Application Tips

• Once you decide what position you are interested in pursuing a career with CMS, it is important to fill out the correct application. The Instructional application is for those individuals seeking a licensed position such as teacher, social worker, counselor, psychologist. The Administrative  application is for School Administration or other Licensed District Level Administrators. Please note that the administrative application is NOT for clerical positions. Non-Instructional/Support Services is for Central Office positions (finance, communications, human resources, etc.) and School Support Services (substitute teachers, teacher assistants, etc.) Non-Instructional/Operations is for bus drivers, technicians, maintenance personnel, custodians, etc.
• As you complete the application, be thoughtful and take your time. This is part of the hiring process, so you want to make sure that you are representing yourself in a way that you would want future employers to see you.
• Attach in the "Attachments" section all documentation regarding licensure, degrees, diplomas or transcripts to support your certifications and education.
• Fill out the employment history completely, even if you have attached your resume.  Make sure that you’re listing the correct dates of employment, job titles and supervisors. Compensation is based off of the experienced listed in this section.

Reference Tips

• CMS requires professional references be received and completed in order for your application to be complete. Former Managers, Supervisors and Clients (if you ran your own business) are ideal professional references. We cannot accept references from family members, coworkers or friends. References should be from those in a supervisory position.
• When listing references on the application, list people that you have known for at least a year and that are willing to be listed and provide feedback to CMS. They should have some knowledge of your work ethic, professional experience, skills and abilities for the applied position.
• Make sure you let your references know that they will be receiving an email from donotreply@services.peopleadmin.com
  Included in the email will be a link to an electronic reference form which they will fill out. They must click on the link, fill out the form, select “Submit Reference Feedback,” enter their full name to electronically sign the form and then click the Submit button. Failing to follow these steps will result in the reference not being received.
• You can check the status of your references through your online application. References that are listed as “pending” have not been completed. You can add additional references as you see necessary.

Resume Tips

• Include all of your current contact information on your resume so we can easily get in touch with you.
  Include your full name, street address, city, state, zip, home phone number, cell phone and an email address. Make sure to use a personal email address (gmail, hotmail, yahoo, etc.), not your current work email address.
• Update and review your resume regularly. An outdated resume or application could minimize your chances of being hired.
• Highlight your most relevant skills and experience first and then work your way down to other pertinent information.
• Make sure that your resume is “easy on the eyes” and formatted well with plenty of white space.
• Attempt to keep it to one page (or two pages if you have more than five years of experience in your field) and be absolutely certain there are no typos or grammatical errors.
  

Interview Tips

• Dress professionally.
• Research the district and if applicable, the specific school.
• Know the job description and your resume.
• Be prepared for different interviewing styles such as behavioral or standard. Make sure when you are answering behavioral questions, you describe the situation or challenge, the action that you took and the result or outcome.
• If you have a phone interview, make sure you are in a quiet place and can hear the interviewer. If you set up a virtual interview, make sure your technology is working properly before your interview time.
  
  

Frequently Asked Questions

What are my options for employment with CMS if I am from another country?
CMS does not sponsor visas for employees. It is your responsibility to obtain your own visa. CMS does partner with two J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Programs to support our hiring needs - Educational Partners International (EPI) and Participate.

What happens after I submit my application?
After submitting your completed application, it is automatically viewable by our principals and human resources staff. Timelines for reviewing applications vary by position, school and department. You can always check the status of the positions you have applied for by going to the “Jobs” tab of your application and clicking on “Applied Jobs” on the left side of the page. 

I submitted an application, but have not yet heard back. Will I be contacted for a job interview?
Due to the large volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond personally to all applicants. Should your qualifications match a staffing need, you will be directly contacted for an interview.

Can I apply via email, mail, or by directly contacting the hiring department?
CMS only accepts applications submitted through the online application system. The advantages of an online application system benefit both the applicants and the school system. The online application system provides more options for applicants and more timely updates to job postings. In addition, applications to postings can be processed expeditiously.

Can I update an application once it has been submitted?
Once you have submitted an application, you will be able to log back in and make changes to your information at any time.  You are able to use the same application to apply to multiple applications.

I am having technical issues with my application. What should I do?
Please email onlineapplication@cms.k12.nc.us