1. Job hunting in the early 21st century promises to be more competitive, as companies
McGraw-Hill/Irwin
Copyright © 2009 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Researching Jobs To learn how to
Analyze your own values and interests.
Find information about employers.
Use the Internet in your job search.
Find posted jobs and tap into the hidden job market.

3. Researching Jobs To learn how to
Deal with difficulties in your record.
Decide whether to keep your current job or look for a new one.

4. Start by answering these questions:
Researching Jobs
Start by answering these questions:
What do I need to know about myself to job hunt?
What do I need to know about companies that might hire me?
Should I do information interviews?

5. Start by answering these questions:
Researching Jobs
Start by answering these questions:
What is the “hidden job market”? How do I tap into it?
What do I do if I’ve got a major weakness?

6. Before Job Hunting, Know
What achievements give you satisfaction and why.
Whether you prefer
Firm or flexible deadlines.
Solitary or group work.
Specific or general instructions.
High or low pressure.
Fast or slow tracks to promotion.
Before you start job hunting, know yourself. Determine what achievements give you satisfaction and why. Remember that intrinsic benefits, such as the satisfaction you get out of doing the job, usually outweigh extrinsic ones, such as salary or benefits. Know such details as whether you like firm deadlines, if you want to travel, and where you want to live.

7. Before Job Hunting, Know continued
If you’re willing to
Take work home.
Travel.
Spend less time with friends and family.
How important money is to you.
Where you want to live.
If the job serves a personal goal or is simply “a way to make a living.”

8. What to Know About Companies
What the job itself involves.
Who will receive your correspondence and the corresponding address.
What the organization does and at least four or five facts about it.
Research the companies you may wish to work for. Use resources online and in your college or public library. Find out what the job you want to requires, what the going pay rate is where you want to work, and who you should contact in the company where you’ll be applying.

9. Where to Get Information
General Directories
Standard and Poor’s Register of Corporations, Directors, and Executives; Thomas Register of American Manufacturers.
Specialized Directories
Accounting Firms and Practitioners; O’Dwyer’s Directory of Public Relations Firms.
Trade Journals
Advertising Age; Cable Communication Magazine; Canadian Business; The Practical Accountant; Today’s Realtor.
Sources in print and online can help you to find information about the professions and companies that interest you.

10. Where to Get Information continued
Web Resources
America’s Job Bank (
Asia Net (
CareerMosaic (
Career Path Online (
Federal Jobs Central (
Monster Board (
SkillSearch (
Vault (

11. Information Interviews
Let you know whether or not you’d like the job.
Give you specific information.
Create a good image of you.
Use information interviews to talk one-on-one with professionals who can help you better understand what is required on the job and at specific organizations.

12. Information Interview Questions
Consider asking
What are you working on right now?
How do you spend your typical day?
Have your duties changed a lot since you started working here?
What do you like best about your job? Least?
Plan on asking questions at the interview. You can start with these, but remember that you are only seeking information, not asking for a job.

13. Information Interview Questions continued
Consider asking
What do you think the future holds for this type of work?
How did you get this job?
What courses, activities, or jobs would you recommend for someone who wants to do this kind of work?

14. Consists of unadvertised jobs. To tap, use referral interviews.
Hidden Job Market
Consists of unadvertised jobs.
To tap, use referral interviews.
Ask people you know for a referral to someone in the profession you’re interested in, then schedule an interview with that person.
Some of the better jobs are never advertised and, therefore, part of the “hidden job market.” Creating a network is one way to tap into it. Start with referral interviews that help you to find people who may be aware of available jobs. You can talk along a résumé but only for pointers on how to improve it.

15. Hidden Job Market continued
Clarify that you’re not asking for a job, but just for information about the field or general job opportunities.

16. Hidden Job Market continued
Take along a résumé, but only for tips on how to improve it; at the end of the interview, consider asking for a referral.
Send follow-up letters.

