Teacher Instructions/ Pre-Unit Info Materials Needed for this unit: Careers and Employment Note Packet Index Cards or Individual White Boards Career Assignment Worksheets Resume Worksheet Computer lab for the resume & cover letter creation Email Worksheets or Scenarios Thank you scenarios or self-made list of thank yous to be sent Blank Thank You notecard for each student Commonly Asked Interview Questions List Interview Wars Scoresheets Job I Want Sheets for Interview Wars

Suggested Scope for Unit (Based on 90 minute class periods) Objective A: Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication. Day 1: What are Agricultural communications career notes, formative assessment activity, assign agricultural communication careers for activity Pre Class Prep: Guided note packet copies, PPT, index cards or white boards for formative assessment available, career assignment copies, careers to choose from printed Day 2: Student research day Pre Class Prep: Computer Lab needed, extra career assignment worksheets Day 3: Student career presentations/Introduce Resume Guidelines No pre class prep Objective B: Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes. Day 4: Resume Notes, Cover Letter Notes, and Resume Worksheet Pre Class Prep: unit powerpoint pulled up, Copies of resume worksheet Day 5-6: Resume and Cover Letter Workdays Pre Class Prep: Computer Lab Needed Day 7: Emails and Thank you notes Pre Class Prep: print email worksheets or scenarios, print thank you scenarios or make your own list of real thank yous which need sent, get one blank thank you notecard for each student This slide included thanks to the awesome idea of Mr. Cash Williams

Suggested Scope for Unit (Based on 90 minute class periods) Objective C: Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills. Day 8: Interviewing Notes Pre Class Prep: check the embedded stepbrothers video or pull up clip, make copies of the commonly asked questions list Day 9-10: Interview Wars Pre Class Prep: Make Copies of Interview wars scoresheets and “Job I Want” papers, set up room This slide included thanks to the awesome idea of Mr. Cash Williams

Careers and Employment in Agricultural Communications Agricultural Communication course

Unit Objectives By the end of the unit, you should be able to: Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? Brainstorm!!!! List all the careers you can think of that would fall into the agricultural communication industry A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? 22 Million Jobs in agriculture 4.6 million production agriculturalists 9.6 million manufacturing, processing, transportation 3.5 million agricultural science 4.3 million agribusiness and agriculture communications The US Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there are 22 million employees in agriculture. Of those, there are approximately 4.6 million involved in production agriculture. Of the remaining 17.4 million workers, 9.6 million are involved in processing, manufacturing and transporting agricultural goods, and another 3.5 million are involved in agricultural related science fields. That leaves around 4.3 million jobs for agribusiness and agriculture communication graduates. Source: USBLS 2010 A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? Agricultural communications careers can be hard to define, because there are so many possibilities within the industry Broad categories of careers in agricultural communications are careers in: Public Relations Marketing Media A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

Marketing Careers Managing an agricultural product or service from development through sales A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

Public Relations Careers Managing public opinion Broken down into three general categories: Publicity: changing and developing public opinion Communications: managing client image Training: coaching others to effectively handle the press A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

Media Careers Working in a journalistic field to investigate, analyze, and report information about agriculture Categories include: Broadcast Journalism Print Media Graphic Design A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 1. Approximately how many careers are there in the US in agriculture? 53 Million 34 Million 22 Million 16 Million A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 2. Approximately how many careers are there in the US in agribusiness/agricultural communication? 14 Million 10 Million 8 Million 4 Million A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 3. The general categories of careers in agricultural communication are public relations, marketing, and ______. Economics Graphic Design Media Processing A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 4. Which broad category of agricultural communication careers is managing an agricultural product or service from development through sales? Business Marketing Media Public Relations A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 5. Which broad category of agricultural communication careers is working in a journalistic field to investigate, analyze, and report information about agriculture? Business Marketing Media Public Relations A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 6. Which broad category of agricultural communication careers is managing public opinion? Business Marketing Media Public Relations A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) Answers A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 1. Approximately how many careers are there in the US in agriculture? 53 Million 34 Million 22 Million 16 Million A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 2. Approximately how many careers are there in the US in agribusiness/agricultural communication? 14 Million 10 Million 8 Million 4 Million (4.3 million to be exact) A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 3. The general categories of careers in agricultural communication are public relations, marketing, and ______. Economics Graphic Design Media Processing A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 4. Which broad category of agricultural communication careers is managing an agricultural product or service from development through sales? Business Marketing Media Public Relations A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 5. Which broad category of agricultural communication careers is working in a journalistic field to investigate, analyze, and report information about agriculture? Business Marketing Media Public Relations A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What Careers are there in Agricultural Communications? (QUIZ) 6. Which broad category of agricultural communication careers is managing public opinion? Business Marketing Media Public Relations A. Describe career opportunities in agricultural communication.

