商务与管理沟通（英文 第12版）教案 Locker-BAC12e-IM-Ch11 Developing Job Application Materials

11-

Chapter11

DevelopingJobApplicationMaterials

TableofContents

DescriptionoftheChapter

3

EssentialstoCover

4

StrategiesforIncreasingLearning

6

IdentifyandAvoidCommonWeaknessesinRésumés

6

IdentifyandAvoidCommonWeaknessesinApplicationLetters

6

RefertoTextbookContentCoveredPreviously

7

Connect

8

ApplicationExercises

8

AdvisingaFiredFriend

8

HelpingwithChip’sRésumé 9

DraftingaJobApplicationLetter

9

HelpingOscarwithHisLetter

10

Chapter11Quiz

10

Chapter11TestBank

11

LearnSmartAchieve®

11

SmartBook®

11

AnswersandAnalysisforEnd-of-ChapterExercisesandCases

11

11.1ReviewingtheChapter

11

11.2ReviewingGrammar

14

11.3AnalyzingYourAccomplishments

14

11.4RememberingWhatYou’veDone

15

Take-HomeWorksheetonRésumés

16

11.5DevelopingActionStatements

17

11.6DecidingHowMuchDetailtoUse

17

11.7TakingAdvantageofVolunteerOpportunities

18

11.8PerformingaNeedsAnalysis

18

11.9EvaluatingYourOnlineReputation

18

11.10EditingaRésumé

18

11.11AnalyzingJobApplicantsBasedonTheirRésumés

19

11.12PreparingaRésumé

19

11.13CritiquingYourRésumé

20

11.14CreatingaWeborPaperPortfolio

20

11.15EvaluatingVisualRésumés

20

11.16EvaluatingLinkedInProfiles

21

11.17AnalyzingFirstParagraphsofProspectingLetters

21

11.18ImprovingYou-AttitudeandPositiveEmphasisinJobLetters

23

11.19EvaluatingLetterContent

25

11.20EvaluatingRoughDrafts

26

11.21GatheringInformationaboutCompaniesinYourCareerField

28

11.22ConductinganInformationInterview

28

11.23WritingaSolicitedLetter

28

11.24CreatingaVirtualCoverLetter

29

11.25ReviewingCoverLetters

29

Take-HomeWorksheetonJobApplicationLetters

30

ExercisePlanningTable

32

PPTLectureOutline

33

PartA:Résumés

33

PartB:JobApplicationLetters

33

LessonPlanIdeas

34

IntroductoryLectures/DiscussionsonRésumés

34

CreatingTheirOwnRésumés

35

EvaluatingTheirStrengthsandWeaknesses

35

InvitingaRepresentativefromtheCareerServicesOffice

35

DebunkingRésuméMyths

36

DiscussingChronologicalRésumés

37

DiscussingSkillsRésumés

37

AnalyzingOne-andTwoRésumés

37

DiscussingHowtoBeginDraftingaRésumé

38

PeerReviewRésumés

38

GivingStudentsFeedbackonTheirOwnRésumés

39

DiscussingHowRésumésandLettersofApplicationWorkTogether

39

IntroductoryLectures/DiscussionsonJobApplicationLetters

39

DiscussingSolicitedLetters

40

DiscussingProspectingLetters

40

DraftingJobApplicationLetters

41

DiscussingApplicationEssays

41

RevisingaJobApplicationLetter

41

DiscussingWhereJobsAreandHowtoFindThem

41

DiscussingGradedPapers

42

QuestionoftheDay

42

DescriptionoftheChapter

Thischapterdiscusseschronologicalandskillsrésumés,givesguidelinesfordeterminingwhichoneisappropriateinanygivensituation,showswhattoincludeinarésumé,andhowtoorganizebothbasictypesofrésumés.Thischapteremphasizesthehonestyneededinpreparingapplicationmaterialsanddiscusseshowtodealwithdifficulties,theimportanceofnetworking,andthehiddenjobmarket.Chapter11discussessolicitedandprospectingjobapplicationletters,howtoorganizethem,andcreatingaprofessionalimage.

Thelearningobjectivesinclude:

LO11-1Conductaneffectivejobsearch.

