1. Section 6.2
Applying for a Job

2. How to prepare for your job search
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
How to prepare for your job search
Procedures for creating effective résumés and cover letters

3. WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
Making a good first impression on potential employers is essential to securing employment.

4. Social Security number work permit standard English references résumé
KEY TERMS
Social Security number
work permit
standard English
references
résumé
cover letter

5. Be Confident and Be Prepared
You should display confidence and be positive every time you communicate with an employer by phone, in writing, or in person.

6. Be Prepared An employer will require you have certain documents.
A Social Security number is a number issued by the federal government that is required for all workers.

7. Be Prepared
A work permit shows that you have been advised of laws restricting the hours young people can work and the kinds of jobs they can hold.
If you are under 16 (or 18 in some states), you will need a work permit.

8. Be Prepared
A résumé lists your experience, education, and skills in a formal manner.
Employers will see your résumé as a reflection of you, so make sure it is well written and polished.

9. Communicating Effectively
Standard English is the form of writing and speaking you’ve learned in school.
If you have trouble with grammar and usage, now is the time to polish those skills.

10. Filling Out the Job Application
The job application form asks questions about your skills, work experience, education, and interests.

11. Filling Out the Job Application
Read and follow directions exactly.
Keep the application neat and clean.
Make your statements positive.
Keep your opinions open.
Prepare any lists of information in advance.

12. Filling Out the Job Application
References are people who will recommend you to an employer.
Employers trust teachers and former employers most.

13. Filling Out the Job Application
Get permission to use people as references.

14. Filling Out the Job Application
Employers do not have the right to ask you about your:
race,
religion,
sex,
children, or
marital status.

15. Filling Out the Job Application
You don’t have to tell if you’ve been arrested.
You are required to tell if you’ve been convicted of a felony.

16. Preparing a Résumé A résumé is a brief summary of your:
personal information,
education,
skills,
work experience,
activities, and
interests.

17. Preparing a Résumé A good résumé can get you an interview.
A bad résumé can kill your chance for a job.
Make yourself look good!

18. Preparing a Résumé
In your résumé, focus on your skills, education, and training.
Don’t hesitate to include awards, hobbies, or activities.

19. Preparing a Résumé
A résumé should usually not be longer than one page.
It must be neatly printed, and there should be no errors in spelling, grammar, or usage.

20. Preparing a Résumé
A chronological résumé gives your experience in time order, listing your most recent experience first.
You organize your education and other information in the same reverse order.

21. Preparing a Résumé
The advantage of a chronological résumé is that is shows your growth
in experience.
It works best for a person with continuous work experience.

22. Preparing a Résumé
A skills résumé is organized around your skills and accomplishments.
The advantage of this résumé format is that you can emphasize your strengths.

23. Résumés Graphic Organizer 6.2 Chronological Résumé Skills Résumé Name,
address,
phone
List skills
and abilities
separately
Categorize
skills and
abilities
Objective
Education
List jobs,
most recent
first
Include job
experience
in description
of skills
Awards
Error-free
Standard
English
Neat
Both
Chapter 6 • Finding and Applying for a Job
Succeeding in the World of Work

24. Electronic Résumés
Increasingly, companies copy and store résumés electronically.
When companies need to hire someone, they do an electronic search of their stored résumés.

25. Electronic Résumés
Here are some tips for making your résumé scannable:
Keep the résumé clean.
Use crisp, dark type.
Avoid italics, underscores, and fancy type.
continued

26. Electronic Résumés Use white paper.
Use keywords in describing your experience.

27. Writing Cover Letters Always send a cover letter with your résumé.
A cover letter is a one-page letter telling the employer who you are and why you’re sending your résumé.

28. Writing Cover Letters
Your cover letter should reflect your understanding of the company and how you are able to meet its needs.

29. Writing Cover Letters
The opening paragraph of your cover letter should explain why you are writing.

30. Writing Cover Letters
The body of your cover letter should be your sales pitch.
Highlight personal qualities, skills, and experiences that make you a good candidate for the job opening.

31. Writing Cover Letters
The closing paragraph should tell how you will follow up.
Always include your telephone number in this paragraph so that the employer can contact you.

32. Writing Cover Letters
Your cover letter should be free of errors in spelling and punctuation.
If possible, ask someone else to proofread your cover letter.
Try to personalize your cover letter.

33. Taking Tests
A performance test evaluates how well you can do a particular task.
A drug test is a blood or urine test for illegal drugs.
A polygraph test is a lie detector test.

34. ETHICS in Action Mixed Messages
Your uncle’s friend owns a music store in the mall, and he needs a part-time sales clerk. Your uncle left a message on your family’s answering machine to tell your older sister about the job and to let her know that his friend would be at the store this afternoon to interview her.
continued

35. ETHICS in Action Mixed Messages THINK ABOUT IT
You are also looking for a job, and you know that your sister is out with her friends and will not be home until tonight.
THINK ABOUT IT
Would you go to see your uncle’s friend about the job? Why or why not?

36. Key Concept Checkpoint
SECTION 6.2 REVIEW
Key Concept Checkpoint
Comprehension
Why should you use standard English throughout the job application process?
continued

37. Key Concept Checkpoint
SECTION 6.2 REVIEW
Key Concept Checkpoint
Comprehension
When is it appropriate to use a skills résumé rather than a chronological résumé?
continued

38. Key Concept Checkpoint
SECTION 6.2 REVIEW
Key Concept Checkpoint
Critical Thinking
Given the fact that all people make mistakes, why would a prospective employer be likely to disregard a résumé with only minor mistakes?

39. End of Section 6.2
Applying for a Job