What documents do you need to gain employment? Prepare BEFORE you want employment Cover Letter: formal letter of introduction Resume: listing of your skills and qualifications Prepare AS you want employment Job application: company generated Thank you letters: to those who helped in the process B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

What is a Résumé? Career goals Education Experience Activities Honors Personal summary of your professional history and qualifications A résumé (also spelled “resume”) includes anything a person wants to express about: Career goals Education Experience Activities Honors B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

General Guidelines Length: Limit résumé to one typed page Font: Arial or Times New Roman Between 10-12 point font Paper: Use 8 1/2” x 11” 20 lb paper White, light cream, or gray -An employer only has about 10-15 seconds to look at your resume! Sometimes a good exercise is to have someone else study your resume for 10 seconds and then repeat back what he or she remembers. -Be as concise as possible in stating information in each section of your resume. If you have had a couple jobs or are a grad student, then your resume can be two pages, but until then, keep it at one -No funky colors B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Preliminary Resume Research Find out: General job information Desired qualifications and skills Key values and word Look on: Company website Job advertisement Any publications about the company (magazine articles, etc.) Key Concept: Doing preliminary research helps a writer to tailor their resume for the job they are applying for, and writers should do as much preliminary research as possible about the companies to which they are writing and the jobs for which they are applying. Applicants should conduct research whenever possible, especially for top choices. Job applicants should look at the vocabulary of job ads, especially the vocabulary of the ad to which they are responding. There are many job bank sites on the World Wide Web and browsing through some of the postings at these sites will help applicants understand how to discuss their experiences and skills on their resume. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

What should I include in a Resume? B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Contact Information Include: Name Permanent and/or campus addresses Permanent and/or campus phone numbers Email address Key Concept: It is very important that employers be able to reach the applicant at the address(es) and phone number(s) listed in the heading. If applicants are going through a time of transition and will be moving, they should make it clear on the resume where they will be on any given day. During transitional times, it is a good idea to include a permanent address where someone will always know the applicant’s whereabouts and can locate them. -Not always necessary to have both addresses, especially if you won’t be getting the mail there for a long time or have no way of finding out if you have received anything -Don’t use a nickname -Email is especially important because many employers contact students through email -Remember that any number you give out has the possibility of being called, change voice mails to be more professional or warn roommates of possible calls B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Contact Information Cameo Bohnino Campus Address: Permanent Address: 227 Harrison, Apt. 5 5226 Buckbridge West Lafayette, IN 47906 Fort Wayne, IN 46815 765.410.6283 260.482.670 cbohnino@purdue.edu Cell: 765.410.6283 Key Concept: This is just one example of a contact information section that is very common for Management students. The contact information section can be different depending what the student wants to put on it. The example above has both a campus address and a permanent address. The student must decide if he or she wants to include both or just one address. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Contact Information Examples Cameo Bohnino 227 Harrison, Apt. 5 West Lafayette, IN 47906 765.410.6283 cbohnino@purdue.edu Key Concept: Another example of contact information with one address. This example is centered in the top middle of the page. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Objective Statements Two different approaches to objective statements Brief and to the point Detailed description of desired position and qualifications You must decide which approach is best Key Concept: The facilitator should emphasize that the objective statement is sometimes considered the hardest part of the resume. Different people have different ideas about what objective statement approach is appropriate to use. Some recruiters say that objective statements are useless and if the student has an objective statement at all, it should be brief and to the point. Other recruiters argue that they just scan the objective statement when they are initially considering applicants. If it doesn’t stand out, a student could be rejected even before the activities and work experience are taken into account. If this is the case, objective statements should be longer and more descriptive. You must decide which one is most appropriate! B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

