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CHAPTER 13CHAPTER 13

The Job The Job Search, Search,

Résumés, and Résumés, and Cover LettersCover Letters

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 2

Identifyyour

interests

Evaluateyour

qualifications

Searchfor a job

electronically

Learn aboutcareers and

choose apath

Recognizethe

changingnature of jobs

Searchfor a job

traditionally

Preparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for Employment

START HERE

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 3

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?

Preparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for Employment

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 4

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

Preparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for Employment

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 5

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.

Preparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for Employment

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 6

Search for a job electronically. Check the big boards: Monster,

CareerBuilder, 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 LinkedIn, Plaxo, and Facebook).

Preparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for EmploymentPreparing for Employment

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 7

Preparing for EmploymentPreparing 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,

NETWORK!

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 8

Writing a Customized RésuméWriting 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, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 9

Highlight your technical skills.All employers seek employees proficient with the Internet, software programs, office equipment, and communication technology tools.

Arranging the PartsArranging the Parts

Special Skills, Achievements, Awards

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, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 10

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.

References

Arranging the PartsArranging the Parts

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 11

Omit references (unless specifically required). Look for ways to condense your data. Double-check for parallel phrasing. Project professionalism and quality. Avoid personal pronouns. 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.

Arranging the PartsArranging the Parts

Additional Tips

Proofread!

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 12

Being Honest and EthicalBeing 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, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 13

Polishing Your RésuméPolishing 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, 8e Chapter 13, Slide 14

Submitting Your Résumé Submitting Your Résumé

Word document Plain-text, ASCII document PDF document Company database Fax

Employers may ask you to submit your résumé in one of these ways:

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