17. Potential Job Hunting Challenges
“All of my experience is in my family’s business.”
“I’ve been out of the job market for a while.”
“I want to change job fields.”
“I was fired.”
“I don’t have any experience.”
“I’m a lot older than they want.”
Some job hunters face special problems. If all of your experiences are in your family’s business, simply list the company you worked for. If the name is the same as yours, be prepared to answer questions in the interview. If you’ve been out of the job market for a while, show you understand how work in your field may have changed, that you’ve taken time to find out the employer’s immediate priorities, or that you’ve created a portfolio of relevant work. If you want to change job fields, have a good reason for wanting to do so. If you were fired, deal with the emotional baggage and then learn from the experience. If you don’t have any experience but have six months or a year before you job hunt, freelance, volunteer, or take a fast food job and strive for a promotion. If you think you’re a lot older than the employer wants, show that you’re up-to-date, work well with younger people, and have energy and enthusiasm.

19. Résumés
To learn how to
Choose the right kind of résumé for your qualifications.
Make your experience relevant to employers.
Write the strongest possible résumé.

20. Résumés
To learn how to
Increase the number of “hits” your résumé receives.
Use a computer to create paper and scannable résumés.

21. Start by answering these questions:
Résumés
Start by answering these questions:
How can I encourage the employer to pay attention to my résumé?
What kind of résumé should I use?
How do the two résumés differ?

22. Start by answering these questions:
Résumés
Start by answering these questions:
What parts of the two résumés are the same?
What should I do if the standard categories don’t fit?
Should I limit my résumé to one page?
How do I create a scannable résumé?

23. So Your Résumé Stands Out
Do more than just list what you’ve done.
Emphasize achievements that
Are the most relevant to the job.
Show your superiority over other applicants.
Are recent.
Use industry jargon and buzzwords.
Résumés may be viewed for only a matter of seconds, so be sure to design one that stands out. In general, use a conservative approach for résumés designed to be read by people. Match what you can do to what the employer needs, and use good description to show why you’re the best person for the job. Use strong verbs and details, and include some information on skills useful to any job, such as communication skills.

24. So Your Résumé Stands Out continued
Include skills that are helpful to almost every job.
Design one résumé for people, the other for electronic scanning.
Consider using a career objective with the employer’s name.
Omit I and, in general, use sentence fragments.

25. Basic Types of Résumés Chronological
Summarizes what you did in reverse order.
Is the traditional résumé format.
Is used to show a logical preparation for the job or a steady progression leading to the present.
A chronological résumé works best when your previous jobs have prepared you well for the job you seek and when there are no significant gaps in your employment history.

26. Basic Types of Résumés continued
Skills
Focuses on skills you’ve used that are applicable to the job.
Is useful when your job history does not directly lead to the kind of job you’re applying for.
A skills résumé works best when your individual skills are more appropriate for the job you seek than your general work history. A skills résumé may be better for college students, as it allows the writer to combine skills from work, school, and volunteer activities.

27. Chronological Résumé Include for each job The position or job title.
The organization.
The city and state.
The dates of employment.
Details such as full- or part-time status, job duties, special responsibilities, or promotions.
Use these guidelines when creating a chronological résumé. For examples, see Module 27.

28. Chronological Résumé continued
Normally, include jobs as far back as the summer after high school.
Use minimal detail about low-level jobs.

29. Chronological Résumé continued
Use detail and strong verbs or gerunds.
Recruit or recruiting; manage or managing; design or designing; write or writing.
Use parallel structure.
Recruit new employees, manage office staff; design clerical documents, and write special proposals.

30. For entries under each skill, combine experience from
Skills Résumé
Use as headings the skills used in or aspects of the job you’re applying for.
For entries under each skill, combine experience from
Paid jobs.
Unpaid work.
Classes.
Activities.
Community work.
Use these guidelines when creating a skills résumé. For examples, see Module 27.