First Approach: Brief To obtain a summer internship in sales/marketing at Owens Corning A full-time position as a system analyst A summer internship as a project engineer Key Concept: The first approach to objective statements is very brief and to the point. With this method, the student should only put the position and time length he or she desires. If the student knows the particular company, that can also be added. This type of objective statement is easy to read and pick out right away the student’s interest. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Second Approach: Descriptive A summer internship in a sales/marketing position at Owens Corning where I can employ my team building skills and versatility to create new ideas A full-time position as a systems analyst which will allow me to use my programming, technical writing, and supervisory skills to lead a group of dynamic employees A summer internship as a project engineer with a construction company that will utilize my experience in field engineering, cost controlling, and estimating Key Concept: A descriptive objective statement gives employers a glimpse of the student’s qualifications. This type of objective statement is sometimes very difficult to help a student develop. Tutors can ask students questions about what type of job they are looking for, or go on websites and pick key words off of the job or company description. Goals of a descriptive objective statement: 1. Summarize student’s qualifications for a specific position Attract the employer’s attention Introduce the rest of the student’s resume 4. Explain how you will help the organization rather than focusing on how the organization can help you The descriptive objective statement is a little like the thesis statement of a paper, it defines the purpose of the rest of the document. Should include briefly: Length of position Job Title Field or industry Relevant skills and qualifications This type of objective statement is harder to read, but pinpoints specific skills and gives more detail. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Beginning with the highest level of educational achievement, include: School attended Classes related to job applying for GPA (if 3.0 or above) Date of program completion information Key Concept: The education section should be first on the resume after the objective statement, because usually employers are most concerned with this section. It should contain the university the student attends along with the student’s major, minors, expected date of graduation, and relevant educational classes the student has taken to make him or her valuable to the position. This section can also contain computer skills, language skills, courses or projects taken. If the student decides to add computer skills, Microsoft Office is not needed since most college students know how to use Microsoft Office. The facilitator should emphasize that the tutor make sure the student has which campus the student attends, and also the scale of the GPA. A 3.0 out of 5.0 looks a lot worse than a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale! A lot of students have questions on how low is too low for GPAs. Usually if a student has below a 3.0, it shouldn’t be included. If the student’s major GPA is higher than the overall GPA, that can be used instead. The student can carry out the GPA to two decimal points (3.55), but that is the maximum. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Education Bachelor of Science in Management December 2007 Purdue University, Krannert School of Management, West Lafayette, IN Minor: Marketing Current Overall GPA: 3.5/4.0 B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Work Experience Include positions you have held which are related, in some way, to the job you are seeking Can be both paid and volunteer positions Be creative with this section of your résumé by describing and emphasizing your experiences in the most relevant way possible. The jobs that are included in the students’ resumes should support the jobs they are looking for. If a student is applying to a teaching job, he or she doesn’t need to include a serving job unless the student wants to emphasize certain skills that are valuable to teaching in the serving job. If the student worked for a significant company or organization and would rather highlight the company than the position, the student can bold the company or put it before the job title. Jobs should be listed in either reverse chronological order or in order of importance. Anytime anything quantitative can be included, the student should include the information so employers have a better way of measuring the student’s skills. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Work Experience Server May 2003-June 2006 The Blu Tomato, Fort Wayne, Indiana Provided customers with superior service and ensure their comfort in an upscale restaurant environment - Achieved net sales averaging between $400 and $750 a night Swim Coach Summers 2004-2005 Blackhawk Swim Team, Fort Wayne, Indiana Improved the swimming skills of children ages 4-18 while encouraging the children to stay on task - Constructed line-ups for a competitive advantage at swim meets Key Concept: This is an example of a very standard work experience section. The tutor should make sure that the student is including the position,location, dates, and a brief description of each job. Each description should be parallel, and each job should be set up the same as the previous job. Activity: The facilitator can hand out examples of weak job descriptions and the tutors can break into groups and expand these descriptions. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Experience Purdue Athletic Promotions, West Lafayette, IN April 2004-Present Manager of Promotions for Purdue Swimming and Diving Create and implement a promotional campaign to increase attendance at swimming and diving events Design advertisements for newspapers, radio, and campus Blackhawk Swim Team, Fort Wayne, Indiana Summers 2004-2005 Swim Coach Improved the swimming skills of children ages 4-18 while encouraging the children to stay on task Constructed line-ups for a competitive advantage at swim meets Key Concept: Although a lot of students usually just list their actual paid jobs in the work experience section, the tutor can also stress to the student that if he or she was involved in a significant club or activity, this can be included in the experience section. Instead of calling the section the traditional “Work Experience”, the student could call the section “Experience” and put the club or activity in so that it stands out more. For this example, the student is interested in a public relations position. He has done a lot of work with athletic promotions at Purdue, so he put this before the rest of his paying jobs. Notice that this student has also focused more on the actual places he worked for, rather than the positions. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Activities, Honors, Volunteer Experience Purdue Equestrian Team Women in Business Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society Alpha Lambda Delta Phi Eta Sigma Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader School of Management Peer Mentor Include relevant activities, honors, and volunteer experiences The rest of your resume should be set up however the you wants. Additional activities, clubs, awards, volunteer experience, can also be helpful if there is extra white space. The additional sections can be set up as shown or also more like the work experience section. These extras should be something that you could either discuss with your prospective employer or have given you valuable experience or skills. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Action Verb List Action phrases will help you avoid being too brief and from understating your qualifications. Example: Before: Planned activities After: Planned arts and crafts activities for preschool aged children Key Concept: The facilitator should remind the tutors that if the students are having trouble thinking of words, there is an action verb list on OWL they can use to look up different verbs for the job descriptions. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/543/02/ Key Concept: Using action phrases helps writers avoid being too brief and from understating their qualifications. Writers should try to look at their qualifications as a professional would and use concrete words to describe their experiences. Example: Consider the example above. Is it more impressive to say “swept the floor and cleaned tables” or “created a positive and healthy atmosphere in the restaurant?” Activity: The facilitator might relate several passively written or understated phrases and ask for ways to make the phrases stronger. Some examples of phrases that need to be rewritten are: B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Action Verb Activity Original Statement #2: “Planned activities” Original Statement #1: “Answered the phone and related messages” Original Statement #2: “Planned activities” Original Statement #3: “Made change” Original Statement #4: “Talked to customers” Examples: Before: Answered the phone and related messages After: Took orders and verified their correctness with customers Before Planned activities After: Planned arts and crafts activities for preschool aged children Before: Made change After: Handled large sums of money, balanced the cash drawer Before: Talked to customers After: Giving quality customer service while promoting the sale of products   B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

