1 Technical Communication A Reader-Centred Approach First Canadian Edition Paul V. Anderson Kerry Surman

2 Obtaining a Job Chapter 11

3 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Learning Objectives Apply the reader-centred approach to work- related communications Apply the reader-centred approach to work- related communications Write effective résumés and job application letters Write effective résumés and job application letters Apply special considerations to online applications Apply special considerations to online applications Apply ethical considerations to job application materials Apply ethical considerations to job application materials

4 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Central Principles of the Reader-Centred Approach Think constantly about your readers Think constantly about your readers – As you make each writing decision, consider your readers’ characteristics, situation, and goals – Concentrate on crafting a usable and persuasive communication – Focus on how your readers will respond moment by moment

5 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Writing Your Résumé Defining objectives for your résumé Defining objectives for your résumé Planning your résumé Planning your résumé Drafting your résumé's text, graphics, and visual design Drafting your résumé's text, graphics, and visual design Evaluating your draft Evaluating your draft Revising your draft Revising your draft

6 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Defining Your Résumé’s Objectives Identify your employers Identify your employers Determine your résumé's persuasive objectives Determine your résumé's persuasive objectives – Try to learn exactly what the employer wants Understand your résumé's usability objectives Understand your résumé's usability objectives Deal with the complexity of objectives Deal with the complexity of objectives

7 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited What Employers Seek in New Employees Technical expertise Technical expertise Essential employability skills Essential employability skills Favourable personal attributes Favourable personal attributes

8 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Planning Your Résumé Two conventional structures Two conventional structures Chronological Chronological – See Figure 11.1, page 270 Functional Functional – See Figure 11.2, page 272 Length depends on qualifications Length depends on qualifications

9 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Drafting Your Résumé General strategies General strategies Sections Sections Drafting the text of a chronological résumé Drafting the text of a chronological résumé Drafting the text of a functional résumé Drafting the text of a functional résumé Designing your résumé's appearance Designing your résumé's appearance

10 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited General Strategies for Drafting Résumés Take an employer’s perspective Take an employer’s perspective Think creatively about your qualifications Think creatively about your qualifications Be specific Be specific Write succinctly Write succinctly Eliminate irrelevant information Eliminate irrelevant information

11 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Drafting the Text of a Chronological Résumé Name and contact information Name and contact information Professional objective Professional objective Work experience Work experience Activities Activities Special abilities Special abilities Interests Interests References References

12 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Special Educational Qualifications to Highlight Advanced courses related to the job Advanced courses related to the job Courses that broaden your range of abilities Courses that broaden your range of abilities Co-op placements Co-op placements Special projects Special projects Academic honours or scholarships Academic honours or scholarships International experience International experience On-the-job training or courses On-the-job training or courses

13 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Facts to Highlight About Your Work Experience Your accomplishments Your accomplishments Knowledge gained Knowledge gained Responsibilities given Responsibilities given

14 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Organizing and Describing Your Work Experience List the jobs in chronological order List the jobs in chronological order Put your action in verbs Put your action in verbs Use strong verbs Use strong verbs Use parallel construction Use parallel construction

15 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Drafting the Text of a Functional Résumé Same aims as a chronological résumé Same aims as a chronological résumé Difference in organization Difference in organization – Consolidate the presentation of accomplishments in a special section at the beginning – Use subheadings within this section to organize the information in skills and accomplishments

16 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Designing Your Résumé's Appearance Short, informative headings and heading levels Short, informative headings and heading levels Lists and bullets Lists and bullets Typefaces: bolding, italics Typefaces: bolding, italics White space and ample margins White space and ample margins Visual balance Visual balance

17 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Evaluating the Draft of Your Résumé Ask someone else to review your résumé Ask someone else to review your résumé – Have them read from the readers’ perspective – Have them check features for contribution to usability and persuasiveness Proofread carefully yourself Proofread carefully yourself – Check for spelling, grammar, consistency

18 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Revising Your Résumé Be guided by your knowledge of your readers Be guided by your knowledge of your readers Tailor your résumé to specific employers Tailor your résumé to specific employers

19 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Electronic Résumés: Special Considerations Scannable résumés Scannable résumés Résumés submitted via the Internet Résumés submitted via the Internet Webpage résumés Webpage résumés

20 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Scannable Résumés Design a scannable résumé that differs from a paper résumé Design a scannable résumé that differs from a paper résumé Include keywords Include keywords Increase the number of hits your résumé receives Increase the number of hits your résumé receives

21 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Résumés Submitted Via the Internet You may need to submit your résumé You may need to submit your résumé – As an attachment – By completing an online form Draft your text first in word processing software, then paste in the appropriate format Draft your text first in word processing software, then paste in the appropriate format

22 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Webpage Résumés Link to samples of online work and more complete descriptions Link to samples of online work and more complete descriptions Keep your design simple and uncluttered Keep your design simple and uncluttered Include a link to your address Include a link to your address Post only at secure services Post only at secure services

23 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Writing Your Job Application Letter Defining your letter’s objectives Defining your letter’s objectives Planning your letter Planning your letter Drafting your letter Drafting your letter Evaluating your letter Evaluating your letter Revising your letter Revising your letter

24 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Defining Your Letter’s Objectives Usability objectives include answers to these questions Usability objectives include answers to these questions – Why do you want to work for me instead of someone else? – How will you contribute to my organization’s success? – Will you work well with my other employees and the people with whom we do business?

25 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Defining Your Letter’s Objectives (continued) Persuasive objectives are Persuasive objectives are – To respond to the employer’s questions in ways that make the employer want to hire you – To convey a favourable sense of attributes that employers value but can’t be communicated easily in your résumé

26 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Planning Your Letter Look for information about things the organization is proud of to make your letter reader-centred Look for information about things the organization is proud of to make your letter reader-centred Learn about employers Learn about employers – Ask a knowledgeable person – Contact the company – Search the Web – Check resources on campus

27 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Drafting Your Letter Introduction Introduction – Indicate the job you want and why Qualifications Qualifications – Explain how your knowledge and experience prepare you to contribute Conclusion Conclusion – Look ahead to the next step

28 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Evaluating Your Letter Review the personality you project Review the personality you project Review your tone Review your tone – See Figure 11.3, page 285

29 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Revising Your Letter You may encounter the same difficulties you encounter when revising your résumé You may encounter the same difficulties you encounter when revising your résumé Use your creativity and good judgment Use your creativity and good judgment Think constantly about your readers Think constantly about your readers

30 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Ethical Issues in the Job Search You are permitted to present facts about yourself in a selective way You are permitted to present facts about yourself in a selective way You are also expected to present the favourable information about yourself in impressive language You are also expected to present the favourable information about yourself in impressive language You are not permitted to list credentials you don’t have or jobs you haven’t held You are not permitted to list credentials you don’t have or jobs you haven’t held

31 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited Writing For Employment in Other Countries Information on and format of résumés may differ Information on and format of résumés may differ Letters may or may not be required Letters may or may not be required A list of references, or a letter of reference, may be included in the initial application A list of references, or a letter of reference, may be included in the initial application

32 (c) 2007 Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited In Summary Apply the reader-centred approach to job application materials Apply the reader-centred approach to job application materials Tailor your online applications Tailor your online applications Ensure that your job application materials are ethically aligned Ensure that your job application materials are ethically aligned