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Conducting the Job Search
Based on Chapter 9, Goodall and Goodall
Lynne Dahmen
COM 2301: Advanced Speech
Thinking about Your Career
What do you have to offer?What do you want to do?
Your interestsYour compensation goalsYour preferred working environmentYour lifestyle goals/choices
What is the current market?
Building your Skills
Travel/gain intercultural experienceDevelop portfolioTake internship opportunitiesPart-time jobsNetworkExpand your ‘life experience’
Why do Job Research?
Can focus/broaden possible types of jobs
Can define job parametersCan identify potential
employers/industriesCan define you contributionsCan impress potential interviewers
Finding out about Jobs
Newspapers Internet research Other employees Jobsites on the Web Company tours Friends/relatives
On campus opportunities
Job fairs Placement agencies Unsolicited résumés
Ways to use the Web
Career CounselingMaking contacts (newsgroups, listservs)Research companiesSearch for vacanciesPost online résumés
Résumé Basics
Less than one page2 fontsUse active verbsAvoid ‘I’Choose appropriate format (formal,
contemporary, artistic)Make an impression in 45 seconds
Basic Categories
Contact information (school and/or home)
Career objective/qualificationsEducationWork experienceSkillsAccomplishments
Basic Info
American Info Name Address Phone numbers Email
French info Name Address Phone numbers Email Marital status Age Gender Photo (ask)
Objectives/Summary of Qualifications
Objectives To obtain an entry-level sales position which makes
use of my communication and language skills. To obtain an entry-level sales position which makes
use of my communication and language skills and which will lead towards the development of management skills
Qualifications Ten years teaching experience to a variety of age
groups in both formal and informal settings. Five years editorial experience with three as
supervisor of development teams in technical environment
Education
Most recent school firstName and locationTerm of enrollment (months/years)Major/minor fieldsSignificant skills/abilitiesHigh school (usually not in American)If including GPA, include scale
Sample English Education Section
B.A., Anthropology 1992Rutgers College General Honors ProgramRutgers, the State University of NJ, New Brunswick,
NJGeneral Honors, High Departmental Honors
B.S., Biology May 2004 (expected) Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco
GPA: 3.2/4.0Dean’s list, Spring 2002, Fall 2002
Job Section
Name & Location of EmployerWhat organization does (if not clear)Functional titleYour duties and responsibilitiesSignificant achievements/contributions
Sample English Job Listing
S.A.T. Preparation Instructor, Stanley Kaplan Education Center. Madison, WI. Taught preparation in verbal and math skills. (Jan. 2001-June 2003)
Assistant Hospitality Clerk, Sheraton Hotel. Fes, Morocco. (summer 2000) Ensured smooth check-in of international clients Solved complaints of foreign guests (especially
English-speaking) Developed guide sheet for intercultural
communication for Moroccan staff.
Activities & Achievements
Volunteer experienceFamily related experienceTutoringCommunity serviceService activitiesAwardsScholarships
Sample English Activities
Activities and Achievements
School RelatedTeam participant, English Public Speaking
Contest (2001-2004)Writing center tutor (2002)
Extra-curricularHelped raise younger sister for 3 yearsVolunteered at Dar Chebab (Summers, 2001-
2002)
Adding Computer skills Include complete name of producer and program
Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Fireworks, Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
NOT: Adobe, Word, Access Include skill level
Basic familiarity, intermediate experience, advanced user or ‘power user’
Include Computer languages and level Basic Visual Basic, Introductory C++, Advanced Java
Adding Language SkillsSeparate ‘Arabic’ from ‘Moroccan Arabic’
unless you are FLUENT in Classical Arabic (be prepared to write and present)
Use standard measurements of language skill (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Bilingual)
Specify reading, writing, speakingAvoid French interference (Basic notions
of…)Do NOT overstate your abilities
Basic Organizational Approaches
Chronological Most traditional, work experience dominates
Functional Skills dominates, deemphasizes lack of
employment Combination
Includes both, not commonly used, repetitive Academic
Includes publications, presentations, teaching
Basic Style do’s and don’ts
Use only 1 or 2 fonts (Times, Arial, Garamond) Use bold or italics (NOT underlining) for
emphasis Use slight differences in size sparingly Use Headings or design your own Word style to
be consistent Use tabs correctly to align data Use ‘space before/after’ instead of blank lines to
ensure even spacing Do not make information larger than 12 point Do not compensate for lack of information with
SIZE
Basics for Adapting a Résumé for the Web
Prepare résumé for scanning Convert to ‘text only’ (removes ALL formatting
except line breaks) Ensure legibility in ASCII format Add keywords Consider a Web résumé Make links ‘active’ Print out web page to make sure it is not
longer than 1 page Do not include personal contact details (other
than email) on publicly published CVs
Basic Problems with Résumés
Too long To short or sketchy Hard to read or
understand Too wordy Too ‘slick’ Amateurish
Poorly reproduced Grammatical
errors/typos Boastful Dishonest ‘Gimmicky’
The AIDA Approach to Cover Letters
Attention Mention company and products Argue your best skills State clear reference to job ad/position when
relevant Interest
Connect skills to job required Give evidence to support assertions
Desire Suggest how you will contribute to organization
Action Ask to meet them or indicate interest to meet
The bulk of the letter…
Summarizes your qualificationsEmphasizes your accomplishmentsSuggests your personal qualitiesJustifies salary requirements (rare)Refers to your résumé
Parts of the Letter
Your address Your correspondent Date Objective/subject of letter Introduction phrase Mentioning the company Your ‘arguments’ Conclusion with polite closing Signature Attachments at bottom of page
Qualities Employers Look for in a Candidate…
Candidate thinks about resultsKnows how to complete tasksIs well roundedShows progress/developmentHas personal standards/ethicsFlexibleCan communicate well
Dressing the Part
DO: Match clothing to type of
company Have simple and neat
hair Be well groomed (eg
nails) Carry briefcase/portfolio
(avoid ‘student’ sacks and bags)
DON’T: Wear heavy
perfume/cologne Wear lots of jewelry Wear lots of makeup Wear crazy/very high-
heeled shoes Smell of smoke/body
odor/food Chew gum or eat
Following Up after an Interview
Thank-you letter Within 2 days of interview Positive and ‘you’ oriented
Inquiry letter After 2 weeks, or if you have another offer
Request for time extension If you are waiting for other offers
Letter of Acceptance Reply within 5 days, identify position in letter
Letter of Declining an Offer Polite and direct