CHAPTER 13 The Job Search Rsums and Cover

CHAPTER 13 The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters Student Version © 2010 Thomson South-Western

Preparing for Employment Search for a job traditionally Search for a job electronically Identify your interests START HERE Learn about careers and choose a path Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Evaluate your qualifications Recognize the changing nature of jobs Chapter 13, Slide 2

Preparing for Employment Identify your interests. § Do you enjoy working with people, data or things? § Do you need to be your own boss? § How important are salary, benefits, location, and so forth? Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 3

Preparing for Employment Evaluate your qualifications. § What technology, language, and people skills can you offer? § How can you demonstrate your skills? Recognize the changing nature of jobs. § Fewer people in permanent positions § More flexible workplace, including telecommuting § Lifelong learning needed to continually update skills Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 4

Preparing for Employment Learn about careers and choose a path. § Visit your campus career center, search the Web, use your library. § Take a summer or part-time job in your field. § Volunteer with a nonprofit organization. § Interview someone in your field. § Join professional organizations. Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 5

Preparing for Employment Search for a job electronically. § Check the big boards: Monster, Career. Builder, College Recruiter, Yahoo Hot Jobs. § Use the big boards for information; realize that few people actually find jobs on them. § Look beyond the big boards to corporate Web sites, professional association sites, as well as local employment, niche, and social sites (such as Linked. In, Plaxo, and Facebook). Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 6

Preparing for Employment Search for a job traditionally. § Check classified ads. § Check alumni and professional association listings. § Contact companies directly. § Sign up for campus interviews; attend job fairs. § Ask for advice from instructors. § NETWORK, NETWORK! Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 7

Writing a Customized Résumé Preparation § Research the job market. Use newspapers, the Web, and other resources to learn about jobs, qualifications, and employers. § Analyze your strengths. What will sell you for the job you want? § Study other résumés as models. Experiment with formatting. Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 8

Arranging the Parts Special Skills, Achievements, Awards § Highlight your technical skills. All employers seek employees proficient with the Internet, software programs, office equipment, and communication technology tools. § Show that you are well-rounded. List awards and extracurricular activities, especially if they demonstrate leadership, teamwork, reliability, loyalty, initiative, efficiency, and self-sufficiency. Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 9

Arranging the Parts References § Listing references directly on your résumé takes up valuable space. § Instead, most recruiters prefer that you bring to the interview a list of individuals willing to discuss your qualifications. § The best references are instructors, your current employer or previous employers, colleagues or subordinates, and other professional contacts. Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 10

Arranging the Parts Additional Tips § § § § Omit references (unless specifically required). Look for ways to condense your data. ! Double-check for parallel phrasing. d a e r Project professionalism and quality. f o o Avoid personal pronouns. Pr Omit humor. Use 24 -pound paper and a quality printer for your print copy. § Know how to send your résumé by e-mail. § Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé. Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 11

Being Honest and Ethical § Do not inflate your education, grades, or honors. § Do not enhance job titles. § Do not puff up accomplishments. § Do not alter employment dates. § Do be honest, ethical, and careful. Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 12

Polishing Your Résumé § Avoid including anything that could become a basis for discrimination: photograph, age, marital status, national origin, race, etc. § Do not send a photograph. § Don't include your social security number. § Don't include high school information, references, or full addresses of schools or employers. § Don't put the word "résumé" at the top. Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 13

Submitting Your Résumé Employers may ask you to submit your résumé in one of these ways: § § § Word document Plain-text, ASCII document PDF document Company database Fax Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8 e Chapter 13, Slide 14

END Student Version © 2010 Thomson South-Western