TECHNICAL WRITING October 10 th, 2012

Today (this week) Job applications: - Résumé - Letters of Application (Cover Letters)

Side note

Enhancing Your Professional Image Job counselors advise students to start planning for their careers several years before they graduate. Here are some things you can do to choose and develop your professional career plans:

Enhancing Your Professional Image 1. Attend job fairs and workshops. 2. Join student and professional organizations and societies. 3. Apply for relevant internships and training programs. 4. If available, take a temporary job in your profession. 5. Ask your instructors or training specialists to critique your work in light of your career plans.

Enhancing Your Professional Image 6. Confer with your academic advisor(s) regularly. 7. Find a mentor – someone in a career you might be interested in. 8. Consider developing a competency in a second (or third) language. 9. Do volunteer work to gain or enhance experience working in a group, preparing documents, etc. 10. Write a blog to increase your networking potential and demonstrate your interest in and knowledge about your profession.

Résumé - A résumé (curriculum vitae – CV) may be the most important document for your job search.

Résumé - A résumé is not : - Your life story. - Your emotional autobiography - A college transcript.

Résumé - A resume (or CV) is a factual and concise summary of your qualifications. - A resume shows prospective employers that you have the education and experience for the job you are applying for. Think of it like a persuasive advertisement about yourself. - It’s your billboard

What employers like to see 1. Honesty - Be truthful about your qualifications: - education - experience - skills i.e., if you were the manager’s assistant, don’t say you were the assistant manager.

What employers like to see 2. Attractiveness - The document should be “pleasing to the eye.” - Appropriate spacing - font - use of boldface This tells the employer that you are visually smart.

What employers like to see 3. Organization - Careful organization of information is: - easy to follow - logical - consistent This show your ability to process information.

What employers like to see 4. Concise - Keep to your purpose (get the job). - Generally, your resume should be page (2 at the most). - Resumes are written in SHORT sentences - They do not use the word “I” - Use “action-packed” verbs.

What employers like to see 5. Accuracy - Make sure: - grammar - spelling - dates - names -titles -programs Are correct Inconsistencies and errors say: “I don’t know what I’m doing.”

What employers like to see 6. Currency (current) - Make sure that ALL information is up-to-date.

What employers like to see 7. Relevant - Make sure the information is appropriate for the job. Employers are looking for necessary education and experience.

Writing your résumé Consider these questions: 1. What classes did you excel in? 2. What papers, reports, or presentations earned you your highest grades? 3. What computer skills have you mastered?

Writing your résumé Consider these questions: 4. What technical skills (other than computer skills) have you acquired? 5. What jobs have you had? 6. How did you open or expand a business market? Increase a customer base? 7. What did you do to earn a raise or promotion?

Writing your résumé Consider these questions: 8. Do you work well with people? 9. Can you organize complicated tasks or identify and solve problems quickly? 10. Have you had experiences/responsibilities managing money? 11. Have you won any awards or scholarships or received a raise, bonus, commendation, and/or promotion at work?

Writing your résumé Consider these questions: - Pay special attention to your 4 or 5 most significant, job-related strengths.

Balancing Education and Experience For students (you), it is common to have no relevant job experience. BUT The worst thing you can do is write: Work Experience: None.

Balancing Education and Experience Any part-time work (paid, or not), summer job, or internship show an employer that you are responsible and knowledgeable. i.e,. If you worked at GS 25, it shows that you can work with money and take responsibility for your duties.

Things to exclude from a résumé Do not include: - Salary demands or expectations. - Work schedule preferences, days off, overtime - Travel restrictions - Your citizen’s number - Height, weight, hair color - Religion, political affiliations - Hobbies, interests (unless they are relevant)

Parts of a résumé

Contact information At the top of the résumé: - Your name (avoid nicknames) - Address - telephone number - address.

Parts of a résumé Contact information Gwen Gao 42 Lanark Street, Clayton, VIC 3168 Ph: Note: avoid unprofessional addresses

Parts of a résumé Career objective Create an objective that directly related to the position you have applied for. Consider: 1. What kind of job am I Iooking for? 2. What kind of job am I qualified for? 3. What abilities do I have that match the position?

Parts of a résumé Career objective Avoid: “I want to join a company.” “Looking for high-paying job that brings personal satisfaction.”

Parts of a résumé Career objective Be focused: Job in sales to use my aggressive skills in expanding markets. vs. Regional sales representative using my proven skills in e- commerce and communication to develop and expand a company base.

Parts of a résumé Credentials (Education & Experience) - The order can vary. - If you are a recent (or soon-to-be) graduate with little experience, list education first. - Only include relevant items!

Parts of a résumé Credentials - Education - Begin with most recent education first, then list everything significant since high school. Include: Name(s) of school(s) Dates attended Degree/Diploma/Certificate earned. - This includes relevant training courses or military training.

Parts of a résumé Credentials - Education - A résumé is NOT a transcript, though. Do not simply list all the courses you took. - Instead, concentrate on describing the skills you learned.

Parts of a résumé Credentials - Experience - A key category for many employers - Show that you have held a job before and that you are responsible.

Parts of a résumé Credentials - Experience - Begin with most recent position (reverse chronological order). Include: - Company name - Location (city, province, country [if necessary]) - Your job title - Dates of employment

Mar 2010 – June 2012 Promotions Assistant, Promostaff, Chadstone based Responsibilities & Achievements  Managed product research studies in supermarkets  Collated results and highlighted critical feedback items  Promoted to team leader due to excellent feedback from clients

Parts of a résumé Credentials - Experience - For each job, provide a short description (one or two lines) of your duties and achievements.

Parts of a résumé Credentials - Experience - You may include any relevant volunteer work you have done.

Parts of a résumé Related skills and achievements - Indicate any additional languages you speak or write, extensive travel, certificates or licenses, and memberships to professional organizations or community groups.

Parts of a résumé Computer skills - Knowledge of computer hardware, software, word processing programs, etc. is extremely valuable in the job market.

Parts of a résumé Honors/awards - Only if they are relevant. i.e., Community service awards Academic awards

Parts of a résumé References - Usually, you state: References available upon request.

Parts of a résumé NAME Contact information Career objective Credentials (Education and Experience) Related skills and Achievements Computer skills Honors/awards References

Sample résumés job/resume-samples.html