1 / 41

Chapter 8: Communicating Effectively to Get a Job

Chapter 8: Communicating Effectively to Get a Job. Chapter 8: Communicating Effectively to Get a Job. This chapter discusses the following: How to Find Job Openings Criteria for Effective Resumes Methods of Resume Delivery Criteria for Effective Letters of Application

kerry-daniel
Download Presentation

Chapter 8: Communicating Effectively to Get a Job

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 8: Communicating Effectively to Get a Job

  2. Chapter 8: Communicating Effectively to Get a Job This chapter discusses the following: How to Find Job Openings Criteria for Effective Resumes Methods of Resume Delivery Criteria for Effective Letters of Application E-mail Cover Messages Techniques for Interviewing Effectively Criteria for Effective Follow-Up Correspondence

  3. THE 3 R’S OF SEARCHING FOR A JOB Research Yourself—What are your selling points? Research the Company—What are the company’s products/services, mission statement, and corporate culture? Research the Position—What are its responsibilities?

  4. How to Find Job Openings Visit your college or university job placement center. Talk to your instructors. Network with friends or past employers. Get involved in your community.

  5. How to Find Job Openings (cont.) Check professional affiliations and publications. Read the want ads. Read newspapers or business journals to find growing businesses/business sectors.

  6. How to Find Job Openings (cont.) Attend a Job Fair Take a “temp” job. Get an internship. Research the Internet.

  7. How to Find Job Openings (cont.) • http://online.onetcenter.org • http://www.monster.com • http://www.careerbuilder.com • http://www.collegerecruiter.com • http://www.careerjournal.com • http://www.flipdog.com • http://hotjobs.yahoo.com • http://www.wantedtech.com • http://www.wetfeet.com • http://www.careerlab.com • http://www.truecareers.com • http://www.careermag.com • http://www.dice.com • http://www.jobweb.com • http://www.job-hunt.org • http://usajobs.opm.gov Online sites for your job search

  8. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Type of Resume Which type of resume is best for you? Write a Reverse Chronological Resume if you Are a traditional job applicant (recent high school or college graduate, age 18 to 25) Hope to enter the profession in which you have received college training or certification Have made steady progress in one profession (promotions and/or salary increases) Plan to stay in your present profession

  9. Criteria for Effective Resumes (cont.) Write a Functional Resume if you Are a nontraditional job applicant (returning to the work force after a lengthy absence, older, not a recent high school or college graduate) Plan to enter a profession in which you have not received formal college training or certification Have changed jobs frequently Plan to enter a new profession

  10. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) Key Resume Components Identification (contact information) Name Addresses Phone numbers (landline and cell) E-mail address Web site URL Fax number

  11. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) Career objectives Be specific Bad Good Too vague and egocentric Specific and focused on the company need Looking for a job where I can use my skills and progress in the company. Employment where I can use my graphic art skills and customer service expertise to help an advertising company land new clients.

  12. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) A summary of qualifications should include the following: An overview of your skills, abilities, accomplishments, and attributes Your strengths in relation to the position you are applying for How you will meet the employer’s goals

  13. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) Employment Job Title Company name Company location Duration of job (month/year) Job responsibilities—be specific • Assistant Manager • McConnel Oil Change, Beauxdroit, LA. 2003 to present • Tracked and maintained over $25,000 inventory • Trained a minimum of four new employees quarterly • Achieved a 10% growth in customer car count for three consecutive years • Developed a written manual for hazardous waste disposal, earning a “Citizen’s Recognition Award” from the Beauxdroit City Council

  14. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) Education Degree Name of school Location Year of graduation (or anticipated graduation) Accomplishments (be specific) • Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering • Southeast Louisiana State University, Beauxdroit, LA. 2003 • 2004 • 3.7 GPA • Expertise in HVAC, Road Construction, and EPA compliance • President of Student Civil Engineering Club • Won the SLSU “Outstanding Civil Engineering Student Award” for my senior thesis on “High and Low Cement Slump Effects on Highway Design.”

  15. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) Professional skills What makes you unique? Be specific Key items include Languages computer skills • Professional Skills • Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, • PowerPoint, and FrontPage • Knowledge of HTML, Java, Visual • Basic, and C++ • Certified OSHA Hazardous • Management Safety Trainer • Fluent in Spanish

  16. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) Military experience (if applicable) Rank Discharge status Areas of expertise Training acquired Years of experience

  17. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Key Components (cont.) Professional affiliations List clubs or organizations to which you belong. Include offices held and responsibilities. Make sure the organizations are relevant to the job search.

