Written Communications in
Job Hunting
Chapter 12
Presentation Overview
 Letters in the job search process
 Resume writing
 Resume tips
 Resume vs. vita
 References/recommendation letters
 Transcripts & co-curricular transcripts
 Record keeping
 CIP perspective
Letters in the Job Search Process
 Letter of inquiry
 Cover letter—
 Broadcast vs. Targeted approach
 What’s the difference?
 See sample outline in Figure 12.2
 Tips on preparing effective cover letters
 Letters in the electronic age
Cover Letter
1st paragraph – Opening
Reason for writing
Name of position, career area
How you heard of the opening
2nd paragraph – Body
Mention related experience/qualifications
Slant to employing organization
Why interested in organized, position, location
Refer reader to any enclosed materials
Cover Letter
3rd paragraph – Closing
 Request opportunity to visit employer, suggesting possible
date/time
 Indicate when you might follow up
 Thank reader for considering your application
Sincerely,
Include signature
Type Full Name
Letters in the Job Search
Process
 Interview appreciation letter
 Letter of acknowledgement
 Letter of acceptance
 Job offer rejection letter
Purpose of a Resume
 Self-marketing tool
 Highlights one’s relevant education,
experience, and related qualifications
 Designed to get employer’s attention & obtain
an interview
 Provide employers a picture of what value you
would bring to the organization
Resume Styles
Length
Generally, 1 page for college graduates
Longer for persons with advanced degrees
Format
Choose categories appropriate to job target
Order categories from most to least relevant
Use consistent format
Alternative Resumes
Posting resumes online
 Use of key words
 Assume that anyone will be able to see it
Scannable resumes
 Use simpler format & common headings
 Emphasis on specific skills & wording
relevant to employer/position
 Avoid colored paper, folding, staples
Organizing a Resume
 Chronological vs. functional
 What’s the difference?
 Advantages & disadvantages of each
 May use a combination of the two
Resume Categories
 Identification
 Career Objective
 Education/Training
 Experience
 Other Categories
Identification
NAME
Address
Street or P.O. Box
City, State, Zip
Phone number(s)
E-mail address
Career Objectives
 Opinions vary on whether to include
 Needs to focus on types of job targets being sought
 Can emphasize career areas, position titles,
type of organization, functional skills, specific
population
 Avoid vague objectives that communicate no
useful information to employers
Career Objective Examples
 Position Title
To obtain a copy editor position at a publishing firm
 Type of Organization
Seeking a data analytics position in a
sports media organization
 Functional Area/Population
To obtain a human services position working
with the elderly
Career Objective Tips
 Use your self-knowledge in formulating career objectives
 Review occupational and employer information for ideas
 Examine sample objectives in resume guides or
in your campus career center
 Consider using the cover letter as a place to state
your specific objective
 Recognize importance of being able to clearly
state your job search goal(s)
Education
 Begin with highest level of training
 Name/Date of Degree
 Name/Location of Institution
 Major(s)/Minor(s)
 Overall GPA/Major GPA
 Relevant coursework
 Academic Honors (can also be a separate section)
Experience
 Can include:
Paid/non-paid
Part-time/full-time
Internships
Volunteer/community service
Military
Other category names:
Related or Additional Experience
Experience
 What to Include:
Position title
Name of organization
Organization’s location (city, state)
Dates
Duties/skills used/responsibilities
Accomplishments/results
Sample Positive Action Words
 Advised
 Arranged
 Built
 Compiled
 Demonstrated
 Designed
 Edited
 Established
 Organized
 Planned
 Supervised
 Trained
See complete list in Table 12.1 in text
Positive Action Word Examples
Sales Representative
Initiated and completed all services for new customers,
as well as handled all billing problems and service change
orders.
Teaching Assistant
Served as peer educator in class of 110 students; helped
design and implement lesson plans; assisted with grading
assignments
Personal Data
Generally omitted from resume, including
 Birthdate
 Marital status
 Physical characteristics
 Religion
Beware of including any information that could be used
by cyberthieves
Reproducing Your Resume
 Use word processing software to
produce a high-quality original
 What are the pros and cons of templates?
