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Chapter 15

Chapter 15. The Job Search, Résumés , and Cover Letters. The Job Search. Today’s employment trends More people work for smaller companies, or they start their own business. Fewer people have permanent positions. Teams complete special projects and then disband.

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Chapter 15

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  1. Chapter 15 The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters

  2. The Job Search • Today’s employment trends • More people work for smaller companies, or they start their own business. • Fewer people have permanent positions. • Teams complete special projects and then disband. • Companies outsource work to outsiders. • Contingency employees work temporarily and then leave the company.

  3. The Job Search • Searching electronically • Visit big job boards, such as CareerBuilder, Indeed, Monster, CollegeGrad, CareerJournal, and so on. • Look beyond the big boards to company Web sites, professional associations, local sites, niche sites, and social media sites.

  4. The Job Search • Tips for conducting a safe, effective Web job search • Use reputable sites. • Limit the number of sites on which you post your résumé. • Use a dedicated, professional-sounding e-mail address. • Limit personal information. • Post your résumé privately, if possible.

  5. The Job Search • Tips for conducting a safe, effective Web job search • Renew your résumé posting every 14 days. • Keep careful records of where you post your résumé. • Omit references when posting. • Avoid replying to a “blind” job posting.

  6. The Job Search • Searching traditionally • See announcements of professional organizations. • Visit career centers, attend career fairs, ask advice of instructors. • Contact companies directly. • Develop your own network. • Check classified ads.

  7. The Job Search • Searching by using online resources • Join a career networking group. • Participate in a discussion group or mailing list. • Locate a relevant blog. • Start tweeting.

  8. The Job Search

  9. Résumé Categories • Heading and objective • List your name, address, e-mail, and phone. • Include a career objective customized for a targeted job. • Summary of qualifications • Provide 3 to 8 bulleted statements. • List your most impressive qualifications: experience, skills, education, awards. • Customize the statements to fit the requirements of the targeted job.

  10. Résumé Categories • Education • Name your degree, date of graduation, and institution. • List your major and GPA. • Give information about your studies, but don’t inventory all your courses.

  11. Résumé Categories • Work experience • List your jobs. Start with the most recent. Include employer's name and city, dates of employment (month, year), and most significant title. • Salesperson, Kmart, Dayton, Ohio. April 2010 to May 2011. • Manager, Fleet Equipment, Kettering, Ohio. June 2011 to present. • Tax Preparer, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA). • March 2011 to present. Sinclair College, Dayton, Ohio.

  12. Résumé Categories • Work experience • Use action verbs to describe your experience.  • Summarize your achievements and skills relevant to the targeted job. • Prepared state and federal tax returns for individuals with incomes under $25,000. Conducted interviews with over 50 individuals to elicit data regarding taxes. Determined legitimate tax deductions and recorded them accurately.

  13. Résumé Categories • Capabilities and skills • Highlight your technical skills. Mention word processing, database, spreadsheet, and Internet proficiency. • Emphasize your nontechnical skills. Give evidence of communication, management, and interpersonal skills. Employers want more than empty assurances. Try to quantify your skills. • Organized holiday awards program for 1200 attendees and 140 awardees. Praised by top management for enthusiastic teamwork and achievement.

  14. Résumé Categories • Awards, honors, and activities • Show that you are well-rounded. • List awards and extracurricular activities, especially if they demonstrate leadership, teamwork, reliability, loyalty, initiative, efficiency, and self-sufficiency.

  15. Résumé Categories • Final tips • Omit references unless specifically required. • Look for ways to condense your data. • Double-check for parallel phrasing. • Project professionalism and quality. • Avoid personal pronouns. Omit humor. • Use quality paper and a quality printer. • Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé. • Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!

  16. The Customized Cover Letter • Address the letter to an individual by name. • Name the source, and include job title, date, and publication for advertised jobs. • Name the person who referred you, if applicable. • Tell how your qualifications fit the job specifications, show knowledge of the reader’s business, or describe how your special talents will be assets to the company.

  17. The Customized Cover Letter • Demonstrate how your background and training fill the job requirements. • Summarize your principal assets from education, experience, and special skills. • Avoid repeating specific data from your résumé. • Refer to your résumé.

  18. The Customized Cover Letter • Ask for an interview. Consider hooking the request to a statement reviewing your strongest points. • Make it easy to respond. Tell when you can be reached (during office hours). Some recruiters prefer that you call them.

  19. End

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