Resumes, Cover Letters, and Applications—Oh, My!

Your application materials will be your ticket to an interview, so make them top-notch. Below are suggestions from MENC National Collegiate Chair Jill Sullivan.

Resumes

“The appearance of your resume will have an important effect on your professional image,” says Sullivan.

• Use high-quality 8 ½ x 11” paper.
• Allow for white space and sufficient margins.
• Use action phrases to describe your experiences.
• Make it grammatically spotless.
• Have a faculty member or advisor look it over.

See sample resumes here (pp. 14–19).

Letters of Application and Inquiry

• Send a letter of application to express interest in a specific available position. Outline your skills and experience using short paragraphs, and express your interest in a personal interview.
• Send a letter of inquiry to get information about open positions in a district. If you receive a response, request an application and information about the school system (applications will be online for many districts). Provide a preaddressed and stamped return envelope.
• All letters should be individualized, address a specific person if possible, and indicate that a resume is enclosed.

See sample letters here (pp. 8–11).

Application Forms

Many school districts require an application form, which will ask for the same type of information included in your resume. Make a hard copy of the finished application or print out an online copy before you submit it so you’ll have a backup. For online applications, write your essay responses in Word first. That way, you’ll be able to spell check your work, and you can cut and paste your answers for future applications or review your responses before an interview.

Resources

McCormick, Katie. “Score It Big: Fine-Tuning Your Job-Search Skills,” October Collegiate NewsLink

McLain, Barbara Payne. A Career Guide for Music Education, 2nd Ed.

Sullivan, Jill. “Mock Interviews for Student Teachers.” Teaching Music, February 2007, pp. 22–25.

Find interview guidelines and sample resumes and letters on Jill Sullivan’s Resources page.

Discuss this article

Part 1: Getting Started on Your Search
Part 2: Networking and Creating a Portfolio
Part 4: Acing Your Interview
Part 5: Interview Dos and Don'ts
Part 6: Preparing for Your First Year of Teaching

Next week: Acing Your Interview

Jill Sullivan, Ph.D. is an associate professor of music education at Arizona State University and National Chair of MENC Collegiate.

--Anne Wagener, June 24, 2008, © MENC: The National Association for Music Education