Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's1 You know yourself better than anyone else does. Employment officers know the style of the local agencies. If you write your own résumé, you will be more likely to adapt it to different situations. There are three reasons to write your own résumé:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's2 generous margins clear type balanced appearance clear organization An attractive résumé has four characteristics:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's3 It must provide clear, specific information, without generalizations or self-congratulation. It must be free of errors. It must be honest. The résumé must meet three standards:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's4 A chronological résumé has six elements: identifying information objectives or summary of qualifications education employment history interests and activities references
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's5 State only the goals or duties explicitly mentioned, or clearly implied, in the job advertisement. Focus on the reader’s needs, not on your goals. Be specific. Follow these three suggestions when drafting a statement of objectives:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's6 Include these five elements in the education section: the degree the institution the location of the institution the date of graduation information about other schools you attended
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's7 Follow these four guidelines when elaborating on your education: List your grade-point average. Compile a list of courses. Describe a special accomplishment. List honors and awards you received.
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's8 Present these details about your employment history: skills equipment money documents personnel clients
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's9 participation in community-service organizations hobbies related to your career sports, especially those that might be socially useful in your professional career university-sanctioned activities Include information about your interests and activities:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's10 Some résumés contain additional information: computer skills military experience language ability willingness to relocate
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's11 a formatted résumé attached to an message a text résumé a scannable résumé (one that will be scanned into an organization's database) a Web-based résumé Electronic résumés can take four forms:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's12 Use ASCII text only. Left-align the information. Send yourself a test version of the résumé. Follow these three guidelines when preparing a plain-text résumé:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's13 Use a good-quality laser printer. Use white paper. Do not fold the résumé. Use a simple sans-serif typeface. Use a single-column format. Use wide margins. Use the space bar instead of the tab key. Follow these seven guidelines when preparing a scannable résumé:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's14 Follow two principles when drafting a job-application letter: Selectivity. Select two or three points of greatest interest to the potential employer. Development. Develop those points into paragraphs emphasizing results.
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's15 It identifies your source of information. It identifies the position you are interested in. It states that you wish to be considered for the position. It forecasts the rest of the letter. The introductory paragraph has four functions:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's16 a reference to your résumé a polite but confident request for an interview your phone number and address The concluding paragraph includes three elements:
Chapter 10. Writing Job-Application Materials © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's17 letter of appreciation after an interview letter accepting a job offer letter rejecting a job offer letter acknowledging a rejection These four letters or s are sent, as applicable, after the interview: