++:

Developed and taught two-week introductory programming classes in C++ and Java to underrepresented minority freshman students.
Provided supplemental instruction to students enrolled in Computer Programming Fundamentals, a Freshman introduction to computer science course taught in C++.

15. Syllabus

Here's how instructors use syllabus:

Created and administered quiz and examination questions that were based upon performance objectives identified in the syllabus and their expected outcomes.
Developed syllabus, designed overview course introducing undergraduates to qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches to social science research.

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What skills help Instructors find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on instructor resumes?

Richard Bett Ph.D.

Professor of Philosophy, Johns Hopkins University

In general, the skills that philosophy graduates have to an unusually high degree are writing clearly about complicated matters and analyzing complex reasoning - and responding to it, if appropriate, with a sense of their own. These are pretty general skills that can be of use in many different careers so that philosophy graduates can be found in many other fields.

One thing that's commonly (and correctly) said is that philosophy is about the best possible law school preparation. But philosophy graduates can also be found in work related to computers, for example, and many different kinds of business. Our department recently received a very generous gift from William Miller, who studied philosophy at Hopkins and then became a terrifically successful investor. He credits his financial skills in large part to his philosophy training.

It's also a point of pride in our field that philosophy graduates - at least if you look 5-10 years out from graduation - make more on average than many other areas in the humanities, and even more than business majors. (At least, that was true the last time I checked. You might remember the kerfuffle caused when Marco Rubio claimed that welders made more than philosophers; that was refuted pretty quickly.) FYI, I believe George Soros also studied philosophy.

What hard/technical skills are most important for instructors?

R. Scott Hengen

Technical Theatre Faculty/Production Coordinator, Montgomery College

Basic skills in more than one department are helpful. The more a technician can understand other areas that may overlap, the better the chance of more opportunities. This does not exclude the importance of focusing on one technical area, but the technician who understands how that one area, or several areas, influences each other, the better the technician will understand the collaborative nature of theatre.

What soft skills should all instructors possess?

Steven Graves Ph.D.

Professor, California State University, Northridge

The skills are as old as time. Being a good team player, enthusiasm, energy, positive attitude. Other things that I'm not sure are "soft" are writing well, communicating verbally clearly, and creating visuals that rapidly communicate complex ideas.

What instructor skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Dr. Deborah Kitchen Ph.D.

Department Chair and Professor, Tennessee State University

I would work on getting some certificate that would make you stand out. Or maybe learn a second language - Spanish.

What type of skills will young instructors need?

Dr. Lori Gray

Associate Professor: Director of Music Education, Boise State University

For the past several years, it has been clear that employers are seeking graduates with 21st Century Learning Skills (critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration). The four Cs of 21st Century Learning frequently come up during reference calls on my end and interviews for our recent graduates.

I would add that graduates need a strong work ethic, an understanding of professionalism and respect in the workplace, and self-awareness and an understanding of personal needs and limitations both at work and in their personal lives. In these current living conditions during a global pandemic (COVID-19), graduates also need resilience, perseverance, adaptability, and flexibility. These are all skills I would want for our Music Education majors to cultivate, as the climate in K-12 Education is ever-changing. However, I believe these are all skills that would be useful in any new career path.

What technical skills for an instructor stand out to employers?

Dr. Rhonda Dass Ph.D.

Director - American Indigenous Studies/Museum Studies, Chair/Professor - Anthropology Department, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Employers need people who can analyze data, create practical solutions to everyday problems, and apply their skills to situations.

Do you want to know more?

List of instructor skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an instructor resume and required skills for an instructor to have include:

Customer Service
CPR
Course Curriculum
Professional Development
Classroom Management
Student Learning
Learning Environment
Mathematics
Classroom Environment
Course Content
Teaching Methodologies
PowerPoint
Ethics
C++
Syllabus
Training Programs
Course Materials

Student Performance
Anatomy
Literature
Physiology
Course Syllabus
Windows
Curriculum Development
Chemistry
Training Materials
Leadership
Instructional Materials
Medical Terminology
Public Speaking
Phlebotomy
Developmental Disabilities
Blackboard
ESL

Course Objectives
Sociology
Economics
K-12
Photoshop
HTML
Playlists
Pharmacology
Martial Arts
Medical Billing
Private Lessons
Blended Learning
Early Childhood Development
Calculus
Advanced Life Support
Intro

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Instructor Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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