What Is a Cover Letter? A cover letter expresses interest and qualifications for a particular position Personal but professional Tailored to position/company Explains how you fit with organization and how you will help them Expands main points from your resume “Sells” qualifications to the prospective employer Key Concept: The facilitator should emphasize that a cover letter should make a student stand out from the rest of the applicants. Each cover letter will be different according to experiences, jobs, and applicants. Remind the tutors that although students may seem hesitant to make more than one cover letter, each cover letter should be tailored to a particular job or assignment to be most effective. The tutor should also remind students that although a cover letter should highlight points from their resumes, they don’t need to put every single activity or skill in their cover letter. They should concentrate on “selling” the main points to the prospective employer. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

What is Included in a Cover Letter? Student Address Stacy Lolkus 222 Harrison Dr Apartment 5 West Lafayette, IN 47906 765-450-7583 slo@purdue.edu October 16, 2006 Jenny Lock Uline — HR Recruiting Center 2105 S. Lakeside Drive Waukegan, IL 60085 Dear Ms. Lockridge: After speaking with Emily Richards about her past summer in the internship program, I am very interested in your Human Resources Summer Internship position. I worked with employee benefits this past summer and became very interested in the human resources aspect. I have obtained many leadership opportunities while working as a Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab that would be valuable in a career at Uline. As Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator at Purdue’s Writing Lab, my primary role is to help train new tutors for the Writing Lab. I work directly with the Business Writing Coordinator teaching classes and participating in mock tutorials to allow students to obtain hands-on experience tutoring business documents. I also organize educational workshops to refresh the skills of current Business Writing Consultants. My position as a Boiler Gold Rush Team Leader also challenged me to use my enthusiastic personality to motivate incoming freshmen to be involved in campus activities. As a Human Resources Intern at Uline, I could use all of these leadership skills while learning more about recruiting and hiring practices. Thank you for considering me for this position. I would love to discuss these and other qualifications with you. If you have any questions, please call me at 765-450-7583 or e-mail me at slo@purdue.edu. Sincerely , Enclosure: Résumé Date Employer Address Salutation First Paragraph Middle Paragraph Conclusion Key Concept: A sample of a cover letter with the sections indicated. Closing B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Header Your Name Your Street Address City, State, Zip Code Date Name of Contact Person Title Organization Street Address Dear Ms., Mr., Dr., (etc): Make sure you address the letter to a specific person if possible (preferably the interviewer) Key Concept: The “Header” should include: Student’s address Date Employer’s address Salutation. The facilitator should express that many students will try to use “To Whom it may Concern” or other informal salutations. The tutor should tell the student that a cover letter will be more likely to get to the right place if written to a specific person. Students can find who to address the cover letter on company websites, job descriptions, etc. Activity: The facilitator can demonstrate how to find the names of people on a company website. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

