Chapter 15 Preparing Job Application Materials

“People who cannot write and communicate clearly will not be hired, and if already working, are unlikely to last long enough to be considered for promotion.” (From a survey of 120 major U.S. corporations) College Entrance, Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Plan the job search. Decide how to look for a position. Learn as much as you can about the organizations to which you will apply. Draft the résumé and application letter. Revise, edit, and proofread the résumé and letter. Prepare for job interviews. Write appropriate follow-up letters. 3 Process for Preparing Job- Application Materials Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Do a self-inventory. Strengths & weaknesses Likes & dislikes Types of organizations Geographic preferences Learn about the employers. Job fairs Research Prepare your materials. Create a portfolio of your best work 4 Planning the Job Search Three Main Tasks Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Placement office Published job advertisement Organization's web site Job board on the Internet Professional placement bureau Unsolicited letter to an organization Personal/professional connections 5 Ways to Find a Job Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Who has access to your résumé? How will you know if an employer requests your résumé? Can your current employer see your résumé? Can you update your résumé at no cost? 6 Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials Questions to Ask Before Posting to a Job Board

You know yourself better than anyone else does. Employment officers know the style of the local agencies. If you write your own résumé, you will be more likely to adapt it to different situations. 7 Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials Reasons to Write Your Own Résumé

Résumés communicate in two ways: Through appearance Through content 8 RésumésRésumés Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Characteristics of a professional resume Generous margins: At least 1” all sides Clear type: Use a good quality printer. Balanced page appearance Clear organization: Adequate white space 9 An Attractive Résumé Make a good first impression! Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

The résumé must provide clear, specific information, without generalizations or self- congratulation. The résumé must be completely free of errors. The résumé must be honest. With <10 years experience, keep it to one page. 10 Content of the Résumé Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Chronological Time is the organizing pattern for each section Most common for recent grads Skill or functional Includes a separate section to highlight particular skills 11 Common Résumé Styles Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

1. Identifying information 2. Objectives or a summary of qualifications 3. Education 4. Employment history 5. Interests and activities (optional) 6. References 12 Elements of a Chronological Résumé Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

State only the goals or duties explicitly mentioned, or clearly implied, in the job advertisement. Focus on the reader’s needs, not on your goals. Be specific. Examples: Entry-level position as network technician Summer internship in automotive manufacturing 13 Drafting a Statement of Objectives Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

The degree The institution The location of the institution The date of graduation Information about other schools you attended 14 Information in the Education Section Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

List your grade-point average. Compile a list of courses. Describe a special accomplishment. List honors and awards you received. 15 Guidelines for Elaborating on Your Education Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Skills used on the job Equipment operated or supervised Money you were responsible for Documents written or produced Personnel supervised Client interaction Emphasize results! 16 Details of Your Employment History Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Include only if relative to position Participation in community-service organizations Hobbies related to your career Sports, especially those that might be socially useful in your professional career University-sanctioned activities 17 Interests and Activities Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Decide how you want to present the references. Choose your references carefully. Give the potential reference an opportunity to decline gracefully. 18 Providing References Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Use only if appropriate: Computer skills Military experience Language ability Willingness to relocate 19 Other Elements of a Résumé Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

1. Identifying information 2. Objective or summary of qualifications 3. Skills 4. Education 5. Employment history 6. Interests and activities (optional) 7. References 20 Elements of a Functional/Skills Résumé Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Formatted résumé attached to an message “Plain text” or ASCII résumé (.txt file) Scannable résumé—one that will be scanned into an organization's database or copied and distributed Web-based résumé 21 Forms of Electronic Résumés Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Print focuses on verbs; electronic focuses on nouns. Include “Keywords” & use industry specific jargon. Use ASCII text only. Letters, numbers, basic punctuation Avoid boldface, italic, underlining, special characters Nothing more complex than bullets. Left align the information. Send yourself a test version of the résumé. 22 Guidelines for Preparing Plain Text Résumé Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Use a good-quality laser printer. Use white paper. Do not fold the résumé. Use a simple sans-serif typeface. Use a single-column format. Use wide margins. Use the space bar instead of the tab key. 23 Guidelines for Preparing a Scannable Résumé Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Elements of business letter: Inside address, salutation, etc. Introductory paragraph Education paragraph Employment paragraph Concluding paragraph Paragraph order depends on individual 24 Elements of a the Job Application Letter Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Selectivity. Select two or three points of greatest interest to the potential employer. Development. Develop them into paragraphs emphasizing results. 25 Keys to a Good Job-Application Letter Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Identifies your source of information Identifies the position you are interested in States that you wish to be considered for the position Forecasts the rest of the letter 26 Introductory Paragraph of a Job- Application Letter Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Begin with a topic sentence and develop a single idea. Focus on the aspect of your that education most directly fits the job requirements. 27 Education Paragraph Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Topic sentence – develop single idea. Don’t just tell it – provide evidence. Focus on Broad background Specific skill 28 Employment Paragraph Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Three main elements: 1. A reference to your résumé 2. A polite but confident request for an interview 3. Your phone number and address 29 Concluding Paragraph Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Study job interviews. Study the organization to which you applied. Think about what you can offer the organization. Study lists of common interview questions. Compile a list of questions you wish to ask. Rehearse the interview. 30 Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials Guidelines for Preparing for a Job Interview

When should you arrive for the interview? What should you wear? How do interviewers interpret your body language? What questions are you likely to be asked? How long should your answers be? How do you know when the interviewer wishes to end the interview? How can you get the interviewer’s contact information to write a follow-up letter? 31 Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials Questions to Consider Before a Job Interview

Letter of appreciation after an interview Letter accepting a job offer Letter of rejection in response to a job offer Letter acknowledging a rejection 32 Follow-Up Letters Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Résumé Letters of recommendation Transcripts and professional certifications Reports, papers, Web sites, slides of oral presentations, and other documents the applicant has written or created as a student or an employee 33 Typical Items in an Electronic Portfolio Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials

Analyze your audience and purpose. Gather your materials. Organize your materials. Write introductory statements for each major item and for the whole portfolio. Prepare the materials for electronic display. Review and revise the portfolio draft. Assemble the portfolio. 34 Chapter 15. Preparing Job-Application Materials Guidelines for Creating an Electronic Portfolio