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Chapter 14 Finding and Obtaining Employment. Gather Textual Information. Begin Now Use resources from the library, Internet, or school's placement center Get a sense of the jobs available in your field, and the requirements they entail. Interview Experts. Begin Now - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Chapter 14Chapter 14
Finding and Obtaining Finding and Obtaining EmploymentEmployment
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Gather Textual InformationGather Textual Information
Begin Now
Use resources from the library, Internet, or school's placement center
Get a sense of the jobs available in your field, and the requirements they entail
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Interview ExpertsInterview Experts Begin Now
Be clear that you're looking for information, not a job interview
Prepare by developing questions to ask
Be conversational, and remember that this is a way to cultivate relationships
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Interact with ProfessionalsInteract with Professionals
Begin Now
Browse online networking sites like LinkedIn, MySpace and Facebook
Join professional organizations
Attend conferences and meetings, which often welcome new members
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Apply for Training orApply for Training orVolunteer ProgramsVolunteer Programs
Begin Now
Gain valuable experience related to your field
Set yourself apart from other candidates applying for the same job
Make sure you volunteer for the right ethical reasons
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Begin a Working RésuméBegin a Working Résuméor Personal Data Fileor Personal Data File
Begin Now
To keep track of employment-related names, dates, experiences, and qualifications
To see gaps in your training or experience
To have information available for those who might recommend you
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Request ReferencesRequest References One Year before Graduation
In two forms: letters of recommendation and verbal references
From professors, supervisors, or other community and business leaders
In person, not via email or over the phone
By providing a recommendation request letter
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Compile a Dossier orCompile a Dossier orPortfolioPortfolio
One Year before Graduation
Dossiers contain the basic credentials and materials needed for job searches Dossier services can maintain the dossier for you,
eliminating the danger of losing documents
Portfolios contain documents and visuals that represent your best work Design the portfolio to suit the job being applied
for Offer to send it, or bring it to an interview
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Begin Your Job SearchBegin Your Job Search Six Months Before Your Graduation
By applying directly to employers By contacting your personal network By searching online By searching newspapers and journal listings By searching professional journals and
catalogs By using your college’s placement service By using a professional placement service
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Your ability to communicate Your ability to communicate effectively in job related effectively in job related documents might determine documents might determine whether you get interviewed whether you get interviewed for a job.for a job.
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
RecommendationRecommendationRequest LettersRequest Letters
Are written to each person solicited to write a recommendation
Should begin with the specific request
Should specify whether the recommendation is for a specific job or for a broad job search
Should include as many pertinent details in your request as possible
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
RecommendationRecommendationRequest LettersRequest Letters
Should mention if the letter is needed by a certain time
Should provide pertinent contact information such as your phone number and email address
Should propose to meet with the recommender to discuss this recommendation
Should thank the individual for considering your request, but should not assume they will write the letter
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Letters of InquiryLetters of Inquiry Are sent to organizations that do not
currently have jobs available in your field
Give companies a chance to learn about potential employees and future prospects
Should request an informal interview with someone who is both highly-ranked and knowledgeable
Should mention the writer’s qualifications
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Letters of InquiryLetters of Inquiry Should suggest why you contacted the
organization
Should include a résumé
Should provide pertinent contact information
Should propose to meet with them at their convenience
Should thank the individual for considering your request for an interview
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Your RésuméYour Résumé Contains key information about your
experience and training
Is the main tool for getting a job interview
Can be a “chronological résumé” to highlight experience Emphasizing degrees, job titles, and dates
Can be a “skills résumé” Emphasizing experience and skills
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Résumés May ContainRésumés May Contain Contact Information Career Objective Education Experience Honors and Awards Activities References
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Contact InformationContact Information Includes the author’s full name followed
by that person’s address directly below it
Includes your complete phone number with the area code
Includes your professional email address and homepage
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Career ObjectivesCareer Objectives Might be included for those beginning a
career or switching to a new one
Informs readers about your 5-10 year goals
Should be kept short and realistic
Should be specifically written for the job for which you are applying
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
EducationEducation Should be listed first if your degree
specifically applies to the job you are seeking
Lists the degree you received, the date you graduated (or will graduate), the complete name of the school, and the city and state in which the school is located
Lists all schools from which you have earned degrees in higher education
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
ExperienceExperience Lists any employment since high school:
part-time jobs summer employment military training or experience work study, internship, or volunteer positions
Includes: the job title (in bold text) the name of the employer the city and state in which the employer is
located the dates you worked for them
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Honors and AwardsHonors and Awards Emphasizes accomplishments in school,
work, and service
Can include: Scholarships and Fellowships Academic or service awards Nominations for awards Publications Academic honor societies
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
ActivitiesActivities Lets employers know what activities you
have participated in on a regular basis
Include activities that showcase skills and ability to work with others, like: Membership in professional organizations Volunteer work Activities that highlight special skills, abilities,
or responsibility, such as school band or scout leader
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
ReferencesReferences May be included in the résumé, included on a
separate page, or made “available upon request”
Are listed on your résumé, usually including three references and their contact information
Includes the referees’ full names and titles
Includes their full mailing addresses, work phone numbers, and email addresses
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Design ElementsDesign Elements Should make the information clear, accessible,
and easy to locate
Should arrange elements to emphasize strengths
Should fit the overall “image” of the company to which you’re applying
Should be consistent throughout
Should make use of white space, bullets, indentations, italics, and bold type for clarity
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Online RésumésOnline Résumés Online résumés give a “high-tech”
impression of you and your information.
