Technical Writing ASU Writing to Get an Engineering Job

8/3/2019 Technical Writing ASU Writing to Get an Engineering Job

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/technical-writing-asu-writing-to-get-an-engineering-job 1/14

5/9/2009

1

Writing to get an Engineering Job

Objectives

• Illustrate importance curriculum vita (CV)

• am ar ze w t t e ey pr nc p es an sty es o

writing a personal resume or curriculum vita (CV)

• Familiarize with principles of cover letters and

application

letters• Gain competence in preparing and conducting

interviews

Writing to get an engineering job Dr. Iman Taha 2Technical Report Writing course



5/9/2009

2

Applying for

a Job

Usually there are 2 tools:

• The CV/ resume

• The application letter

Sending one

or

both

depends

on

the

potential

employer!


What is a resume/CV?

• CV stands for “curriculum vitae”

– summary of educational/ academic backgrounds

– teaching / research experience

– Publications/ presentations

– Awards / honours

– affiliations and other details

• Resume is a brief and concise version of a CV

– skills, experience and education




5/9/2009

3

Why write

a CV

effectively?

“The resume is your main vehicle to presenting

”

Raymond Landis

“A good resume should not only demonstrate

your skills

and

experience,

but

should

also

give

the reader a good indication of the type of person you are. It needs to have personality.”

Engineers International


What should the CV aim at?

• A document outlining personal data and

ac groun n ormat on a out a part cu ar

person

• The document is intended for review and

consideration by

another

person

or

persons

for a iven ur ose such as ob vacanc

promotion, postgraduate studies, etc.




5/9/2009

4

Developing a CV

You need a design that can be scanned in 20‐30

secon s, an s eave a ecen un ers an ng o

your qualifications.

• Select the relevant points (skills and qualifications)

• Spell and format check

• Continuous redesign and update


it1

Design strategies:

1. Chronological CV

• Divides your background into

– education

– work experience

– (military experience)

Shows your

where

and

what

you

studied

shows our work histor res onsibilities in each

organization

does not give a good picture of your qualifications

and key strengths




Slide 7

it1 give to a third party to double check.Iman Taha; 28.04.2009



5/9/2009

5

Example on the Chronological CV

Writing to get an engineering job Technical Report Writing course Dr. Iman Taha 9

Design strategies:

2.

Functional CV

• Divides your background into groups of related

education and ex erience. – e.g. a group called “project management” includes

your project management• Studies, attended seminars, projects managed, awards on

the management of a project.

consolidates information

about

your

key

qualifications

ummar zes e uca on an exper ence re a e o eac

qualification

Here it is not that very clear how, when and where

you gained your experience




5/9/2009

6

Example on the Functional CV


Design strategies

Chronological CV Functional CV

• Does not stress your

qualifications

• Does not provide historical

information

Add one of the followingAdd one of the following


• g g s sec on

• Summary of Experience

• Summary of Qualifications

• Employment History

• Education



5/9/2009

7

Further Sections

• Objective

• em ers ps an cense

• Specialized Equipment and Knowledge

• List of Publications

• Honors and Awards

•

• Personal Data: interests, non‐work activities, hobbies, languages


it2

it3

Presentation of Details

• Do not include unnecessary information

• o no nc u e your p c ure

• Present details in reverse chronological order

eg. for information in the experience section

• Write clearly

name

of

organization

(address,

phone no., a brief description)

• Your job title and responsibilities

• Your experience with technologies, equipment

• Dates of employment




Slide 13

it2 some people believe that writing an objectives section narrows your chances. However one can writethis section in such a way to correlate with each job offerIman Taha; 28.04.2009

it3 Personal information do not belong into a resume. However, it rounds you up as a person and

provides the employer sth to chat with you about instead of moments of inconvenient silence. Buteven if included DO NOT INCLUDE A PERSONAL PICTURE!Iman Taha; 28.04.2009



5/9/2009

8

Presentation of

Details

eg. for information in the experience section

•

• Brief description

• Majors and minors and grade averages

• Major emphasis of study

•Important

courses

taken•

• Awards and memberships

• Dates of enrollment and graduation


Overall Format




5/9/2009

9

Place Headers

at

top

of

pages

• Keep your CV as short as possible!

• Usual length of CV 2‐10 pages


Electronic resumes

• In‐house resume‐scanning applications

• Job boards and websites

• Corporate websites for recruitment

• Online profiles (questionnaires)




5/9/2009

10

The application

letter

• Cover letter: indicate

– that CV is attached

– that you are investigating an employment position

Very brief letter

• Full application letter:

–

– Promote yourself

– Highlight the reasons why you are tight for this

position


Full application letter

• First Paragraph catch your readers attention

– Qualification, info about the company, mention

name of someone you know in the company

• Middle paragraph discuss your qualifications

– Chronological approach/

functional

approach

•

– Mention enclosures, urge employer to get in

touch, enthusiastic comment




5/9/2009

11

Follow up

letter

• You haven’t heard from your employer

write a follow up letter

– State the reason why you are writing

– Indicate the date you sent your first letter

– Indicate the

position

you

are

inquiring

about

– Resend your documents

– Encourage the employer to inform you about

the status


Letter format

• General – like a normal business letter




5/9/2009

12

References

• Beer D., A Guide to writing as an engineer, 2nd

e on, o n ey , .

• http://www.engineers‐

international.com/careerscv.html, accessed

May 2009


Documents

Technical Writing ASU Writing to Get an Engineering Job