1. Communicating in the Job-Search Process
Chapter 10
Communicating in the Job-Search Process
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

2. The Job Search
You can begin the job search long before you are ready to find employment.
You can start it now by building a network of contacts.

3. How to Build a Network of Contacts
Work with the Community
Broaden Your Friend Circle
Meet Business Professionals
Know Your Professors
Family
Internship
(Paid & Unpaid)

4. Identifying Appropriate Jobs
Internal Factors –Analyze Yourself
1. Education (Major, Electives, Professional Degrees, Grades)
Perhaps you have already selected your major
Think about the electives you have taken and the knowledge they have provided you.
Look at the quality of your record- grades, project, honors, special recognitions.
If your record is good, you can emphasize on it.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

5. Identifying Appropriate Jobs
2. Personal Qualities
You probably know best about your personal qualities.
Employers often use personality tests such a the Myers-Briggs to screen new hires.
Adaptability, leadership, teamwork etc.
3. Work experience
Work experience not related to the job can tell something important about you.

6. Identifying Appropriate Jobs
4. Special Interests
You might include personal interests that may be relevant to types of positions your are seeking.
Example- athletic experience, hobby of automobile mechanics, interest in music.
External factors
– Location
– Spouse, children, parents

7. How to Find Your Employer
Career centers-suitable for internship or beginning of your career.
Network of personal contacts-Also helpful later when you want to switch jobs
Classified advertisements-Both online and print
Online sources-online database (Bdjobs)
Employment agencies- companies that specialize in finding jobs for those searching

8. How to Find Your Employer
Personal search agents- Can request that job notices be sent to your automatically by websites (World Bank Website)
Webpage profiles- May consider posting your resume on the Web or taking help of a social media site such as LinkedIn.
Prospecting- Personally approach the employer through personal visit, etc.

9. Preparing the Application Document
After you finish analyzing yourself collect as much information as you can about the company.
Now, you can plan the application.
Cover page, resume, reference sheet.
You can apply in person, mail, /online or fax.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

10. Constructing Your Resume, Cover Letter etc.
© 2014 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

11. Resume Content
Your resume should include all the information that your cover letter reviews plus supported and incidental details
It should also be tailored for the position which you are applying.
Select the background facts (Pick and choose the ones that will help the reader evaluate you)
Arrange the facts into groups (Educations, Experience, Skills, Interest etc.)

12. Resume Content
Construct the headings (For each group there should be a different heading, the most important of them all should be your NAME)
Include contact information. Your address, telephone number, and address are the most likely means of contacting you.
Include a statement of objective (It should cover the job you seek and what you aspire to be)
Arrange the data for best visual appeal, making the resume look balanced

13. Constructing the Resume
1) Personal Details
Your full name will usually be at the top in bold big letters. Don’t write ‘Curriculum Vitae’.
Address, telephone numbers and current address.
DOB, Nationality etc. based on your judgment
You can omit race, religion, gender, age, and marital status (in some countries law prohibits hiring based on these).
You can still include them as the law doesn’t prohibit inclusion of such information.

14. Constructing the Resume
2) Statement of Objective/Career Objective/Objective
Customized (Tailor it to the organization you are applying)
Brief
It usually helps the recruiter to see quickly where the applicant might fit into the company.
Note: If you know the exact job title you are applying for, you may use it in your objective. However, if unaware, you may use a general approach and convey what you aspire to be.

15. Constructing the Resume
3) Education & Qualifications
As education is the strongest selling point for your first job, you will probably cover it in details
Start with your most recent qualification
Main focus should be on degree or most recent qualification (highlighting any projects/modules undertaken which are relevant to the job applying).
‘A’ level/HSC and ‘O’ level/SSC subjects and their grades need listing.
You will minimize your emphasis on this section the more you gain experience.

16. Constructing the Resume
4) Work Experience
Should contain your job title/position, company name, location and date of employment.
Start with most recent. Include summer jobs, voluntary work, permanent, temporary or part-time work. You will have learned something from all of them.
Allow two or three lines to describe duties of work that you consider most relevant. Don’t waffle – try to describe concisely.

