Maine Regional School Unit 21
The Schools of Arundel, Kennebunk, and Kennebunkport
“Preparing responsible, contributing citizens in a global society.”
Andrew R. Dolloff, Superintendent of Schools
Bruce A. Rudolph, Business Administrator
Sara L. Zito, Assistant Superintendent of Schools
Susan M. Mulsow, Director of Special Services
Finding the Right Job for You
1.
The cover letter
a. One page – a quick introduction of you and your interest
b. Perfectly composed, with proper grammar and punctuation. (‘s = possessive!)
c. Upbeat, but not cocky.
DO: “I am excited to express my interest in your second grade teaching position.”
DON’T: “Allow me to introduce myself as the next teacher to be hired in your district.”
2.
Your resume
a. One page, preferred (two pages at most)
b. Professional-looking
c. Proofread!
d. Informative, but not exhaustive
If you don’t have a lot of related experience for the job to which you are applying, beef up your resume with descriptors of
responsibilities, awards, etc. If you have a great deal of related experience, be selective in what you emphasize.
3.
The application
a. Complete all of it, on time, and on-line, if possible, but typed at a minimum (demonstrate technical skills)
b. Submit as much of it as possible in one package, not piecemeal. This way you get to select the presentation, rather than
having others dictate that to you
4.
Interviewing
a. Research the district /school before the interview
b. Don’t dress for the job you have; dress for the job you want
c. Get there ten minutes early
d. Shake hands and make eye contact when introducing yourself to everyone in the room
e. Be gracious – thank them for the having you at the start of the interview
f. When they ask you to tell them a little about yourself, tell them a little about yourself – mostly sticking to professional
aspects of your life
g. When they ask you for your strengths and weaknesses, be able to identify at least two strengths and at least one weakness
or area of need – show that you can be honest and introspective
h. Answer the question – and only the question. Don’t be so brief that it appears you have limited knowledge, but don’t
ramble or belabor the point, either
i. Prepare 2-3 questions you will have for the committee at the end. (Not, “How much are you gonna pay me?” or “When
does summer vacation start?”) Showing that you have given thought to what you are looking for will be more impressive
than simply saying, “None that I can think of”
j. Thank them for the opportunity
177 Alewive Rd., Kennebunk, ME 04043
Phone: 207.985.1100 * Fax: 207.985.1104 * http://www.rsu21.net
Remember, most interviewers want to get a sense of who you are and what you are about – with a fair amount of what you
know sprinkled in.
Answer the questions honestly, rather than how you think they might want you to answer. If your philosophy and
background is very different from those who are interviewing you, you may not want the position, anyway. Be honest with
them and with yourself.
Common interview topics – think about how you might articulate one to three key points about each:
The use of student data to improve instruction
Individualizing your instruction
Working with special needs children
Classroom management techniques
A typical hour in your classroom
How you would communicate with parents
How you assess student performance
The national common core
Areas where you might need support
The use of technology in the classroom
Other skills you could bring to the school (advising, coaching, etc.)
-Andrew Dolloff
Superintendent of Schools
RSU 21 – The Schools of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, and Arundel