LO11-2Preparearésuméthatmakesyoulookattractivetoemployers.

LO11-3Dealwithcommondifficultiesthatariseduringjobsearches.

LO11-4Handletheonlineportionofjobsearches.

LO11-5Keepyourrésuméhonest.

LO11-6Writeajobletterthatattractsemployers.

LO11-7Usesocialnetworkingandapersonalwebsitetocreateavirtualcoverletter.

EssentialstoCover

LO11-1 Conductaneffectivejobsearch.

TheInternethasmanytoolsforjobsearching.Choosetheonesthatwillbebestforyouandyourcareer.

Networkingandinternshipshelpyoubuildrelationshipsinyourprofession.

Whenyouaresearchingforajob,youronlinereputationisvital.UsesocialnetworkinglikeTwitter,Facebook,andLinkedInwiselytobuildandmaintainyouronlinepersonalbrand.

Withyouronlinejobsearchefforts,alwaysbepreparedtogiveatraditionalcoverletterandrésumétoaninterestedemployer.

LO11-2 Preparearésuméthatmakesyoulookattractivetoemployers.

Employersskimrésuméstodecidewhomtointerview.Employersassumethattheletterandrésumérepresentyourbestwork.

Emphasizeinformationthatisrelevanttothejobyouwant,isrecent(lastthreeyears),andshowsyoursuperioritytootherapplicants.

Toemphasizekeypoints,puttheminheadings,listthemvertically,andprovidedetails.

Résumésusesentencefragmentspunctuatedlikecompletesentences.Itemsintherésumémustbeconciseandparallel.Verbsandgerundscreateadynamicimageofyou.

Achronologicalrésumésummarizeswhatyoudidinatimeline(startingwiththemostrecenteventsandgoingbackwardinreversechronology).Itemphasizesdegrees,jobtitles,anddates.Useachronologicalrésuméwhen:

Youreducationandexperiencearealogicalpreparationforthepositionforwhichyou’reapplying.

Youhaveimpressivejobtitles,offices,orhonors.

Askillsrésuméemphasizestheskillsyou’veused,ratherthanthejobinwhichorthedatewhenyouusedthem.Useaskillsrésuméwhen:

Youreducationandexperiencearenottheusualroutetothepositionforwhichyou’reapplying.

You’rechangingfields.

Youwanttocombineexperiencefrompaidjobs,activities,volunteerwork,andcoursestoshowtheextentofyourexperienceinadministration,finance,speaking,etc.

Yourrecentworkhistorymaycreatethewrongimpression(e.g.,ithasgaps,showsademotion,showsjob-hopping,etc.).

Résuméscontaintheapplicant’scontactinformation,education,andexperience.Summaryofqualifications,honorsandawards,otherskills,activities,andaportfolioreferencemayalsobeincluded.

LO11-3 Dealwithcommondifficultiesthatariseduringjobsearches.

Removeanyunprofessionalmaterialfromyourpersonalwebpageandsocialnetworkingsites.

Ifyouhavegapsinyouremploymenthistory,lowexperience,orifyouwerelaidofforfired,addressthoseproblemshonestlyinbothyourrésuméandyourinterview.

Seekopportunities,suchasinternshipstoprovidesolidexperienceinyourfieldandvolunteerworktofillinorexpandyourrelevantworkskills.

LO11-4 Handletheonlineportionofjobsearches.

ManyrésumésarenowsentelectronicallyandarepostedontheInternetortheorganization’swebsite.Prepareyourrésumétosendbothelectronicallyandinprint.

LO11-5 Keepyourrésuméhonest.

Alwaysbecompletelyhonestinyourrésuméandjobsearch.Dishonestycankeepyoufrombeinghiredorcauseyoutoloseyourjoblater.

LO11-6 Writeajobletterthatattractsemployers.

Whenyouknowthatacompanyishiring,sendasolicitedjobletter.Whenyouwantajobwithacompanythathasnotannouncedopenings,sendaprospectingjobletter.Inbothletters,youshould:

Addressthelettertoaspecificperson.

Indicatethespecificpositionforwhichyou’reapplying.

Bespecificaboutyourqualifications.

