How to Apply

Fill out and sign the application. Send it, along with a cover letter and resume, to

CTY Summer Programs Employment
Johns Hopkins University
McAuley Hall
5801 Smith Avenue, Ste. 400
Baltimore, MD 21209

You may fax materials to us at 866-345-3731 Although we initally accept faxed copies, an original must follow by mail.

Make arrangements for official transcripts and employment references to be mailed to our offices. Candidates may not be employed until we have at least two references on file: one from an employer who has supervised your work experience with children and one from your most recent employer in work relevant to CTY. Please have your referrers complete CTY's Employment Reference Form.

Your application file should include:

• Cover Letter
• Resume or CV
• Completed and signed application
• Official Transcripts
• Employment References

After You Apply

All candidates submitting a completed application form will receive written notification of receipt. On January 4, 2008, we begin reviewing applications. If you are selected for an interview, we will notify you by email. Interviews are typically conducted by phone and require a few hours of preparation on your part. After the interview, we will contact you with a decision as soon as possible.

Because of the large volume of applications, you may not hear from us for up to two months after receiving notification that we have received your application. If, during this time, you are offered another job offer or have questions about the application process, you are welcome to send us email at ctysummer@jhu.edu or call 410-735-6185 to ascertain the status of your application.

Given the competitive nature of our applicant pool, the greater your flexibility with location and/or position, the greater your chances for employment. A criminal background check is part of our employment process.

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Hiring Calendar

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Cover Letter

Your cover letter is your only chance to make a strong first impression. Writing a cover letter requires you to consider what qualifications you bring to the CTY positions(s) you are applying for. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the experience you have that proves you can handle the position and meet our expectations.

When writing your cover letter ask yourself, "What is it about CTY and my experience that makes a good fit?"

Express yourself directly and concisely. It’s useful to think of letters as conversations and visualize yourself addressing the recipient as if you were face-to-face with him or her. Reveal your personality and enthusiasm with professionalism. Write simply, directly and briefly, but at the same time, keep it formal.

Consider these tips when writing:

• Use the active voice. For example, "I tutored four students . . ." instead of "Four students were tutored by me . . ."
• Be clear, direct, and professional; be yourself.
• Use bullet points for complex material.
• Avoid jargon and technical terms whenever possible.
• Avoid multiple negatives.

Lastly, ask a family member or friend to proofread and review your letter. Ask them: Is this letter clear?

• Is it understandable?
• Is it logical?
• Is it friendly?
• Does anything annoy you or make you feel defensive?
• Does this letter sound like me?

Please address your cover letter to "Academic Programs Staff".

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Resume or CV

The Purpose of a Resume
The purpose of writing a resume is to provide a list of facts, activities, and experiences that summarize your background and accomplishments in order to demonstrate that you’re a good fit for the position(s) you are seeking. It should be a clean, attractive, concise, and accurate record of your experiences. Remember that your resume is accompanied by a cover letter (and possibly an interview); therefore, it does not need to be an exhaustive history of your experience.

A Successful Resume

An effective resume:

• Spotlights your strengths, most relevant work experience, and achievements.
• Is concise and factual.
• Projects a good image of you through appearance and positive, active voice.
• Focuses attention on college years (undergraduate) or after graduation.

Basic Content
The content of your resume should include actual facts that indicate your qualifications (e.g. "attended, University of Chicago, 1989-1993, majored in English Literature") as well as some more subtle work attributes such as leadership, initiative, teamwork, and determination. Below is a list of categories to include in your resume.

Contact information:
Your name, permanent and temporary addresses, phone numbers, and email address.

(Undergraduates) Objective:
This is a statement of what your employment objective is for the summer. This will be the first thing on your resume that the reader may see. Make it meaningful.

(Graduate or Professional) Professional summary:
This section briefly highlights your skills and experiences.

Education:
List schools attended, location, degree, major, and GPA . Schools should be in reverse chronological order.

Relevant Work Experience:
Any experience that you may have that is relevant for the position(s) you are applying to should be included here. This may include "non-work" experience such as volunteer work, committees, etc.

Related Courses:
Do not list all of the courses you have taken, but indicate course work related to the course(s) you want to teach. (This may not be a necessary component if you are applying to be an administrator or an RA.)

Activities & Awards:
Include any extra-curricular activities, clubs, committees, awards for work, community service, etc. (especially those related to working with children).

Publications (if any):
Provide reference information for any publications that are relevant to the position(s) you are applying to.

Key Resume Tips

• Try to limit your resume to one page.
• Place the most important part of your background first.
• Use strong verbs in active voice.
• Make your resume easy to read and attractive.
• Use bold-type, headings, capital letters, and underlining to set off sections.

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Official Transcripts

You will need to contact the registrar office at the college or university you attended to request an official copy of your transcript. Official transcripts should be sent to

CTY Summer Programs Employment
Johns Hopkins University
McAuley Hall
5801 Smith Avenue, Ste. 400
Baltimore, MD 21209

We can accept unofficial transcripts to complete your file. However, we must receive your official transcripts before you can be hired.

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Employment References

Candidates may not be employed until we have at least two references on file: one from your most recent employer in work relevant to CTY and one from an employer who has supervised your work experience with children. Please have your referrers complete CTY’s Employment Reference Form. You may submit additional references if you wish.

Choose People Who Can Speak About Your Work
Whether your work is professional or scholastic, we want to talk to people who know you.

When choosing references ask yourself the following: Can this person . . . describe my work ethic?

give examples of situations in which he or she has observed me or worked with me?

speak to my ability to work with children?

give an honest and positive evaluation of my abilities?

Get Their Permission
You should always ask to use a person's name as a reference. It’s not necessary to ask every time you use his or her name, but if you haven’t asked recently, it’s best to check in with that person again to make sure it’s still OK. Let that individual know that we may be contacting him or her. You should provide as much contact information as possible for each reference.

Give Them All of the Important Information

• Provide them with a copy of CTY's Employment Reference Form.
• Make sure the people you use as references/recommenders know about your current and past activities. One of the best ways to do this is to provide each person with a current resume as well as some notes on things he or she may wish to mention.
• Make each person aware of the position(s) you seek. You may want to print out a copy of the job responsibilities so that he or she can speak to each position specifically.
• Let each reference know that we may contact him or her. It’s our policy to verify employment references with a follow up phone call or email.

Thank Them
Once you know that we have contacted your reference, be sure to let that individual know how things worked out. More importantly, thank the person for his or her time, kind words, and support.

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Johns Hopkins University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.