17. Constructing the Resume
5) Other Skills & Achievements
Awards & Achievements
Technical Skills
Language Skills

18. Constructing the Resume
6) Interest & Activities
Extracurricular Activities
This section shows you are human and helps the recruiters see you as a whole person. It also gives you the chance to emphasize the skills they are looking for i.e. team work, organizing, motivating, leading, self-discipline, etc.
Avoid straight lists – expand a little on positions of responsibility of any clubs or societies, the level you play sport/musical instruments, etc.
It is important not to invent interests. An employer may pick something they consider unusual from this section and quiz you on it at interview.

19. Constructing the Resume
7) References
You would normally quote a teacher as your first referee and possibly a present/previous employer or someone else (NOT family) who knows you well.
Always ask them first and if they agree include their name, job title, address, telephone number and .
It is acceptable to write ‘On Request’ under References on your CV if your prospective employer has not asked for it or you are running out of space and would rather sell your other skills.
References included on a separate sheet, while not harmful, are not likely necessary if the employer has not asked for them.

20. Constructing the Resume
Checking Your CV
Grammar, spelling and punctuation.
Ensure that details, contact numbers and references are accurate.
Does it follow a consistent layout with a good size, easy to read font (min 11pt)?
Are there all the headings in equal-level fonts?
Do your section headings clearly reflect what information the sections contain?
Is the most relevant information given priority?

21. Constructing the Resume
Checking Your CV
Three strategies to group items are the Reverse chronological approach, the Functional or skills approach, and the Accomplishment/Achievements or Highlights approach.
Reverse chronological organizational layout.
Functional skill layout- organizes the resume’s contents round three to five areas particularly important to the job you want. This layout groups related skills.
An accomplishment layout- foregrounds the most impressive factors about you. It features a Highlights or Summary section that includes key points from the three conventional information groups.

22. Writing a Cover Message
Cover letters are 2 types
Solicited: Written in response to an actual job opening.
Unsolicited: You do not know whether a job exists but would like to see if employment is available in the company.

23. Writing a Cover Message
Generally a cover letter is organized according to the following plan:
An introduction that gets the reader’s attention and provides a brief summary of why you are interested or qualified. It previews the information in the body.
A body that matches your qualifications to the reader’s needs. You should also use good sales strategy, especially the you-viewpoint and positive language.
A conclusion that requests action such as an interview and provides contact information that makes a response easy

24. Writing a Cover Message
Organize for persuasion
Present the information in a order that is best for you.
Common Order (education, experience skills), Time Order (a year by year description) and Job Order (one by one talk about the requirements that you fulfill of the applied job)
Ex: ‘Supervised a sales force of 14 people’ is better than ‘Held a position as sales manager’
Ex: ‘Earned a degree in business administration’ is better than ‘Spent four years in college’

25. Writing a Cover Message
• A cover letter should be concise and ideally no more than one page long. • The style of the cover letter should be reasonably formal and business-like and match the CV or application form you are sending. • Always write to a named individual, whether you are applying for a job or writing a speculative letter. Make sure you check the spelling of their name, no one likes to have their name spelled incorrectly.

26. Handling the Interview
If all goes well, your application of a job will eventually lead to a personal interview.
There may/may not be a preliminary screening through a phone interview.
Face-to-face interviews will eventually happen.
Nowadays if the interviewee and interviewer are in different geographic regions – online interviews are used. Ex- Webex

27. Handling the Interview
Investigate the Company
Products, services, personnel, business practices etc.
Make a Good Appearance
Conservative Dressing and Grooming
Anticipate Questions & Prepare Answers
Interests, Career Goals, Why You? , USP etc.
Put Yourself at Ease
Help to Control the Dialogue
You might feel that bringing up a certain area of question might enhance your chance of standing out, if so do it.

28. Interesting Questions
What is your greatest weakness?
What is the worst thing you have heard about this company?
See this pen I am holding, sell this to me.
Describe a conflict you had with someone and how you resolved it.
Illegal Questions
What religion do you practice?
How old are you?
Are you married?
Do you plan to have children?

29. Following Up and Ending the Application
After your interview a variety of steps might be required
Writing a Thank You message through
Following-up to an Application
Planning the Job Acceptance
Writing a Message Refusing the Job
Writing a Resignation