Showwhatseparatesyoufromotherapplicants.

Showknowledgeofthecompanyandtheposition.

Refertoyourrésumé(whichyouwouldenclosewiththeletter).

Useyourknowledgeofthecompany,yourcoursework,yourunderstandingofthefield,andyourexperienceinjobsandextracurricularactivitiestoshowthatyou’reunique.

Don’trepeatinformationthatthereaderalreadyknows;don’tseemtobelecturingthereaderonhisorherbusiness.

Usepositiveemphasistosoundconfident.Useyou-attitudebysupportinggeneralclaimswithspecificexamplesandbyrelatingwhatyou’vedonetowhattheemployerneeds.

Haveatleastthreeparagraphsinyourletter.Mostjoblettersareonlyonepage.

Applicationessaysgiveyouachancetoexpandonyourbestpointsandshowyourpersonality.

LO11-7 Usesocialnetworkingandapersonalwebsitetocreateavirtualcoverletter.

Yoursocialnetworkingandpersonalwebsitecanfunctionasavirtualcoverlettertoreachthoseemployerssearchingforpeopletorecruit.

StrategiesforIncreasingLearning

Learnersaregenerallyeagertoworkonjobapplicationmaterials,buttheyunderestimatetheamountoftimeandeffortittakestocreateeffectiverésumésandjobapplicationletters.Theyalsotendunderestimatethedepthofdetail,precisionoflanguage,qualityofdocumentdesign,andtheperfectionofeditingandproofreadingnecessarytoproducethesedocuments.

IdentifyandAvoidCommonWeaknessesinRésumés

Followingisalistofweaknessesthatcommonlyoccurinstudentrésumés.Keepingthesepotentialproblemsinmindasyouplanyourteachingofthischaptermayincreaseyourchancesofhelpinglearnerssuccessfullyavoidthem.Considersharingthislistwithyourlearnerswhentheyareintheprocessofwritingtheirowndrafts.Manyneedonlyaremindertogetthemontrack:

Inadequatedescriptionsofjobs(e.g.,justlistingthejobtitlewithoutgivingthereaderanideaoftheprimaryresponsibilitiesortheskillsused)

Careerobjectivesthataretoogeneraltobemeaningful(e.g.,“entry-leveljobinaccounting”)

Wrongtypeofrésuméhasbeenchosen(mostoftenachronologicalrésuméwhenaskillsrésuméwouldbetterpresenttheapplicanttohisorheradvantage)

Poorcategories/headingsforskillsrésumés

Vaguelanguage(e.g.,“dealtwithpeople”or“handledmoney”)

Faultyparallelismindescriptionsofjobresponsibilities,whetherinparagraphorlistform

Spellingandpunctuationerrors

Issueswithhonesty

Poorvisualimpact,oftenduetoovercrowdinginanattempttokeeptherésumétoonepage,orusingaformatfavoredbycareerservicesorafriend,whenit’snotappropriateforthisstudent’ssituation

IdentifyandAvoidCommonWeaknessesinApplicationLetters

Manyinstructorsfindthatthemostcommonproblemintheirlearners’applicationlettersisthattheysoundgeneric:theycouldbesenttoalmostanyemployer.Showinglearners’effectivelettersasmodelsandhavingthemcritiquebothgoodandbadexamplescanhelpagreatdeal.Despitethispractice,youmaystillfindthefollowingtwoweaknessesquiteofteninyourlearners’letters:

Learnersasserttheyarequalifiedwithoutactuallydemonstratingit.

Atthedraftstage,manylearnersstatethattheyhaveadegreeandassumethat’senoughwithoutrealizingthatforjobsthatrequireadegree,it’sjustastartingpoint.

Trytocounterthistendencybyexplainingthattheprimaryfunctionoftheletteristointerprettherésumé.Tohaveachanceforaninterview,applicantsneedtodevelopthediscussionoftheirqualificationsandshowwhattheyhavetoofferthisparticularemployer.Youmighthaveaclassrulethatlearnersarenotallowedtomakeanyassertionsabouttheirqualificationswithoutproviding“evidence”tobackthemup.So,forexample,astudentcannotsay,“Inmymarketingclass,wecompletedprojectsthatpreparedmetoworkatyourcompany”withoutgoingontogiveexamplesthatillustrateanddemonstratethisidea.

