Chapter 18 Employment Correspondence Technical Communication, 11th Edition John M. Lannon © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Prospecting for Jobs Assess your skills and aptitudes. Research the job market. Search online Learn to network. © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Preparing a Résumé Typical Components Contact information Job and career objectives Education Work experience Personal data Personal interests, awards, and skills References Portfolio Used in some professions to provide work samples © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Reverse chronological order Organizing a Résumé Organize your résumé to highlight your qualifications in the best possible way Reverse chronological order Functional Combination © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Guidelines for Résumés Begin résumé well before your job search Try to limit your resume to a single page Use high quality paper in a professional color Stick to relevant experience Never invent credentials Do not discuss salary Avoid complete sentences Use action verbs and key words Use punctuation to clarify and emphasize Proofread, Proofread, Proofread © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Job Application Letter Include a cover letter with each résumé Give yourself a likeable image Target your letter to a specific opportunity Two types Solicited Unsolicited © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Format of Cover Letters Solicited Introduction State job you are applying for, where you saw it advertised, one sentence summary of yourself Body Without simply repeating your resume, point out your best qualifications, using specific examples Conclusion Restate interest and request interview Unsolicited Introduction Prepare an attention-grabbing opening and address letter to a specific person. Body Without simply repeating your resume, point out your best qualifications, using specific examples Conclusion Restate interest and request interview © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Electronic Job Hunting Most U.S. employers encourage candidates to submit online resumes Electronic scanning of résumés Searches for keywords to select interviewees © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Electronic Resumes Email Résumés Directly as email text Be careful to reformat, use space bar instead of tabs, end each line by hitting the enter key Attach a File Check with the potential employer to see what formats they will accept. ASCII Résumés Also called a “Text File.” Can be read by any computer. Searchable Résumés A hyperlinked resume on a personal, school, or professional society web page, often containing links to an online portfolio © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Online Job Searching and Privacy Risks include: your present employer discovering that you are looking for work Unintended recipients accessing personal information Protect Yourself By: Limit personal information you include Be selective about which sites you use Protect Your Good Name Online: Be careful with social networking sites as many employers search these. Avoid inflammatory comments and Party stories and adjust your privacy settings accordingly! © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Support for the Application Dossier Includes your official records, such as college transcript, scholarship letters Professional portfolio Contains samples of your professional work © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Employment Interviews Top applicants are asked to Interview for positions Interviews can vary in format Face to face, telephone, video conference One-on-one, with a committee Alone or with a group of candidates An hour, or several days Pleasant chats or grueling interrogations © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

Mastering the Interview Careful Preparation is Key Research the company Plan for common interview questions Dress appropriately Prepare a list of well-researched questions about the job and organization © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. After the Interview The Follow-Up Letter A Thank you letter should be sent within a day of the interview Be brief but personal and close with enthusiasm Letter of Acceptance Serves as part of your contract Letter of Refusal Should be polite, prompt, and allow for future opportunities © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.

© 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers. Any Questions? For additional help reviewing this chapter, please visit the Companion Website for your text at http://www.ablongman.com/lannon. © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman Publishers.