Each should incorporate: An email link Keywords so it is friendly for search engines Internal links to allow readers to easily
navigate from one part of the résumé A downloadable, print-based versions of your
résumé
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Online RésumésOnline Résumés Design elements to consider:
A front page containing links to various sections of your résumé
A few simple and professional graphics or perhaps a photo of yourself
A short quote about you from one of your referees
Do not include: Your mailing address & phone number
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Scannable RésumésScannable Résumés Facilitate scanning directly into a
database of potential and current employees
Are categorized according to specialization, geographic region, keywords, and other classifications
Should use a standard typeface that will not jumble together when scanned
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Scannable RésumésScannable Résumés Avoid underlining, italics, or boldface text Use specific keywords and terms common in
your profession Avoid indented text or columns Use a ragged right margin (left-justification) Delete any graphics List each phone number on a separate line Save as plain text or ASCII
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Curriculum VitaeCurriculum Vitae A particular type of résumé that outlines your
credentials for an academic position, graduate school application, fellowship, or grant
CVs include: Educational institutions attended Degrees received Positions held Presentations delivered Publications authored Professional affiliations Languages spoken
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Transnational RésumésTransnational Résumés Some audiences may expect much more
detail, including personal details.
Details like education and job experiences may not translate exactly.
Consult with experts to know what is required for particular audiences.
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Ethics and RésumésEthics and Résumés How you represent yourself in your
résumé is not only a matter of rhetorical choice, but of ethical choice as well.
Exaggerating or fabricating résumé information is a serious ethical and professional breach.
It is in your own best interest to represent your experience and training accurately.
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Cover LettersCover Letters Provide interesting and useful details
about the writer
Emphasize the most important qualities that make you attractive to the employer
Highlight qualifications and experiences that set you apart from other candidates
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Cover Letters Cover Letters ContainContain
An introductory paragraph that identifies the particular job for which you are applying
Body paragraphs that provide further details about your qualifications for the position
A concluding paragraph that refers to the résumé and any other documents included in the application
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Preparing for InterviewsPreparing for Interviews
Be sure you can be easily contacted Gather information about the company
and the interviewers Anticipate questions you will be asked and
write out specific answers Practice with a mock interview Gather documents that might help Take care of grooming and clothing in
advance
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
When Participating When Participating in Interviewsin Interviews
Portray yourself as a confident, energetic, and intelligent person in everything you do
Enter with a confident smile, make eye contact, and repeat everyone’s names as you say hello
Try to interact with the interviewers rather than simply answering the questions
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
When Participating When Participating in Interviewsin Interviews
Beginning of Interview Expect casual questions and answer them
without being flippant or too casual
Middle of Interview Answer questions in ways that highlight your
strengths Be specific with your responses, but not effusive Remain calm and cool, even if asked questions
that seem unfair, confusing, or unanswerable
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
When Participating When Participating in Interviewsin Interviews
Conclusion of Interview Ask two or three questions that demonstrate
your abilities and your genuine interest in working for the company
Thank them for considering you for the position
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Follow-Up LettersFollow-Up Letters Should be sent to the individual who led
the interview within 24 hours
Reinforce positives from the interview
Make you appear highly interested in the job and motivated to get it
Encourage the interviewer to remember you when making the hiring decision
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Negotiating andNegotiating andAccepting Job OffersAccepting Job Offers
Focus on the positive Ask for 24 hours to decide Be patient if the negotiations take some time Be firm but flexible on salary or benefits Call other companies that might be
interested Look at the big picture when deciding
between two offers Don’t haggle over minor details
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Job Acceptance LettersJob Acceptance Letters State your acceptance in the first
sentence
Express your appreciation and enthusiasm
Briefly describe the terms of your employment
Limit to one page
Dobrin / Weisser / Keller: Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century. © 2010 Pearson Education. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Job Rejection LettersJob Rejection Letters Be brief and clear, declining the offer in the
first paragraph
Provide one or two sentences explaining why you are declining the offer, if appropriate
Avoid saying anything negative
Conclude by thanking the employer for the offer