Anotherwaytoovercomethisproblemistotrytopreventitinthefirstplace;learnersshouldhave“evidence”beforetheydrafttheletter.Considerhavinglearnerswriteaself-assessmentinclassinresponsetospecificprompts.Forexample,askstudentstolistfivereasonsanemployerwouldwanttohirethem.Thereasonscouldbepersonalcharacteristics,suchas“I’mateamplayer,”oritcouldbeatechnicalskill,suchas“experiencewithprogramminginC++.”Afterstudentshavemadetheirlists,say“Pretendthataskepticalpersonislookingoveryourshoulderateachthingyou’vewrittenandsays,‘Proveit!’Writeaparagraphforeachitemonyourlistprovidingspecificdetailsandexamplesthatdemonstratewhyyoucanlegitimatelyclaimtohavethatskillorquality.”

Whenstudentsarefinished,whichshouldtakesometimeiftheyaredoingitcorrectly,theyexchangetheirpaperswithaclassmatewhoisaskedtoplay“devil’sadvocate”andseeiftheevidencestudentsofferisconvincing.Iftheirsupportingdetailsaretoogeneralorotherwisenotappropriate,thereadertellsthewriterwhomustthenrevisehisorherassessments.

Pointouttostudentsthattheyhavetoincorporatethesamekindofdetailintotheiractualletters.Whenthey’vecompletedtheirdrafts,studentsagaintradepaperswithpeerswhodeterminewhetherthedetailsseemappropriateandconvincing.

Studentseitherdonotshowappropriateknowledgeaboutthecompanyorpresenttheirknowledgeinawaythatsoundsliketheyarelecturingthereader.

Showingknowledgeaboutthecompanyisdifficultinaclassroomassignment.Havingstudentsbasetheirlettersonarealjobdescriptionorvacancyannouncementcanhelp.Asawarm-uptothisassignment,youmighthavestudentsfirstcompleteexercise11.21GatheringInformationaboutCompaniesinYourCareerField,whichasksthemtogatherinformationaboutaspecificorganization.Workwithlearnerstoconnecttheirowninformationtothecompany’sdetails.

RefertoTextbookContentCoveredPreviously

Wheneveryoucan,referbacktotextbookcontentfromthepreviouschapterslistedbelow,andifyoucan,refertorésumésandcoverlettersasyouteachthesechapters:

Chapter2:AdaptingYourMessagetoYourAudience

Chapter3:BuildingGoodwill

Chapter5:DesigningDocuments

Chapter10:CraftingPersuasiveMessages

Connect

Connect®BusinessCommunicationallowsyoutoenhancetheskillsofstudents,andpreparethemforthenetworkedworldusingthelatestproven-effectiveadaptiveresources.Itoffersassignable,auto-gradedactivitiesproventoincreasetestscores,retentionrates,andattendance.

EachchapterisavailableinSmartBook®formatandincludesLearnSmartAchieve®.Inaddition,therearenumerouschapter-specificactivitiesavailableinConnect.Activitiesincludeachapterquiz,aTestBank,andavarietyofApplicationExercises,containingmatching,multiple-choice,andrankingquestions;caseanalysisexercises;andvideocases.Belowarealistofavailableassetsandsuggestionsforincorporatingthemintoyourcourse.

ApplicationExercises

AdvisingaFiredFriend

LO:11-2,11-3

AACSB:Communication

Blooms:Apply

DifficultyLevel:Hard

Thiscaseanalysisexerciseaskslearnerstoanalyzeandrespondtoadifficultcommunicativesituation.

UseAdvisingaFiredFriendasareviewoftheconcepts.

Useasquizafterthereading:

AssignChapter11forstudy.

AssignAdvisingaFiredFriendasaquizonasectionofthereading.

Useasreviewafterlectureanddiscussion:

Covertheguidelinesforrésumés(PPTslides11A.12–11.21),kindsofrésumésandhowtoorganizethem(PPTslides11A.22–11.33),anddealingwithdifficulties(PPTslides11A.34–11.40).

