Building Careers and Writing Rsums Prentice Hall 2005

Building Careers and Writing Résumés © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 1

Today’s Dynamic Workplace • • Career stability “Job-hopping” Small businesses Independent contractors © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 2

How Employers View the Job Market • Financial trade-offs – Temporary workers – Independent contractors • Economic uncertainty – Cheaper labor markets – Global recruiting © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 3

What Today’s Employers Require • Flexibility and adaptability • Life-long learning • Teamwork skills • Strong work records © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 4

What Today’s Employers Require • Leadership capabilities • Diversified skills • Varied experiences • Multicultural and international awareness © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 5

Adapting to the Market • What you want • What you can offer • Your workplace value © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 6

What Do You Want? Type of Occupation Nature of the Job Specific Compensation General Career Goals Size of Company Type of Operation Location Facilities Corporate Culture © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 7

What Can You Offer? • Personal achievements • Educational preparation • Work experience • Extracurricular activities • Personal characteristics © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 8

Increasing Your Value • Employment portfolio • Interim assignments • Workplace skills • Life-long learning © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 9

The Employment Search • Build toward a career • Prepare a résumé • Understand the interview process • Prepare for interview • Take the interview • Follow up and accept the offer © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 10

Employer Recruiting Practices • Look inside the company • Networking and personal references • Employment agency or search firm • Unsolicited résumés • Newspaper want ads © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 11

Organizing Your Approach • Track business news • Monitor specific firms • Seek opportunities • Respond to openings • Build a network • Seek counseling © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 12

Three-Step Résumé Process • Planning • Writing • Completing © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 13

Planning Your Résumé • Audience and purpose • Information needs • The best medium • Overall content © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 14

What Employers Seek • • Results orientation Workplace achievements Versatility Signs of progress Standards of excellence Flexibility Communication skills © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 15

Areas of Concern • • • Frequent job changes Gaps in work history Level of experience Long-term with one company For-cause job termination Criminal or arrest record © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 16

Organizing Your Résumé • Chronological • Functional • Combination © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 17

Writing Your Résumé • Respect your résumé • Take your time • Review good models • Minimize frustration © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 18

Keep the Résumé Honest • Workplace references • Background checks • Credit histories © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 19

Adapting to the Audience • Consider the employer’s perspective • Build on past accomplishments • Stress your future potential • Translate skills and experience • Clarify educational achievements © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 20

Composing Your Résumé • Name and address • Career objective or summary • Academic credentials • Employment history • Activities and achievements • Relevant personal data © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 21

Completing Your Résumé • Revising • Producing • proofreading © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 22

Common Résumé Problems • Wrong length • Amateurish • Hard to read • Boastful • Wordy • Dishonest • Too slick • Gimmicky • Poorly reproduced • Carelessly written © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 23

Producing Your Résumé • Printed traditional résumé • Printed scannable résumé • Electronic plain-text file • MS Word file • Online résumé • Electronic PDF file © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 24

Printing Your Résumé • Paper quality • Overall length • Formatting issues • Objectives and key words © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 25

Digital Résumé Formats • Plain-text file • MS Word file • Webpage version © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 26

Proofreading Your Résumé • Headings and lists • Grammar and punctuation • Spelling and word choice • Paper and digital formats © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 27

Submitting Your Résumé • Postal mail • E-mail or online • Fax machine © Prentice Hall, 2005 Business Communication Today 8 e 28