Navigating Your Occupation Section: Teacher vs. Teaching

When it comes to the occupation section on your resume, LinkedIn profile, or other professional documents, the choice between 'teacher' and 'teaching' can seem ambiguous. This article aims to clarify the nuances between these terms and help you select the most appropriate option for your profession.

Understanding the Terms

Your occupation section is primarily about identifying the job role or position you hold. This term specifically refers to the person who teaches, not the action of teaching itself. Let's break it down:

Occupation: Your occupation is your profession, e.g., Teacher, Accountant, Lawyer, etc. It represents who you are in the professional world. Job Function: Your daily actions and tasks related to the occupation, such as teaching, accounting, or practicing law, are your job functions.

For example, if you are a teacher, your occupation is 'Teacher,' and your job functions include teaching mathematics, reading, or any other subject.

Should You Write 'Teacher' or 'Teaching'?

The correct term to use in your occupation section is 'Teacher.' It denotes the individual, not the action. Here are some examples to illustrate the difference:

Teacher of English: This is a more specific description, indicating that you are a teacher with a specialization in English. Educator: This term can be used to denote a broader role in the education sector, providing a clear and concise description of your professional identity. Specialist: You could also use a specialized term such as 'Educator Primary Concentration' or 'Educator French Specialist' to highlight your area of expertise.

While 'teaching' is related to your job functions, it is not the appropriate term for the occupation section. If you are writing your occupation, stick with 'Teacher.' For job functions, you can use 'teaching' or related terms.

Examples of Other Occupations

Let's consider other professions to see how this applies:

Plumber: Your occupation is 'Plumber.' Mason: Your occupation is 'Mason.' Doctor: Your occupation is 'Doctor.' Cartographer: Your occupation is 'Cartographer.' Architect: Your occupation is 'Architect.' Pilot: Your occupation is 'Pilot.'

In each of these cases, the occupation refers to the professional role, not the specific tasks or activities you perform.

Parallel Structure and Clarity

When filling out these fields, clarity and consistency are key. Parallel structure helps maintain grammatical consistency. For example:

Correct:
A teacher of English
A plumber
A doctor
A cartographer

Incorrect:
A teacher of English
A teaching plumber
A teaching doctor
A teacher cartographer

The term 'eating doctor' or 'teaching plumber' does not make sense because 'doctor' and 'plumber' are professions, not actions. Using 'teaching' in place of 'teacher' breaks the parallel structure and can confuse the reader.

Conclusion

In summary, when filling out the occupation section, use 'Teacher' to denote your professional role. This clarity helps avoid confusion and ensures that the reader understands your professional identity. For your job functions, you can use 'teaching' or related terms.

Happy job hunting and resume writing!