31. Skills Résumé continued
Use headings that reflect the job you’re applying for.
Logistics rather than planning; procurement rather than purchasing.
Use at least three headings related to the job you’re applying for.

32. Skills Résumé continued
Use a mix of skills.
Use detail, good description, and strong verbs or gerunds.

33. For Both Résumés Use these categories:
Career Objective.
Summary of Qualifications
Education.
Honors and Awards.
References.
Create new categories, if necessary.
Use good paper and design.
Use strong white space, readable typeface(s), and an organized layout.
For both skills and chronological résumés, use the sections discussed here. In particular, tailor your Career Objective to the specific organization you are applying to, and create a Summary of Qualifications that shows your best strengths up front.

34. To Create Scannable Résumés
Use
A standard typeface—e.g., Courier; Times Roman.
12- to 14-point type.
A ragged right margin.
No italics or underlining.
No boldface.
No lines, boxes, leader dots, or borders.
A single column and no indented or centered text.
Phone numbers on separate lines.
Plenty of white space.
Many companies now screen résumés using computer scanners, meaning that a human eye may not see your résumé unless it makes the first cut. Formats for scannable résumés are very basic, basically following a block style. Keywords are critical, as scanners look for them to determine which résumés are most appropriate to pass on.

35. To Create Scannable Résumés continued
Don’t fold or staple pages.
Don’t write anything by hand.
Send a laser copy.

36. To Create Scannable Résumés continued
Use a keywords section under your name.
Include language that describes your personality, as well as abilities: dependable, skill in time management, leadership, artistic skills, and so forth.

37. To Create Online Résumés
In your Web résumé
Use an link.
Omit your street address and phone numbers.
Consider having links under your name and address.
Link to other pages about you.
Don’t be cute.
Put your strongest qualification immediately after your name and address.
Some job applicants choose to post a résumés online. Think about how readers will use the résumé, and be professional. Lead with your strongest qualification.

38. To Create Online Résumés continued
Specify the job you want.
Specify the city and state for educational institutions and employers.
Use lists, indentations, and white space.
Craft phrases on commercial and university Web sites to convince recruiters to click on your name.
Proofread your résumé carefully.

39. To Create Video Résumés
First,
Learn if the employer wants them.
Weigh benefits against risks.
Then, if a video résumé is appropriate
Be professional.
Practice; record several versions.
Show why you’re the best candidate.
Keep to a few minutes – one or two may be ideal.
Enhance with imagery and sound, not distract.
Test your résumé, post or send it, and check it periodically if possible.
Video résumés are gaining popularity with job seekers, but make sure the employer wants a video résumé before creating one. Weigh the benefits against the risks. If you choose to use a video résumé, be professional, avoid garish imagery and sound, and test your résumé where possible with a similar audience.

41. Job Application Letters
To learn how to
Organize job application letters.
Catch the reader’s interest even when the company isn’t planning to hire.
Show that you have the qualifications for the job.

42. Job Application Letters
To learn how to
Persuade the employer that you’re in the very top group of applicants.
Use information about the company effectively in your letter.

43. Job Application Letters
Start by answering these questions:
What kind of letter should I use?
How are the two letters different?
What parts of the two letters are the same?
Should I use T-letters?

44. Job Application Letters
Start by answering these questions:
How long should my letter be?
How do I create the right tone?
The company wants an application. What should I do?

45. Major requirements of the job.
In the Letter, Focus on
Major requirements of the job.
Points that separate you from other applicants.
Points that show your knowledge of the organization.
Qualities that every employer values.
Any job application letter should focus on why you are the best candidate for the job. You should match your skills and experiences to what the company is looking for. Some, if not many, of the skills and experiences will also be detailed on your résumé, but the letter is a chance to use a stronger narrative approach.

