Employment Communication

Employment Communication Résumé Cover Letter Interview Follow-Up Etiquette

Employment Communication Résumé Cover Letter Interview Follow-Up Etiquette

Formatting Your Résumé Simple fonts and design features Lots of white space Clear dates in reverse chronological order Easy-to-scan headings and bullets Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Formatting Your Résumé (cont’d) Clear descriptions with action verbs 100% accurate Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Selecting Résumé Content Name, Address, Email Address, Phone Number Contact Information College Name, Major, Degree, Date of Graduation Education Companies, Job Titles, Responsibilities/Achievements, Dates of Employment Work Experience Extracurricular Activities, Language, Computer Skills, Special Skills Other Skills and Experience Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Tips for Including Work Experience Prefer the chronological résumé style Provide complete information about your work history Show how your work experience qualifies you for the specific job Use concrete, achievement-oriented words to describe your experience Stress specific accomplishments directly related to the job Include relevant unpaid positions Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Edit for More Concise Bullets Before Was responsible for creating, designing, and developing a new web page about sustainability efforts at the company, Coca-Cola After Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Résumé Supplements Online Résumé Video Résumé What are the advantages of these supplements to the traditional résumé? Online Résumé Video Résumé Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Employment Communication Résumé Cover Letter Interview Follow-Up Etiquette

The Purpose of a Cover Letter or Email Express interest in the company and position Highlight how your background specifically matches job qualifications Reveal a bit about your personality Demonstrate your business writing skills Provide the employer with logistical information Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

What to Include in a Cover Letter or Email Use the standard letter format Keep the opening short Explain your interest in the job Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

What to Include in a Cover Letter or Email (cont’d) Expand on relevant experience Politely ask for an interview Use a standard closing Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

How to Find Networking Contacts Expand your job search by meeting with people Your school’s alumni database Friends and family The company’s website Articles about the company CHRIS RYAN/JUPITER IMAGES Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Employment Communication Résumé Cover Letter Interview Follow-Up Etiquette

Types of Interview Questions Standard Includes general questions Behavioral Asks specific questions about your past behavior to predict future performance Case Requires you to analyze and solve a problem Stress Simulates stressful environments Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Behavioral Interview Questions Please tell me about the best working relationship you ever had. Please describe a time when you had to work with someone you didn’t like. Describe a time when it was particularly difficult for you to gain credibility with someone. What did you do? Competency = Relationship Building Describe a problem you’ve had on the job and how you went about solving it. Give me an example of an assignment you had—either in school or at work—that you found particularly challenging. How did you go about handling it? Please tell me about a difficult decision you’ve made in the last year. Competency = Problem Solving/Decision Making Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

“STAR” Behavioral Interview Response Situation or Task: What brief context is important for the interviewer to understand? Action: How did you handle the situation? What did you do? Result: How did the situation turn out? How can you prove that your action was appropriate in the situation? Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Video and Phone Interviews Eliminate noise and distractions Prepare a neat, professional-looking workspace Dress as you would for an in-person interview Practice with a friend to check lighting, sound... Consider shorter responses to make it easier for the interviewer to jump in (for phone interviews) © BERNHARD LANGCUTURA/CORBISRF Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Prepare Your Own Questions How would you describe a typical day on the job? What opportunities exist for ongoing training and development? Why did you choose to work here, and what keeps you here? What is the first problem the person you hire must attend to? What makes someone successful in this position? What are the organization’s plans for the future? What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for this division/company? Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Choose a well-tailored, clean, conservative outfit for the interview Dress for Success Choose a well-tailored, clean, conservative outfit for the interview Business Attire YURI ARCURS/SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Employment Communication Résumé Cover Letter Interview Follow-Up Etiquette

Possible Communication Breakdowns Received no response after a second (or a third!) interview Received no response after a screening or first interview Received just a form letter after the initial application Has this happened to you? What can you do about it? Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Voice Mail Messages During the Selection Process Consider calling a week or so after you send your résumé Listen to example Respond to a request for an interview Listen to example How would you respond? Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Following Up After an Interview Immediately following the interview, critique your performance, your résumé, and your cover letter. Send a thank-you email to the interviewer. Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Employment Communication Résumé Cover Letter Interview Follow-Up Etiquette

Dining Etiquette Before the Meal During the Meal After the Meal Confirm dietary restrictions Make reservations Order last Go light on the liquor Wait for the host to start eating During the Meal Stay engaged in conversation Take small bites Use outer silverware first Keep elbows off the table Leave napkin on the chair After the Meal Don’t take leftovers home Offer to pay Thank the payer Tip 15-20% Send a thank-you note Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Managing Your Online Reputation Google yourself Manage your privacy settings © PETER SCHOLEY/ALAMY Avoid posting questionable content Post positive content that shows your strengths Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette

Working in an Office Always knock on you coworker’s cubicle Never shout a comment to the next cubicle Do not leave valuables unattended Avoid talking on the phone too loudly Avoid eavesdropping on conversations Résumé | Cover Letter | Interview | Follow-Up | Etiquette