9 Communicating for Employment

Introduction Job-Hunting Resumés, Cover Letters, and Portfolios Interviews Follow-Up

Assessing Your Skills and Values What are you good at? What do you want to do? Short-term priorities and long-term goals? Values, interests, and marketable skills?

Assessing Your Work Preferences and Personality People-oriented or task-oriented? Lead role or support role? Fast-paced, changing workplace or stable, routine tasks?

Assessing Your Work History Key accomplishments? Hard and soft skills? What did you like or dislike in previous jobs?

Job-Hunting Study the job market Join professional associations and network Identify organizations you want to work for and contact them Build your professional brand through social media and internships

Job-Hunting, cont’d Where to find job postings o Social media o Personal contacts o Electronic job sites o Newspapers, magazines, trade publications

Using LinkedIn to Establish an Online Presence Upload a professional photo Describe specific skills, education and experience Include visuals from projects Solicit endorsements and recommendations

Using Twitter to Establish an Online Presence Upload professional photos Follow relevant people and organizations Tweet material related to your field Connect to your LinkedIn profile

Writing Persuasive Resumés Summarize education, work history, and skills at a glance Use keywords to show up in electronic search results Need to be easy to read

Resumé Writing Style Chronological resumé o Standard style o Uses reverse chronological order within sections Functional resumé o Emphasizes skills and areas of expertise Combination resumé

Resumé Writing Style, cont’d Put the most important sections near the top Keep formatting simple and consistent Incorporate white space Maximum two pages

Parts of a Standard Resumé Name and contact information o Letterhead format Education o Degree/diploma, field of study, achievements, institution, location, dates Experience o Position, company, location, dates, duties and achievements

Optional Parts of a Standard Resumé Objective o Type of job you are looking for o Skills that qualify you for that job Summary of Qualifications/Profile o Who you are o Your specific skills

Optional Parts of a Standard Resumé, cont’d Skills and Capabilities o Computer programs, languages, procedures, certifications, specific job skills Awards and Activities o Scholarships, volunteer work, leadership positions, sports teams, professional memberships

Optional Parts of a Standard Resumé, cont’d References o Ask permission o List name, title, company, and contact information o Bring to the interview  Include in resumé if requested

Resumé Tips Tell the truth Update regularly Create different versions o o Company databases Fine-tune for individual jobs Avoid gimmicks

Preparing a Scannable Resumé Keywords section Plain format Lots of white space

Preparing an Resumé Put job title or reference number in the subject line Use keywords Include a cover letter Keep formatting simple o Easy to convert between computer programs

Preparing a Persuasive Cover Letter Identifies the position applied for Explains why and how your experience and education relates to the job requirements Asks for an interview (call to action)

Cover Letter Format One page long Short paragraphs Same font as the resumé

Cover Letter Content Make your writing style o positive and self-confident o specific and original o clear and economical Camouflage “I,” “me,” and “mine” Get the names right Include keywords

Solicited Application Letters Opening o Summary + request o Shared values/interest in the company o Request o Name

Solicited Application Letters, cont’d Middle o Summarize relevant experience o Highlight strongest skills o Include examples and use action verbs o Show what sets you apart from other candidates

Solicited Application Letters, cont’d Close o Summarize relevant experience o Highlight strongest skills o Include examples and use action verbs o Show what sets you apart from other candidates

Unsolicited Application Letters Use an indirect approach: o Discuss why you want to work for the company o Show what you can offer o Describe how your skills and qualifications will provide benefits

Cover Letters Specific and meaningful subject line Short and succinct Simple formatting

Career Portfolios Use a three-ring binder or a digital format Include o examples of your work o supporting material  Statement of career goals  Summary of projects  Professional development  Letters of recommendation

Before a Job Interview Research the company Work on body language Dress for the job

Before a Job Interview, cont’d Anticipate questions Think of short stories about work or school Prepare thoughtful, specific questions for the interviewer Practise, practise, practise!

Behavioural Interview Questions STARS: o Outline the situation and the task o Describe the actions you took o State the positive results o Explain how the story demonstrates your skills

At the Interview Be on time or a little early Go alone Bring copies of your resumé, references, work samples, or your portfolio Be courteous and speak properly

At the Interview, cont’d Make a good first impression o Handshake, eye contact, smile Concentrate o Listen carefully to questions Stay positive o Don’t focus on salary and benefits Wait for the decision

After the Interview Send a thank you letter within 24 hours o Express enthusiasm for the position o Personalize the message Follow up if you haven’t heard a response within a reasonable time o Let the employer know you are still interested o Jog their memory

Responding to a Job Offer Acknowledge you received the offer o Can ask for time to decide Accept the offer in writing o Restate the details to make sure they are correct Decline the offer o Thank the employer for the offer o Maintain a good relationship