© 2008 pearson education, inc., publishing as longman publishers. chapter 18 employment...
TRANSCRIPT
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.
Chapter 18 Employment Correspondence
Technical Communication, 11th EditionJohn M. Lannon
© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.
Prospecting for Jobs
Assess your skills and aptitudes.Research the job market.Search onlineLearn to network.
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Preparing a Résumé
Typical ComponentsContact informationJob and career objectivesEducationWork experiencePersonal dataPersonal interests, awards, and skillsReferences
PortfolioUsed in some professions to provide work
samples
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Organizing a Résumé Organize your résumé to highlight your
qualifications in the best possible way
Reverse chronological orderReverse chronological order
FunctionalFunctional CombinationCombination
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Guidelines for Résumés
Begin résumé well before your job search Try to limit your resume to a single page Use high quality paper in a professional color Stick to relevant experience Never invent credentials Do not discuss salary Avoid complete sentences Use action verbs and key words Use punctuation to clarify and emphasize Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
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Job Application LetterInclude a cover letter with each résuméGive yourself a likeable imageTarget your letter to a specific opportunityTwo types
SolicitedUnsolicited
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Format of Cover Letters
Solicited Introduction
State job you are applying for, where you saw it advertised, one sentence summary of yourself
Body Without simply repeating
your resume, point out your best qualifications, using specific examples
Conclusion Restate interest and
request interview
Unsolicited Introduction
Prepare an attention-grabbing opening and address letter to a specific person.
Body Without simply repeating
your resume, point out your best qualifications, using specific examples
Conclusion Restate interest and
request interview
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Electronic Job Hunting
Most U.S. employers encourage candidates to submit online resumes
Electronic scanning of résumés Searches for keywords to select
interviewees
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Electronic ResumesEmail Résumés
Directly as email textBe careful to reformat, use space bar instead of tabs, end
each line by hitting the enter key
Attach a FileCheck with the potential employer to see what formats they
will accept.
ASCII RésumésAlso called a “Text File.” Can be read by any computer.
Searchable RésumésA hyperlinked resume on a personal, school, or professional
society web page, often containing links to an online portfolio
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Online Job Searching and Privacy Risks include:
your present employer discovering that you are looking for work
Unintended recipients accessing personal information
Protect Yourself By:Limit personal information you includeBe selective about which sites you use
Protect Your Good Name Online:Be careful with social networking sites as many
employers search these. Avoid inflammatory comments and Party stories and adjust your privacy settings accordingly!
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Support for the ApplicationDossier
Includes your official records, such as college transcript, scholarship letters
Professional portfolioContains samples of your professional
work
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Employment Interviews
Top applicants are asked to Interview for positions
Interviews can vary in formatFace to face, telephone, video conferenceOne-on-one, with a committeeAlone or with a group of candidatesAn hour, or several daysPleasant chats or grueling interrogations
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Mastering the Interview
Careful Preparation is KeyResearch the companyPlan for common interview questionsDress appropriatelyPrepare a list of well-researched questions
about the job and organization
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After the InterviewThe Follow-Up Letter
A Thank you letter should be sent within a day of the interview
Be brief but personal and close with enthusiasm
Letter of AcceptanceServes as part of your contract
Letter of RefusalShould be polite, prompt, and allow for future
opportunities
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Any Questions? For additional help reviewing this chapter,
please visit the Companion Website for your text at http://www.ablongman.com/lannon.