  18. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Style Elements (cont.) Resume style elements: Begin the resume with your strongest information. if education is your strength, list it first. If work experience is your strength, list it first. List education and work experience in reverse chronological order.

  19. Criteria for Effective Resumes—Style Elements (cont.) Resume style elements (cont.) Choose a professional and easy-to-read font type and size. Avoid sentences and “I.” Use bullets to itemize points. Begin bulleted points with verbs. Quantify your accomplishments.

  20. Methods of Resume Delivery How will you send your resume? Consider these options: A mail version An E-mail Resume A Scannable Resume YouTube Video Resume

  21. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.) A mail version Hard-copy mailed resumes can be highly designed, using bullets, boldface, horizontal rules, indentations, and different font sizes. Don’t overusehighlighting on a resume. Avoid decorative fonts Refrain from using clip art, borders, photos and other images. Do not print your resume on unusual colors, like salmon, baby blue, tangerine, or yellow.

  22. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.) An E-mail Resume E-mail resumes can be sent more quickly than mailed versions. Send an e-mail resume as an attachment to an e-mail cover message.

  23. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.) A Scannable Resume Benefits Scannable resumes are compatible with all hardware and software. Scannable resumes can be read by optical character recognition (OCR) software.

  24. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.) Tips for writing scannable resumes: Use high-quality paper. Achieve optimum contrast (black print on white paper). Use a Courier, Helvetica, or Arial typeface (10-14 point type). Place your name at the top of the page. Scanners assume that whatever is at the top is your name. Include a summary of qualifications full of keywords.

  25. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.) Scannable Resume Key Words

  26. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.) Scannable Resume Key Words

  27. YouTube Video Resumes YouTube entries place high on search engine results. Video resumes differentiate you from other job applicants. Short video resumes show you in action. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.)

  28. Tips for a successful YouTube resume: Video Quality. Ensure clear resolution and sound without background distractions. Appearance and Diction. Dress professionally and speak with confidence and clarity. Content. Begin with an introductory overview introducing yourself and your goals; end by summing up your value to the organization. Length. Limit your video resume to three to five minutes. Methods of Resume Delivery (cont.)

  29. Criteria for Effective Letters of Application Preface your resume with a Letter of Application. In this letter, provide the following: Essential letter components (see Ch. 6) Introduction Body Conclusion

  30. Criteria for Effective Letters of Application (cont.) Introduction Why are you writing (in response to a job advertisement) What are you writing about (a specific job opening) Example: Why What In response to your advertisement in the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, please consider me for the position of automotive technician.

  31. Criteria for Effective Letters of Application (cont.) Body Mention your enclosed resume. Tell exactly why you are qualified for the job. Example: Though I have enclosed a resume, let me elaborate on my qualifications: * ASE certified in GM cars * Two years experience * Outstanding customer service skills * Expertise with air conditioning systems

  32. Criteria for Effective Letters of Application (cont.) Conclusion End positively and confidently. Focus on how you can benefit the company, not how the job can help you. Example: I would be happy to meet with you at your convenience to show how I can help your company.

  33. E-mail Cover Messages Sending your resume by way of e-mail? Attach the resume to an e-mail cover message. Include the following: Effective subject line Introduction Body Conclusion

  34. E-mail Cover Messages (cont.) Subject Line Announce your intentions and/or the contents of the e-mail. Example: or Subject: Resume—Vanessa Diaz Subject: Response to Accountant Job Opening

  35. E-mail Cover Messages (cont.) Introduction Tell the reader which job you are applying for and where you learned of this position. (same as with any letter of application)

  36. E-mail Cover Messages (cont.) Body State that you have attached a resume. Tell the reader which software you have used to write your resume. Explain exactly how you are qualified for the job. I have attached a resume, saved as an RTF (rich text file).

  37. E-mail Cover Messages (cont.) Conclusion End positively and confidently. Focus on how you can benefit the company, not how the job can help you.

  38. Techniques for Interviewing Effectively Dress for success. Be on time. Watch your body language. Don’t chew gum, smoke, or drink beverages. Turn off your cell phone. Come prepared with answers to commonly asked questions, your own questions, and additional copies of your resume. Focus on the company’s needs, not your own.

  39. Criteria for Effective Follow-Up Correspondence When the interview is over, Follow up with a thank you note Emphasize your key strengths Add details you might have forgotten When you get a job offer, Write a job acceptance letter

  40. Practice Use the end-of-chapter activities to practice job search skills.

More Related