More Examples October 4, 2006 Stacy Lo CEO Lo Labs 300 State St. Date Name of Contact Person Title Organization Street Address City, State, Zip Code Dear Ms., Mr., Dr. (etc): October 4, 2006 Stacy Lo CEO Lo Labs 300 State St. Chicago, IL, 60611 Dear Ms. Lo: Key Concepts: Another example of how to start the letter. In this example, the student’s address could go at the end of the letter, after the signature. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

First Paragraph Purpose: Get the reader’s attention Introduce yourself Explain purpose of letter Explain why interested in the position or the company Culture? Approach? Explain how you will help the organization Preview the rest of the letter Key Concept: The facilitator should explain that a lot of times this is where the tutors are really going to have to work to find out why a student is interested in working for a company. Sometimes the student may have to do some further research to have a better reason than “I just need a job.” The first paragraph provides the thesis for the rest of the cover letter. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

After speaking with Emily Richards about her past summer in the internship program, I am interested in your Human Resources Summer Internship position. I worked with employee benefits this summer and became interested in the human resources aspect of the position. In addition to the leadership opportunities I obtained while working as a Business Writing Consultant Assistant Coordinator for Purdue’s Writing Lab, I have also developed my communication skills during my summer internship. I believe my skills will help your Human Resources department maintain its excellent track record. Key Concept: This is an example of a standard beginning paragraph. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Middle Paragraphs Highlight skills and benefits to the company Emphasize interest in the company Provide concrete evidence Show don’t tell (use information from resume) Include specific, credible examples of qualifications for the position Begin paragraphs with topic sentences Key Concept: The facilitator should remind the tutor that the student should pick no more than two or three skills or benefits. Some students get in the habit of listing qualities, which tells the employer absolutely nothing. Organize your body paragraphs to emphasize your strongest and most relevant qualifications. Only include the two or three strongest qualifications from your resume. Make it easy for readers to scan your letter by beginning each paragraph with a topic sentence B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

As a banking representative at Chase, I provided quality customer service while promoting the sale of products to customers. I also handled close to $20,000 each day and was responsible for balancing the bank’s ATM machine. My experience with customer relations and money management can help your accounting firm expand its Middle East division located in Dubai. Key Concept: This is an example of an effective middle paragraph. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Conclusion Conclude with next step Provide contact information I would like to discuss these and other qualifications with you to further explain how I can contribute to your Middle East operations. I look forward to meeting you soon. If you have any questions, please call me at 555-555-5555 or e-mail me at abcd@purdue.edu. Key Concept: This paragraph brings the entire cover letter together and expresses what the student will do, or the student’s expectations. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Closing Formats Sincerely, Simon Smith Enclosure: Resume Sincerely, 5886 Tunbridge Crossing Fort Wayne, IN 46815 ssmith@purdue.edu Enclosure: Resume Key Concept: These are two examples of very common closing formats. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Look for: Language: Weak Language: I worked as a ramp agent at Comair. Strong Language: As a ramp agent, I assisted in loading baggage, oversaw fueling the aircraft, and stocked commissary items on the aircraft. Key Concept: If the tutor has time and notices any weak language, he or she can help the student change these sentences to better describe the student’s experiences. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Extra Tips Unprofessional language Length Letter should only be one page Strongest and most relevant qualifications should be highlighted Limit to a few qualifications Easy to read Begin with topic sentences Key Concept: If the tutor notices any sexist or informal language in the letter, he or she should remind the student that although it may seem appropriate, the student has no way of knowing who will read the letter. Sometimes students may argue that they know the person who will be receiving the letter. That person may see the letter, but may also want to share the student’s cover letter with others. Therefore, the language should be appropriate for all audiences. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Appeal to company values, attitudes, goals, projects, etc. Extra Tips Appeal to company values, attitudes, goals, projects, etc. Explain how you will help organization Elaborate on the information in your resume Provide evidence of your qualifications Proofread carefully for grammatical and typographical errors Key Concept: The facilitator should remind the tutors that some of the work experiences students have had may not seem to be relevant, but still usually has some aspect of the job that was. Tutors should also not try to take over the tutorial. If a student doesn’t want help with a part that a tutor thinks needs tweaking, the tutor should refrain from interfering. Students may seem down about some of their work experiences or lack of work experiences. Sometimes, tutors just need to encourage them and help them realize that they have valuable skills even if they don’t think they do. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

