BUS 305 Career Communications

Job Hunting

• All about communicating

• Forms of communication during the job search

Attitude is key!

• Positive• Optimistic• Able to deal with

rejection• Avoid desperation• Don’t appear

frustrated or fearful!

Job search communications

• Cover letter/application letter/statement of interest

• Resume• Interviews• Thank you letters• Salary negotiation/history

letter• Acceptance letter• ABC always be

communicating when job hunting

Resumes

• Chronological• Functional• Must be flawless!• Ideally customized• Optimized for

search

Cover letter

• OABC• Chance to reinforce the

resume• Demonstrate

communications skills• Demonstrate

professionalism• Never more than a page!• Create a nice letterhead in

word

The Interview

• Go in with talking points about your qualifications

• Understand the company and industry

• ‘Expect’ certain kinds of questions

Thank you letters

• For practical reasons almost always via email and SHORT

• When interviewing get email addresses!

• Brief, to the point while summarizing main qualifications and introducing one additional thing that makes you attractive as a candidate

Salary history

• Some employers might request a salary history or salary requirements

• Do not panic!• Check out Bureau of Labor

Statistic (bls.gov) if you don’t have a salary history (adjust for cost of living in LA)

• Ask mentors (people like me!) for someone you know who works in the field

• Glassdoor.com

Acceptance letters

• Again, brief and to the point• Reiterate terms (title, start

date, salary, period of probation, review schedule)

• Express gratitude• No mistakes! Want to make a

good impression

Building a Functional Resume

• Functional resumes are ideal for when you have limited or no work experience

• List skills you’ve acquired include everything from research to time management to analytical thinking!

• Have an objective that is employer focused (not all about you)

• Include a summary of your background

Writing Assignment #2

• A thank you email post interview• A salary history letter • A job offer acceptance letter• Each should be no more than a paragraph or two…