 Use high quality printer and paper in
making copies
Resume Tips
1) Be brief, clear, concise
2) Be consistent in formatting,
use an easy-to-read layout
3) Be positive & honest
4) Be careful—proof for errors
5) Be neat—quality of resume
reflects on you!
Resume Don’t’s
 State salary requirements
 Give reasons for leaving employers
 Limit geographic range
 Expound on philosophy or values
 Offer any negative information
Resume vs. Vita
 Most college graduates use brief resumes, 1-2 pages long
 Vita is more complete record of academic &
professional accomplishments
 Graduate schools & overseas employers may
request a vita
 Vita categories focus on areas of accomplishment
valued by academic institutions
Clarify what format employers or graduate
schools are requesting from you
References and Letters of
Recommendation
 3 to 4 individuals who can speak to employers
about your qualifications
 Who are the best individuals to use?
 Most important: ask references if they are
willing to do this before you share their names
 List names/contact information on separate
sheet
See sample reference page figure 12.5
Transcripts and Co-Curricular
Transcripts
 Research suggests that employers often review
transcripts
 Co-curricular transcripts (activities outside the
classroom)—not as frequently requested by
employers
 Co-curricular transcript information can be
included on resume
 Key: Connect academic experience to positions
you seek!
Record Keeping in the Job
Campaign
 Examples may include:
Job search correspondence
List of contacts & referrals
Notes from conversations
Copies of job announcements
Employer literature
Interview travel arrangements & receipts
 Records may be paper, electronic, or both
CIP Perspective
Self-Knowledge
Use resume and cover letter to communicate
your values, interests, & skills
Option Knowledge
Know what is available & how your
qualifications match those positions
Decision Making
Targeting employers, following through with
each CASVE cycle phase
Executive Processing
Think positively about what you have to offer

Resume for hiring process_checklist.pptx

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Presentation Overview  Lettersin the job search process  Resume writing  Resume tips  Resume vs. vita  References/recommendation letters  Transcripts & co-curricular transcripts  Record keeping  CIP perspective
  • 3.
    Letters in theJob Search Process  Letter of inquiry  Cover letter—  Broadcast vs. Targeted approach  What’s the difference?  See sample outline in Figure 12.2  Tips on preparing effective cover letters  Letters in the electronic age
  • 4.
    Cover Letter 1st paragraph– Opening Reason for writing Name of position, career area How you heard of the opening 2nd paragraph – Body Mention related experience/qualifications Slant to employing organization Why interested in organized, position, location Refer reader to any enclosed materials
  • 5.
    Cover Letter 3rd paragraph– Closing  Request opportunity to visit employer, suggesting possible date/time  Indicate when you might follow up  Thank reader for considering your application Sincerely, Include signature Type Full Name
  • 6.
    Letters in theJob Search Process  Interview appreciation letter  Letter of acknowledgement  Letter of acceptance  Job offer rejection letter
  • 7.
    Purpose of aResume  Self-marketing tool  Highlights one’s relevant education, experience, and related qualifications  Designed to get employer’s attention & obtain an interview  Provide employers a picture of what value you would bring to the organization
  • 8.
    Resume Styles Length Generally, 1page for college graduates Longer for persons with advanced degrees Format Choose categories appropriate to job target Order categories from most to least relevant Use consistent format
  • 9.
    Alternative Resumes Posting resumesonline  Use of key words  Assume that anyone will be able to see it Scannable resumes  Use simpler format & common headings  Emphasis on specific skills & wording relevant to employer/position  Avoid colored paper, folding, staples
  • 10.
    Organizing a Resume Chronological vs. functional  What’s the difference?  Advantages & disadvantages of each  May use a combination of the two
  • 11.
