Degree in hand, music education graduates are hitting the streets and searching the Internet looking for their first teaching job. Today’s job market presents many challenges, and strong preparation is key to finding and landing the right job.

Sources of Job Vacancies

• Newspapers in your area
  Look for ones with reputable classified sections devoted to education listings.
• National periodicals and websites
  Education Week contains listings for teaching as well as administrative positions nationwide (www.edweek.org)
• State school music associations
  For example, the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) will send monthly job vacancy listings to members on request.
• MENC: The National Association for Music Education
  Students who are MENC members can access job vacancy listings via the Internet at www.menc.org.
   

The Cover Letter and Resume
These two documents should be carefully prepared and professionally presented.

• The cover letter should be addressed specifically to the person or office listed on the vacancy announcement. The letter should include succinct information about you that is directly related to the specific position being advertised. Describe what you’re doing at present, the status of your certification, and why you’re interested in this specific position. The letter should contain your address and phone numbers where you may be reached. Conclude the letter by thanking the prospective employer for his/her interest, and enclose your resume.
• Resumes should be clear, concise, and customized to the position you are applying for. A good resume helps the employer quickly determine whether the candidate's training, background, and experience are a good match with the position being offered. Your goal is to compose a resume that will make it to this initial selection.

Job #1, Part 2: What constitutes an effective resume?

Job #1, Part 3: The Interview

Job #1, Part 4: Accepting the Offer

Victor V. Bobetsky directs the Teacher Education Program in Music at Hunter College of the City University of New York, where he is an associate professor in the music department. He has presented over thirty workshops for MENC: The National Association for Music Education. His recent book, The Magic of Middle School Musicals: Inspire Your Students to Learn, Grow, and Succeed, is published by Rowman and Littlefield Education and co-published by MENC.

© 2002 - NYSSMA Reprinted by permission of the author and the New York State School Music Association Original article appeared in the January/February 2002 issue of the NYSSMA School Music NEWS, Thomas N. Gellert – Editor

—Becky Spray, June 8, 2011 ©MENC: The National Association for Music Education