What should I put in MY Cover letter and resume? Find your strengths Analyze your accomplishments Identify your skills Take a few moments to complete the “Resume Worksheet” B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Activity Now its your turn! Create a resume which is current, and write a cover letter for a job that you currently possess the skills for. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Why is writing a professional email important? Approximately 294 billion email messages are sent per day! That means more than 2.8 million emails are sent every second and some 90 trillion emails are sent per year. Around 90% of these millions and trillions of message are spam and viruses. There are around 1.9 billion registered email users worldwide Source: 2010 Radicati Group Technology market research firm Begin with a greeting It's important to always open your email with a greeting, such as "Dear Lillian,". Depending on the formality of your relationship, you may want to use their family name as opposed to their given name, i.e. "Dear Mrs. Price,". If the relationship is more casual, you can simply say, "Hi Kelly," If you’re contacting a company, not an individual, you may write "To Whom It May Concern:" Thank the recipient If you are replying to a client's inquiry, you should begin with a line of thanks. For example, if someone has a question about your company, you can say, "Thank you for contacting ABC Company." If someone has replied to one of your emails, be sure to say, "Thank you for your prompt reply." or "Thanks for getting back to me." If you can find any way to thank the reader, then do. It will put him or her at ease, and it will make you appear more courteous. State your purpose If, however, you are initiating the email communication, it may be impossible to include a line of thanks. Instead, begin by stating your purpose. For example, "I am writing to enquire about …" or "I am writing in reference to …" It's important to make your purpose clear early on in the email, and then move into the main text of your email. Remember to pay careful attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation, and to avoid run-on sentences by keeping your sentences short and clear. Closing remarks Before you end your email, it's polite to thank your reader one more time as well as add some courteous closing remarks. You might start with "Thank you for your patience and cooperation." or "Thank you for your consideration." and then follow up with, "If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know." and "I look forward to hearing from you." End with a closing The last step is to include an appropriate closing with your name. "Best regards," "Sincerely," and "Thank you," are all professional. It's a good idea to avoid closings such as "Best wishes," or "Cheers," as these are best used in casual, personal emails. Finally, before you hit the send button, review and spell check your email one more time to make sure it's truly perfect! B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Why is writing a professional email important? Knowing how to write a professional email is essential in today’s world The biggest mistake when sending a professional email is being too casual! B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How Do I Send a Proper Email? Begin with a greeting Formality based on your relationship with the recipient Thank -or- State your purpose The second line of the email should be a thank you for something previously done by the recipient -OR- a clear statement of the purpose for sending the email. Closing Remarks Be courteous, thank them in advance for action (“thank you for your consideration”), or give an idea of their next action (“I look forward to hearing from you”) Begin with a greeting It's important to always open your email with a greeting, such as "Dear Lillian,". Depending on the formality of your relationship, you may want to use their family name as opposed to their given name, i.e. "Dear Mrs. Price,". If the relationship is more casual, you can simply say, "Hi Kelly," If you’re contacting a company, not an individual, you may write "To Whom It May Concern:" Thank the recipient If you are replying to a client's inquiry, you should begin with a line of thanks. For example, if someone has a question about your company, you can say, "Thank you for contacting ABC Company." If someone has replied to one of your emails, be sure to say, "Thank you for your prompt reply." or "Thanks for getting back to me." If you can find any way to thank the reader, then do. It will put him or her at ease, and it will make you appear more courteous. State your purpose If, however, you are initiating the email communication, it may be impossible to include a line of thanks. Instead, begin by stating your purpose. For example, "I am writing to enquire about …" or "I am writing in reference to …" It's important to make your purpose clear early on in the email, and then move into the main text of your email. Remember to pay careful attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation, and to avoid run-on sentences by keeping your sentences short and clear. Closing remarks Before you end your email, it's polite to thank your reader one more time as well as add some courteous closing remarks. You might start with "Thank you for your patience and cooperation." or "Thank you for your consideration." and then follow up with, "If you have any questions or concerns, don't hesitate to let me know." and "I look forward to hearing from you." End with a closing The last step is to include an appropriate closing with your name. "Best regards," "Sincerely," and "Thank you," are all professional. It's a good idea to avoid closings such as "Best wishes," or "Cheers," as these are best used in casual, personal emails. Finally, before you hit the send button, review and spell check your email one more time to make sure it's truly perfect! B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How Do I Send a Proper Email? End with a Closing The same type of ending you would in a formal letter (i.e. Sincerely, Best regards, then include your name (even if it is in the signature line) B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