Completetheclassactivitythatasksstudentstoapplytheknowledgelike11.3AnalyzingYourAccomplishmentsor11.4RememberingWhatYou’veDone,perhapsevenholdinganopendiscussionabouthowthingscangowrongonthejobandtheirconsequences.

AssignAdvisingaFiredFriendashomeworktoreview.

HelpingwithChip’sRésumé

LO:11-2

AACSB:Communication

Blooms:Apply

DifficultyLevel:Hard

Thiscaseanalysisexercisehelpslearnersanalyzerésumésandapplywhat’sbeenlearnedtomakerecommendations.

Useasquizafterthereading:

AssignChapter11forstudy.

AssignHelpingwithChip’sRésuméasaquizonasectionofthereading.

UseHelpingwithChip’sRésuméasareviewoftheconceptsafterlectureanddiscussion:

Coverthecontentandorganizationofrésumés(PPTslides11A.12–11.33).

Followwithanactivitylike11.5DevelopingActionStatements,11.6DecidingHowMuchDetailtoUse,11.10EditingaRésumé,11.11AnalyzingJobApplicantsBasedonTheirRésumés

AssignHelpingwithChip’sRésuméashomeworktoreview.

Useasaprecursortoaworkshopordraftingday:

HelpingwithChip’sRésuméwouldworkwellatthebeginningofacomputerlabdaywhereyou’llasklearnerstostartworkingontheirownprojects.

DraftingaJobApplicationLetter

LO:11-6

AACSB:Communication

Blooms:Understand;Analyze

DifficultyLevel:Medium‒Hard

Thisrankingexerciseaskslearnerstodemonstrateorderingcontentinajobapplicationletter.

UseDraftingaJobApplicationLetterasareviewoftheconcepts.

Useasquizafterthereading:

AssignChapter11forstudy.

AssignDraftingaJobApplicationLetterasaquizonasectionofthereading.

Useasreviewafterlectureanddiscussion:

Covertheguidelinesforjobapplicationletters(PPTslides11B.7–11.17andcreatingaprofessionalimage(PPTslides11B.18–11.28).

Completetheclassactivitythatasksstudentstoapplytheknowledgelike:

11.17AnalyzingFirstParagraphsofProspectingLetters

11.18ImprovingYou-AttitudeandPositiveEmphasisinJobLetters

11.19EvaluatingLetterContent

11.20EvaluatingRoughDrafts

11.25ReviewingCoverLetters

YoucanalsoaskstudentstoanalyzeexamplelettersinFigures11.12,11.13,and11.15.

AssignDraftingaJobApplicationLetterashomeworktoreview.

HelpingOscarwithHisLetter

LO:11-6

AACSB:Communication

Blooms:Analyze

DifficultyLevel:Hard

Thiscaseanalysisexercisehelpslearnersanalyzejobapplicationlettersandapplywhat’sbeenlearnedtomakerecommendations.

Useasquizafterthereading:

AssignChapter11forstudy.

AssignHelpingOscarwithHisLetterasaquizonasectionofthereading.

UseHelpingOscarwithHisLetterasareviewoftheconceptsafterlectureanddiscussion:

Coverthecontentandorganizationofrésumés(PPTslides11A.12–11.33).

Theexerciseasksstudentstoevaluatespecificelementsofanapplicationletter,soaskstudentstocompleteexercisesinclassthataskthemaboutspecificelementsofjobapplicationletters.Useexerciseslike:

11.6DecidingHowMuchDetailtoUse

11.17AnalyzingFirstParagraphsofProspectingLetters

11.18ImprovingYou-AttitudeandPositiveEmphasisinJobLetters

11.19EvaluatingLetterContent

11.20EvaluatingRoughDrafts

AssignUseHelpingOscarwithHisLetterashomeworktoreview.

Useasaprecursortoaworkshopordraftingday:

HelpingOscarwithHisLetterwouldworkwellatthebeginningofacomputerlabdaywhereyou’llasklearnerstostartworkingontheirownprojects.

Chapter11Quiz

Themultiple-choicequiztestslearners’understandingofthechapter’scontent.