46. To Make the Letter Professional
Use a standard font.
Address your letter to a specific person.
Don’t mention relatives’ names.
Omit unnecessary personal information.
In general, use a conservative style.
Edit and proofread carefully.
Use the same font for your letter as for the body of your résumé. Be sure to address the letter to a specific person, where possible. Research the company to find a name and address. Focus on skills and experiences that have prepared you for the job. Edit and proofread carefully, as you’re being assessed on both your qualifications for the job and for your professionalism in expressing them.

47. Types of Application Letters
Solicited
You know the company is hiring.
Jobs are likely advertised.
Sometimes you learn of openings through word of mouth.
Unsolicited
You don’t know the company is hiring.
These help you tap into the “hidden job market.”
Letters can be solicited, which respond to an ad or other request for applicants, or unsolicited, which can tap into the “hidden job market.” Unsolicited letters are also called prospecting letters because they assume the company is not actively seeking job applicants.

48. Solicited Letter Pattern
State that you are applying for the job.
Phrase the job title as the source phrased it.
Develop major qualifications in detail.
Develop other qualifications, even if the source didn’t ask for them.
Ask for an interview.
In a solicited job application letter, state early that you are applying for the job. Indicate how you found out about it—be specific so there is no confusion as to which job you are applying for.

49. Prospecting Letter Pattern
Create a bridge between the attention-getter and your qualifications.
Focus on what you know and can do.
Develop your strong points in detail.
Ask for an interview.
In a prospecting letter, you need to get the reader’s attention early. Create a bridge between that attention getter and your qualifications for the job you want, focusing on what you know and can do.

50. In Both Letters continued
Show knowledge of the company and position.
Refer to your résumé and ask for an interview.
Use a full page.
Use a second page if necessary.
Use you-attitude.
Use positive emphasis.
In both letters, use you-attitude to show what you can do for the company, and use positive emphasis. Ask for an interview in the close. Be sure to edit and proofread carefully.

51. Tell what word-processing program your scannable résumé is in.
For Letters
Tell what word-processing program your scannable résumé is in.
Put the job number or title in your subject line and first paragraph.
Create the letter in a word processor, spell check, then cut and paste into .
Some employers now prefer that employees submit applications through . Be sure to use a reliable system. In addition to the points noted here, you may want to copy yourself on the to verify that it was sent. Keep things professional—avoid all capital letters and emoticons.

52. For E-Mail Letters continued
Don’t use all capital letters.
Don’t use smiley faces or other “emoticons.”
Put your name and address at the end.

53. T-Letters Use a T-letter if the employer prefers it. To create
Determine job duties and how you match them.
Use bullet points to highlight duties and your skills.
Use a solicited or unsolicited introduction.
Ask for an interview.
Some employers now want T-letters, which combine some of the features of traditional job application letters with those of résumés. When writing a T-letter, identify the most important job duties and how you match them. Format the letter with an opening and a closing paragraph. In the middle of the letter, use bulleted lists to show how your skills and experiences match the job duties. At the end, request an interview.

55. Job Interviews To learn how to Be your best self at a job interview.
Plan and practice for the interview.
Answer traditional interview questions.
Shine in behavioral and situational interviews.
Participate in phone or video interviews.
Negotiate salary and benefits.

56. Job Application Letters
Start by answering these questions:
Why do I need an interview strategy?
What details should I think about?
Should I practice before the interview?
How should I answer traditional interview questions?

57. Job Application Letters
Start by answering these questions:
How can I prepare for behavioral and situational interviews?
How can I prepare for phone or video interviews?

58. Today, Many Employers Expect
Applicants to
Be more aggressive.
Follow directions to the letter.
Participate in many interviews.
Have one or more interviews by phone, computer, or video.
Take one or more tests, including drug and aptitude tests.
Be approved by the team they’ll be joining.
Provide a sample of their work.
As the 21st century job market becomes even more competitive, many employers are expecting potential employees to show perseverance when applying for a job. In some cases, job applicants are being asked to demonstrate the kinds of skills they will need for the job, such as being able to follow directions accurately and completely. Bear the concepts here in mind as you prepare for your next job interview.

