Chapter 9Chapter 9 Résumés and Other Employment Résumés and Other Employment

MaterialsMaterials

Strategies for Technical Communication in the Workplace

Laura J. GurakJohn M. Lannon

Prospecting for JobsProspecting for Jobs

Assess your skills and aptitudes.Assess your skills and aptitudes.

Research the job market.Research the job market.

Parts of a RésuméParts of a Résumé

Contact informationContact information Job and career objectivesJob and career objectives EducationEducation Work experienceWork experience Personal dataPersonal data Personal interests, awards, and Personal interests, awards, and

skillsskills ReferencesReferences

Organizing a RésuméOrganizing a Résumé

Organize your résumé to highlight your Organize your résumé to highlight your qualifications in the best possible wayqualifications in the best possible way

Reverse chronological orderReverse chronological order

FunctionalFunctional CombinationCombination

Electronic RésumésElectronic Résumés

Most U.S. employers encourage Most U.S. employers encourage candidates to submit online candidates to submit online résumésrésumés

Electronic scanning of résumés Electronic scanning of résumés searches for keywords to select searches for keywords to select intervieweesinterviewees

Strategies for RésumésStrategies for Résumés Begin the résumé well before your job Begin the résumé well before your job

search.search. Tailor your résumé to each job.Tailor your résumé to each job. Try to limit your resume to a single page.Try to limit your resume to a single page. Stick to relevant experience.Stick to relevant experience. Use action verbs and key words.Use action verbs and key words. Use bold, italic, underlining, colors, fonts, Use bold, italic, underlining, colors, fonts,

bullets, and other devices thoughtfully, for bullets, and other devices thoughtfully, for emphasis.emphasis.

Use quality paper and envelopes.Use quality paper and envelopes. Proofread, Proofread, Proofread.Proofread, Proofread, Proofread.

Application LettersApplication Letters Explain how credentials fit a particular Explain how credentials fit a particular

job.job. Convey an informed and likeable Convey an informed and likeable

persona.persona. Highlight specific qualifications and skills.Highlight specific qualifications and skills. Include two types:Include two types:

SolicitedSolicited UnsolicitedUnsolicited

Format of Cover LettersFormat of Cover Letters

SolicitedSolicitedIntroductionIntroduction

State job you are applying State job you are applying for, where you saw it for, where you saw it advertised, and a brief advertised, and a brief summary of yourself.summary of yourself.

BodyBody Without simply repeating Without simply repeating

your resume, point out your resume, point out your best qualifications, your best qualifications, using specific examples.using specific examples.

ConclusionConclusion Restate your interest and Restate your interest and

request interview.request interview.

UnsolicitedUnsolicitedIntroductionIntroduction

Prepare an attention-Prepare an attention-grabbing opening and grabbing opening and remember to address the remember to address the letter to a specific person. letter to a specific person.

BodyBody Without simply repeating Without simply repeating

your resume, point out your resume, point out your best qualifications, your best qualifications, using specific examples.using specific examples.

ConclusionConclusion Restate your interest and Restate your interest and

request interview.request interview.

Dossiers and PortfoliosDossiers and Portfolios

DossierDossier Includes your official records, such as Includes your official records, such as

a college transcript, and scholarship a college transcript, and scholarship lettersletters

Professional portfolioProfessional portfolio Contains samples of your professional Contains samples of your professional

workwork

InterviewsInterviewsInterviews vary in format. They may be:Interviews vary in format. They may be: face-to-faceface-to-face one-on-oneone-on-one with a committeewith a committee with a group of candidateswith a group of candidates

Interviews may:Interviews may: be as short as an hourbe as short as an hour occur over a period of several daysoccur over a period of several days be pleasant chatsbe pleasant chats be grueling interrogationsbe grueling interrogations

Mastering the InterviewMastering the Interview

Careful Preparation Is Key.Careful Preparation Is Key. Research the company.Research the company. Plan for common interview questions.Plan for common interview questions. Dress appropriately.Dress appropriately. Prepare a list of well-researched Prepare a list of well-researched

questions about the job and the questions about the job and the organization.organization.

After the InterviewAfter the InterviewThe Follow-Up Letter.The Follow-Up Letter. A thank you letter A thank you letter

should be sent within a day of the should be sent within a day of the interview. Be brief but personal and close interview. Be brief but personal and close with enthusiasmwith enthusiasm

Letter of Acceptance. Letter of Acceptance. If you receive an If you receive an offer that you would like to accept, send a offer that you would like to accept, send a letter of acceptance, which will serve as letter of acceptance, which will serve as part of your contract.part of your contract.

Letter of Refusal.Letter of Refusal. If you receive an offer If you receive an offer that you would like to refuse, send a letter that you would like to refuse, send a letter of refusal that is polite, prompt, and allows of refusal that is polite, prompt, and allows for future opportunitiesfor future opportunities

Any Questions? Any Questions? For additional help reviewing this chapter,

please visit the Companion Website for your text at http://www.pearsonhighered.com/gurak.