Skills
Math Professor Skills & Tools
The technical skills, people skills and tools employers look for in math professors, and how to build and show them.
What skills do math professors need?
Math Professors need technical skills such as advanced mathematics, proof writing, and statistics, plus people skills like patience and clear explanation. They also use tools such as LaTeX and Graphing software.
Technical (hard) skills
- Advanced mathematics
- Proof writing
- Statistics
- Course design
- Assessment
- Research
People (soft) skills
- Patience
- Clear explanation
- Encouragement
- Persistence
Tools, equipment and technology
- LaTeX
- Graphing software
- Learning management systems
- Online homework systems
- Statistical software
- Whiteboards
Skills in action: common tasks
These step-by-step guides show how math professors put their skills to work:
- How to teach calculus with active learning
- How to help a student with math anxiety
- How to write a fair math exam
How to show these skills on a resume
- Lead your skills section with the technical skills from the job posting, for example, “Advanced mathematics” and “Proof writing.”
- Prove soft skills with results: instead of listing “patience,” describe a situation where you used it.
- List credentials such as Ph.D. in mathematics near the top, with the issuing organization and date.
- Use the employer’s vocabulary. Our math professor glossary covers the terms hiring managers expect.
How to build these skills
Formal training, supervised practice and certification are the most direct routes. Our Math Professor training introduces each of these skills with plain-language lessons, procedures and a final knowledge check: a strong foundation before hands-on training or your first day.