Chapter11TestBank

Thequestionbankutilizestrue/false,multiplechoice,andshortanswerquestionstothoroughlytestthelearners’understandingofthechapter’scontent.

LearnSmartAchieve®

LearnSmartAchieve®developsandimproveseditingandbusinesswritingskills.Thisadaptivelearningsystemhelpsstudentslearnfaster,studymoreefficiently,andretainmoreknowledgeforgreatersuccess.

SmartBook®

SmartBook®isthefirstandonlyadaptivereadingexperiencedesignedtochangethewaystudentsreadandlearn.

AnswersandAnalysisforEnd-of-ChapterExercisesandCases

Answersfortheend-of-chapterexercisesandcasesinChapter11aregivenbelow.

11.1ReviewingtheChapter

LO:11-1–11-7

DifficultyLevel:Easy

HowcanyouusetheInterneteffectivelyinyourjobsearch?(LO11-1)

UsetheInternettosearchjoblistings,researchcareersandcompanies,postrésumés,applyforjobs,andmaintainanonlineidentity.

Whatistheroleofnetworkingandinternshipswhenyouarelookingforajob?(LO11-1)

Networkingprovidesyouwithcriticalopportunitiestomeetpeople,learnaboutcareersandcompanies,andmakeconnectionsthatwillbehelpfulingettingajob.Manycompanieshiretheirinternsasfull-timeemployeeswhentheirinternshipsarecomplete.Internshipsalsoprovideexperienceandknowledgeaboutyourcareer.

Whatistheroleofsocialnetworkinginyourjobsearch?(LO11-1)

Socialnetworkingcanbothhelpandhinderajobsearch.Throughsocialnetworking,youcanestablishnetworkconnectionsandbuildanonlineidentity.Butemployersalsojudgeyoubywhatyoupostonline,soyouneedtobecarefulinhowyouapproachmanypopularsocialsites.

Howcanyouusewritingcomponentssuchasemphasisanddetailstosetyourselfapartfromothercandidates?(LO11-2)

Emphasizethatyou’requalifiedbygivingrelevantcourseprojects,activities,andjobswhereyou’vedonesimilarwork.Youcanemphasizematerialbyputtingitatthetoporthebottomofapage,bygivingitmorespace,andbysettingitoffwithwhitespace.Inaddition,emphasizematerialbypresentingitinaverticallist,butusingaphraseinaheading,andbyprovidingdetails.

Detailsprovideevidencetosupportyourclaimsandconvincethereaderaboutyourqualifications.Omitdetailsthataddnothingtoatitle,thatarelessimpressivethanthetitlealone,orthatsuggestafaultysenseofpriorities.

Whatarefactorsyoushouldconsiderwhenpreparingyourcontactinformation?(LO11-2)

Provideanemailaddress.Somejobcandidatessetupanewemailaddressjustforjobhunting.Youremailaddressshouldlookprofessional;avoidsexy,childish,orillicitaddresses.

Giveacompletephonenumber,includingtheareacode.Somejobcandidatesgivebothhomeandcellphonenumbers.Provideaphonenumberwhereyoucanbereachedduringtheday.Donotgivelabordormphonenumbersunlessyouaresuresomeonetherewilltakeanaccuratemessageforyouatalltimes.Also,besurethatansweringmachineshaveaprofessional-soundingmessage.

Whatarekeywords?Howdoyouusetheminyoursummaryofqualifications?Inelectronicrésumés?(LO11-2)

Keywords—wordsandphrasestheemployerwillhaveacomputerseek.Usekeywordsliberallyinyoursummaryofqualifications.Sinceyouwillnotknowexactlywhatkeywordsaredesired,itmakessensetousesomesynonymsandsimilarterms.Inelectronicforms,keywordscanhelpincreasethenumberofmatchesyourrésumésproduce.

Whatkindsofdetailsmakeyourexperiencelookmostattractivetopotentialemployers?(LO11-2)

Usebulletedlistsfordetailstomakethemstandout.Focusonresultsratherthanduties;employersarefarmoreinterestedinwhatyouaccomplishedthanwhatyouhadtodo.Usenumberstosupportyourresultswhereverpossible.

