Searching for Employment and Preparing Employment Messages Pearson

Searching for Employment and Preparing Employment Messages © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 1

The Changing Workplace • How often people look for work • Where people find work • The type of people who find work © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 2

What Today’s Employers Require • Flexibility and adaptability • Life-long learning • Teamwork skills • Strong work records • Diversified skills • Varied job experience © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 3

What Can You Offer? • Personal achievements • Educational preparation • Work experience • Extracurricular activities • Personal characteristics © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 4

What Do You Want to Do? • Type of occupation • Size of company • Nature of the job • Type of operation • Specific compensation • Location • Career goals • Corporate culture © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 • Facilities Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 5

Building Your Career • Employment portfolio • Interim assignments • Workplace skills • Life-long learning © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 6

The Employment Search • Build toward a career • Prepare a resumé • Understand the interview process • Prepare for interview • Take the interview • Follow up and accept the offer © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 7

Organizing Your Approach • Monitor business news • Research specific companies • Look for job openings • Respond to job openings • Build a network • Seek career counselling © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 8

Three-Step Resumé Process • Planning • Writing • Completing © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 9

Planning Your Resumé • Analysis • Information • Adaptation © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 10

What Employers Seek • • Results orientation Workplace achievements Versatility Signs of progress Standards of excellence Flexibility Communication skills © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 11

Organizing Resumés • Chronological • Functional • Combination © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 12

Resumé Components • Contact information • Career objective or summary • Education • Employment history • Activities and achievements • Interests © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 13

Avoid Resumé Deception • Overstating educational credits • Inflating grade-point average • Hiding gaps in work record • Covering periods of unemployment • Omitting embarrassing jobs • Exaggerating expertise or experience © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 14

Common Resumé Problems • Inappropriate length • Boastful • Hard to read • Carelessly written • Dishonest • Wordy • Too slick © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 15

Producing Traditional Resumés • Clean typeface • High-grade paper • Ample margins • Laser printed • Appropriate length • Professional design © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 16

Resumé Formats • Printed • ASCII-Text • HTML-Coded © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 17

Producing Scannable Resumés • ASCII format • Document design • Key words • Current jargon © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 18

Submitting Scannable Résumés • Mail • E-mail • Fax © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 19

Submitting On-line Resumés • Personal Web sites – Hyperlinks – Relevant personal information – Papers written, sound clips, audio clips • Index services – Employment information – ASCII version – Public access (Be careful!) © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 20

Proofread Your Resumé • Mechanics and details • Current information © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 21

Writing Application Letters • Show knowledge of the company • Keep it short • Gain attention • Build interest • Aim for high quality © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 22

Types of Application Letters • Solicited • Unsolicited – Getting attention – Building interest – Increasing desire – Motivating action © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 23

Cultural Considerations • The right style and approach • Proper tone and format © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 24

Other Employment Messages • Application forms • Job-inquiry letters • Application follow-ups © Pearson Education Canada, 2005 Business Communication Essentials, Canadian Edition 25