What are the Biggest Email Mistakes? Being TOO casual Not proofreading and/or spell checking DO BOTH!!! Rambling Most readers will not read an email more than 12 lines long Having an unclear purpose The reader should know why the email was sent within the first 3 sentences Having an unprofessional signature line or address Your PROFESSIONAL email should be straightforward. hotlindseybabe4@gmail.com is not nearly as likely to be taken seriously as lindseywilson42@gmail.com Its ok to think that “Powerstrokes RULE!!!” not cool to have it on a professional email signature B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Proper Emailing Activity Using the email scenario you draw, please draft and send an email that follows the proper emailing guidelines. Your score will be based on: Proper greeting 5 pts. Thank you/Clearly stating purpose 10pts Closing remarks 5 pts Grammar, punctuation, spelling 10 pts Total 30pts OPTIONAL: The computer is the best way to gain email experience, instead of having them write the email on the worksheet, have them login to their email and send this assignment to your email or the school FFA chapter email for grading. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Why should I write thank you notes? People who send thank you notes after an interview are up to 1/3 more likely to be hired – www.monster.com Studies show that people who express gratitude are more likely to live longer and have better health – The Wall Street Journal It’s the RIGHT THING to do!!! B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How do I write a great thank you note? Step 1: Greet the recipient Dear Aunt Sally, Mr. Smith, B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How do I write a great thank you note? Step 2: Express Your Gratitude Note: always list the SPECIFIC thing you are thankful for , unless its cash! Dear Aunt Sally, Thank you for the new slippers. Mr. Smith, I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you yesterday regarding an internship. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How do I write a great thank you note? Step 3: Discuss Use Dear Aunt Sally, Thank you for the new slippers. They will be great to keep my feet warm on chilly Utah evenings. Mr. Smith, I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you regarding the open sales position. After speaking with you, I am confident that I can fill the company needs. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How do I write a great thank you note? Step 4: Mention the past, allude to the future Dear Aunt Sally, Thank you for the new slippers. They will be great to keep my feet warm on chilly Utah evenings. It was wonderful to see you and catch up on how your children are doing. I look forward to seeing you again soon! Mr. Smith, I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you regarding the open sales position. After speaking with you, I am confident that I can fill the company needs. As I mentioned in the interview, I am excited for a summer internship. If I can provide you with any additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How do I write a great thank you note? Step 5: Grace (optional on professional thank yous) Dear Aunt Sally, Thank you for the new slippers. They will be great to keep my feet warm on chilly Utah evenings. It was wonderful to see you and catch up on how your children are doing. I look forward to seeing you again soon! Thank you again. Mr. Smith, I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you regarding the open sales position. After speaking with you, I am confident that I can fill the company needs. As I mentioned in the interview, I am excited for a summer internship. If I can provide you with any additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me. B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

How do I write a great thank you note? Step 6: Regards Mr. Smith, I appreciated the opportunity to meet with you regarding the open sales position. After speaking with you, I am confident that I can fill the company needs. As I mentioned in the interview, I am excited for a summer internship. If I can provide you with any additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Sincerely, William L. Jensen Dear Aunt Sally, Thank you for the new slippers. They will be great to keep my feet warm on chilly Utah evenings. It was wonderful to see you and catch up on how your children are doing. I look forward to seeing you again soon! Thank you again. Love, Billy B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Thank You Note Activity Using your thank you note scenario, please hand write a thank you note to the recipient. Your score will be based on: Proper greeting 5 pts. Expressing Gratitude 5 pts Discussing Use 5 pts Mention the past, allude to the future 5 pts Grace and Regards 5 pts Grammar, punctuation, spelling 5 pts Total 30 pts B. Write appropriate personal correspondence related to employment including: résumés, cover letters, Emails, thank you notes.