59. To Develop an Interview Strategy
Think about what you want the interviewer to know about you.
Decide what weaknesses you want to minimize.
Research what you need to know about the job and organization.
Preparation is the key to developing a good interview strategy. Start by thinking about what you want the interviewer to know about you. Use your research about the job and organization to anticipate questions you might be asked and how you might answer those questions.

60. Interview Details to Consider
What to wear.
In general, dress conservatively.
What to bring to the interview.
Bring extra copies of your résumé.
What to write down.
The name of the interviewer.
What the interviewer liked about you and any negative points.
Answers to your questions.
When you’ll hear from the company.
Consider all interview details, including what to wear, what to bring, and what to write down during the interview.

61. Interview Details to Consider continued
How to get there.
Do a practice run to gauge traffic and parking.
Arrive at the interview 15 minutes early.
Double-check your appearance before the interview.
Do a practice run before the interview. Where possible, choose the same day of the week and approximate time so you’ll know what traffic to expect. Plan on arriving at least 15 but no more than 30 minutes early so you can double check your appearance.

62. Before the Interview, Practice
How to act.
Be professional, but also be yourself—be your best self.
Review your accomplishments to get a firm sense of your self-worth.
If the interview involves eating or drinking, be conservative.
Practice how you will act during the interview. Be professional, but be yourself—be your best self. Some colleges and universities have a placement office where students can participate in mock interviews, but you can also ask friends to help.

63. Before the Interview, Practice continued
Parts of the interview.
Opening
Get to know the interviewer.
Listen for information that could be useful later in the interview.
Body
Highlight your qualifications for the job.
Watch time; get key points in.
Conclusion
Close with an assertive, positive statement.
Think about what you will do in each of the three parts of the interview—the opening, body, and conclusion.

64. Common Interview Questions
“What makes you think you’re qualified to work for this company?”
“What two or three accomplishments have given you the most satisfaction?”
“Why do you want to work for us?”
“What college courses did you like best? Least?”
“Why are your grades so low?”
Interviewers may ask any number of questions, but these are among the more common. For a more complete list, see Module 29. Consider your answers to these questions, and think about how you might use you-attitude and positive emphasis to explain the benefits of hiring you.

65. Common Interview Questions continued
“Where do you see yourself in five years?”
“What are your interests outside of work?”
“What have you done to learn about this company?”
“What are your strengths?” Weaknesses?

67. Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers
To learn how to
Make a good impression in follow-up letters and phone calls.
Choose a job that will give you more than a paycheck.
Show your enthusiasm for employers.

68. Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers
Start by answering these questions:
What should I say in a follow-up phone call or letter?
How do I decide which offer to accept?
What do I do if my first offer isn’t the one I most want?

69. What to Say in a Follow-Up Call
“Is there more information I can give you?”
“I’ve been giving a lot of thought to your project and have some new ideas. Can we meet to go over them?”
“Where do I stand? How does my work compare with the work others presented?”
Use the follow-up call to reinforce the positives from the interview, to overcome any negatives, and get information you might use to persuade the interviewer to hired you. Here, career coach Kate Wendleton suggests specific questions to ask.

70. What to Say in a Follow-Up Letter
Remind the reader of what he or she liked about you.
Counter any negative impressions.
Use the jargon of the company and refer to specific things from the interview.
Be enthusiastic.
Refer to the next move.
Like the follow-up call, the follow-up letter can strengthen your chances of getting the job. Thank the reader for his or her hospitality, but also use these guidelines for letter content.

71. After an Offer is Made
Use a forced choice to decide which offer to take.
Call your first-choice employer to see where you stand if you get another offer.
Make your oral acceptance contingent on a written job offer.
If an offer is made, take a moment to congratulate yourself! Then, decide on how you feel about the job. If you need more time to think about it, let the employer know. If the employer expects an immediate response, plan your strategy, including what you might do if the employer is not your first choice for a job.