Howcanactivitieshelpmakeyoulookattractivetopotentialemployers?(LO11-2)

Employersmaybeinterestedinyouractivitiesbecausetheycandemonstrateleadershiproles,managementabilities,andsocialskillsaswellastheabilitytojuggleaschedule.Asyoulistactivities,adddetailsthatwillberelevantforyourjob.

Whatcanyoudotohelpgetthebestreferencespossible?(LO11-2)

Choosereferenceswhocantestifytoyourabilitiesinthemostimportantskillsareas.Omitpersonalorcharacterreferenceswhocannottalkaboutyourwork.Don’tuserelatives,friends,orroommates,evenifyou’veworkedforthem,becauseeveryonewillbelievetheyarebiasedinyourfavor.Referencesthatthereaderknowsarebyfarthemostimpressive.

Pickoneofthecommonproblemsjobhuntersfaceandexplainhowyouwoulddealwithitifithappenedtoyouduringyourcareer.(LO11-3)

Commonproblemsjobhuntersfaceinclude:workingonlyforafamilybusiness,beingoutofthejobmarketforawhile,wantingtochangefields,beingfired,havingnoexperience.Answerswillvarybasedonstudentexperience.

Whatisitmoreimportantthaneverbeforetobecompletelyhonestonyourrésumé?(LO11-5)

Mostbusinessesnowconductsomekindofbackgroundcheckonjobapplicantsorpayconsultingcompaniestodothem,andtheycancross-referenceallinformation.Alldishonestyonarésuméisdangerous,keepingyoufrombeinghiredifdiscoveredearly,andcausingyoutobefiredifdiscoveredlater.

Whataresomewaysthatjoblettersdifferfromrésumés?(LO11-6)

Résumésdifferfromlettersofapplicationinthefollowingways:

Therésumésummarizesallyourqualifications.Theletterexpandsyourbestqualificationstoshowhowyoucanhelptheorganizationmeetitsneeds,howyoudifferfromotherapplicants,andthatyouhavesomeknowledgeoftheorganization.

Therésuméavoidscontroversialmaterial.Thelettercanexplaininpositivewayssituationssuchasgapsinemployment,beingfired,orhavingnoexperience.

Therésuméusesshort,parallelphrasesandsentencefragments.Theletterusescompletesentencesinwell-writtenparagraphs.

Whatarethedifferencesbetweensolicitedandprospectingletters?(LO11-6)

Whenyouknowthatacompanyishiring,sendasolicitedletter.Whenyouwantajobwithacompanythathasnotannouncedopenings,sendaprospectingletter.Thewaytheselettersareorganizedisthebiggestdifferencebetweensolicitedandprospectingletters.

Whatarethreetipsforwritingajobletterthatmakesyoulookattractivetoemployers?(LO11-6)

Learnerscanchoosefromthefollowingpossibilities:

You-attitude

Positiveemphasis

Paragraphunity

Paragraphlength

Letterlength

Whatarethreewaystocreateaprofessionalimagewithyourletter?(LO11-6)

Learnerscanchoosefromthefollowingpossibilities:

Createyourletterinawordprocessingprogramsoyoucanusefeaturessuchasspellcheck.Useastandardfont.

Addressyourlettertoaspecificperson.

Don’tmentionrelatives’names.

Omitpersonalinformationnotrelatedtothejob.

Unlessyou’reapplyingforacreativejobinadvertising,useaconservativestyle:fewcontractions,nosentencefragments,clichés,orslang.

Editthelettercarefullyandproofitseveraltimestomakesureit’sperfect.Errorssuggestthatyou’recarelessorinept.

Printonthesamepaperyouuseforyourrésumé.

Useacomputertoprinttheenvelopeaddress.

Useasmooth,concisewritingstyle

Usepositiveemphasis.Don’tpleadorapologize.

Createyou-attitudebydescribingaccomplishmentsandbyshowinghowtheyrelatetowhatyoucoulddoforthisemployer.

Keepfirstandlastparagraphsfairlyshort.

Haveatleastthreeparagraphs.

Besuretoeditandproofread.

Howcanyouimproveyour