    Resume Categories  Identification Career Objective  Education/Training  Experience  Other Categories
  • 12.
    Identification NAME Address Street or P.O.Box City, State, Zip Phone number(s) E-mail address
  • 13.
    Career Objectives  Opinionsvary on whether to include  Needs to focus on types of job targets being sought  Can emphasize career areas, position titles, type of organization, functional skills, specific population  Avoid vague objectives that communicate no useful information to employers
  • 14.
    Career Objective Examples Position Title To obtain a copy editor position at a publishing firm  Type of Organization Seeking a data analytics position in a sports media organization  Functional Area/Population To obtain a human services position working with the elderly
  • 15.
    Career Objective Tips Use your self-knowledge in formulating career objectives  Review occupational and employer information for ideas  Examine sample objectives in resume guides or in your campus career center  Consider using the cover letter as a place to state your specific objective  Recognize importance of being able to clearly state your job search goal(s)
  • 16.
    Education  Begin withhighest level of training  Name/Date of Degree  Name/Location of Institution  Major(s)/Minor(s)  Overall GPA/Major GPA  Relevant coursework  Academic Honors (can also be a separate section)
  • 17.
    Experience  Can include: Paid/non-paid Part-time/full-time Internships Volunteer/communityservice Military Other category names: Related or Additional Experience
  • 18.
    Experience  What toInclude: Position title Name of organization Organization’s location (city, state) Dates Duties/skills used/responsibilities Accomplishments/results
  • 19.
    Sample Positive ActionWords  Advised  Arranged  Built  Compiled  Demonstrated  Designed  Edited  Established  Organized  Planned  Supervised  Trained See complete list in Table 12.1 in text
  • 20.
    Positive Action WordExamples Sales Representative Initiated and completed all services for new customers, as well as handled all billing problems and service change orders. Teaching Assistant Served as peer educator in class of 110 students; helped design and implement lesson plans; assisted with grading assignments
  • 21.
    Personal Data Generally omittedfrom resume, including  Birthdate  Marital status  Physical characteristics  Religion Beware of including any information that could be used by cyberthieves
  • 22.
    Reproducing Your Resume Use word processing software to produce a high-quality original  What are the pros and cons of templates?  Use high quality printer and paper in making copies
  • 23.
    Resume Tips 1) Bebrief, clear, concise 2) Be consistent in formatting, use an easy-to-read layout 3) Be positive & honest 4) Be careful—proof for errors 5) Be neat—quality of resume reflects on you!
  • 24.
    Resume Don’t’s  Statesalary requirements  Give reasons for leaving employers  Limit geographic range  Expound on philosophy or values  Offer any negative information
  • 25.
    Resume vs. Vita Most college graduates use brief resumes, 1-2 pages long  Vita is more complete record of academic & professional accomplishments  Graduate schools & overseas employers may request a vita  Vita categories focus on areas of accomplishment valued by academic institutions Clarify what format employers or graduate schools are requesting from you
  • 26.
    References and Lettersof Recommendation  3 to 4 individuals who can speak to employers about your qualifications  Who are the best individuals to use?  Most important: ask references if they are willing to do this before you share their names  List names/contact information on separate sheet See sample reference page figure 12.5
  • 27.
    Transcripts and Co-Curricular Transcripts Research suggests that employers often review transcripts  Co-curricular transcripts (activities outside the classroom)—not as frequently requested by employers  Co-curricular transcript information can be included on resume  Key: Connect academic experience to positions you seek!
  • 28.
    Record Keeping inthe Job Campaign  Examples may include: Job search correspondence List of contacts & referrals Notes from conversations Copies of job announcements Employer literature Interview travel arrangements & receipts  Records may be paper, electronic, or both
  • 29.
    CIP Perspective Self-Knowledge Use resumeand cover letter to communicate your values, interests, & skills Option Knowledge Know what is available & how your qualifications match those positions Decision Making Targeting employers, following through with each CASVE cycle phase Executive Processing Think positively about what you have to offer