Why are Interview Skills Important? Statistically, employers are 70% more likely to hire a less qualified candidate that interviews well than a more qualified candidate who interviews poorly. (www.forbes.com) (So, no pressure or anything) C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What Should You Do Prior to the Interview? Research the company Google the person you will interview with Know exactly what the position is and how you can help the company Make copies of resume and cover letter Time how long it will take you to drive to the interview C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What Should You Do Prior to the Interview? Select the appropriate wardrobe Keep jewelry to a minimum Dress one step nicer than the daily outfit for working in that position It’s ok to be professional AND yourself http://pinterest.com/panashstyle/alternative-job-interview-attire/ C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What Should You Do Prior to the Interview? Practice answering questions!!!! Make sure you are ready to give the best answer to all types of questions Types of questions Direct Questions- ask for information What is your biggest strength? Scenario Questions- ask for examples Tell me a time when you resolved a conflict with a coworker. Questions YOU ask When do you anticipate making a decision? C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What questions cannot be asked in an interview? Employers should not ask about any of the following, because to not hire a candidate because of any one of them is discriminatory: Race Color Gender Association/Sexual Orientation Religion National origin Birthplace Age Disability Marital/family status C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

How do I Answer an Interview Question? Restate the question Ex. If the question is: “What skills do you have?” the answer should begin with a restatement “The skills I have include . . .” Give enough info but don’t ramble The best answers are typically 15-30 seconds per question Use a strong voice Not too fast or too quiet Avoid filler words like “um” “aaahh” or “er” Use confident body language Maintain eye contact Don’t fidget Sit up tall Be sincere C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

Your turn to practice!!! With a partner, refer to the common interview questions handout Take turns asking and answering the questions Give your partner pointers on Restating the question Giving enough info without rambling Using a strong voice Using confident body language C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What Should You Do the day of the Interview? Arrive 10-15 minutes early Find a restroom and freshen up Turn OFF your phone Even on vibrate it can disrupt the interview Go in calm SMILE C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What Should You NOT Do During the Interview? C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What should you do DURING the interview? First Impression What to do How to do it Initiate conversation politely Smile, be polite , greet the interviewer and give them your name Wait to be asked to sit, or ask them if you can be seated Clearly introduce yourself Give them your name using good voice Have confident body language Use great posture, make and keep eye contact C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What should you do DURING the interview? Make a Connection What to do How to do it Show interest in the interviewer and company Tell them things you know about the company (from pre-research) Find commonalities Show them that you like the same things or know the same things as the company/person Ask questions Look for opportunities to ask about the company or position Be positive Make positive comments about the company or person, without flattery C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

What should you do DURING the interview? Conclusion What to do How to do it Exchange contact information Make sure they know how to get in contact with you, ask for their business card Ask about follow-up options Ask what you should do next in the process Thanks and exit Thank them and leave with a smile C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

CDE Moment- Job Interview FFA has a competition to test your ability to present yourself for a job. Competition includes: Resume scoring Cover letter scoring Initial job contact Job applications Interview and follow-up skills Networking activity Now that you have all the skills required, ask your ag. teacher about competing in the CDE!!! C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

Activity- Interview Wars You will be split into two groups, group A & group B Each of these groups will be split into 2 more groups (1 & 2) so you will have a letter and a number You will take turns interviewing and being interviewed by members of your group Scores will be averaged and the winners of each group will compete in a finals round C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

Activity- Interview Wars Scoring- (adapted from National FFA Job Interview CDE) C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

Activity- Interview Wars Setup On the back of your worksheet, think up the 5 questions you want to ask when you are the interviewer Fill out the “Job I Want” paper. This is the job you will give to the interviewer before your interviewer C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.

Activity- Interview Wars Round 1: If you are a #1 (in group A or group B), set up 2 chairs facing each other. You will be interviewing first If you are a #2 (in group A or group B), come to the “holding area” you will be interviewed first You will rotate through the members of your group, until you have interviewed with each one Round 2 The roles will reverse and the #2 people will interview the #1 people C. Explain and practice effective job interviewing skills.