Technical Writing – Job ApplicationIMPORTANT POINTS AND TIPS

Job Application – Part 1: Resumes

1. “Resume" comes from the Latin for "to summarize"

2. This is the purpose - a resume summarizes your education and experience for a potential employer in a way that highlights your qualifications and indicates that you are a good candidate for the job

3. Goal is to make your resume “stand out” and show you are a good candidate for the position ---tailoring the information you include to your audience and to the position description.

4. Integrity is important, your resume must be accurate and truthful Lies or embellishments will eliminate you as a candidate during an interview and can result in

termination if you are hired for the job.

5. The 30 second rule It is well documented in North America that you have about 30 seconds to get the attention of the

person reading your resume People are busy and can not afford to spend a lot of time reading each resume

Keywords STANDING OUT - One method for attracting the interest of an employer is to include, whenever possible, words from the job description you are applying for. ◦ Look for specific skills or tasks the job requires and think about how you can relate these to

your qualifications ◦ Many employers use search engines to screen a large pool of candidates resumes by scanning

the text for particular keywords◦ Even if manually “screened”, a manager will likely glance at a resume, scanning it for certain

keywords or phrases that are related to the job

Customize your resume to the job you are applying for ◦ make sure you spend some time carefully reading and identifying keywords contained in the

job description ◦ Have a basic “template” which contains your information and can easily be modified

Active Voice Use active voice/verbs in resumes and technical writing

Consider:

Now consider:

Helped my advisor research..." versus "Researched..." or "Collaborated with my advisor on research..

Other Points to ConsiderProof read your resume and ensure that no mistakes are evidentEdit and reviseAn employer will interpret mistakes on a resume as being indicative of your

work habits Feedback from others is almost always useful to improve your resume (and

any technical document)

Formatting – there is rarely a “right” or “wrong” format to use BUT:Aesthetics do matter, they will not compensate for lack of qualifications but

contribute to how a potential employer perceives youUse the “Print Preview” function in the word processorUse standard fonts, fancy or unusual fonts make your resume “stand out” but

not in a good way Use 11 or 12 font anything smaller is hard to read and will not interest the reviewer to want to read more

Other Points to ConsiderHow to fill in “empty space” is a common challenge for entry level

candidates Avoid increasing the size of the font or spacing between sections Adding relevant coursework taken as part of your education is also a good indicator of your

qualifications Don’t just list MEE 6419, state English Technical Writing

Think carefully about all of your skills, it may be possible to add an additional section on non-work experience or skills that are relevant to the job E.g. Volunteer work where you managed other volunteers indicates organizational and/or

managerial ability) Language skills/fluency are increasingly important in the global economy Computer programs are also useful, particularly engineering/technical software

Curriculum VitaeFrom Latin meaning “courses of my life”Resume which is greater in length, has additional sections, and goes into more detailThis is normally used for academic and research positions where a Ph.D. degree is required, frequently used in medical field alsoMany faculty add new information periodically and such documents for an accomplished professor can exceed 100 printed pages

Typical CV Sections/ContentName and contact information

Education with name of thesis advisor and dissertation title

Employment (separated into sub-sections) Academic/Teaching Experience Industrial Experience

Grants and Funded Research Work

Publications and Presentations Peer reviewed Non peer reviewed Presentations (Invited and non-invited)

Honors and Awards

Professional & Honorary Society Memberships Include officer positions held

Job Application – Part 2: Cover LettersCover letters are the “front end” of the job application “package”this letter is the first thing an employer sees

It is your introduction to an employer and represents a first impression you should take great care to write an effective letter the letter not only selectively highlights your accomplishments but also reveals how effectively you

can communicate

Limit your letter to a single page. Be concise.Assess the employer's needs and your skills and accomplishments BEFORE writing

◦ Try to match them in a way that will appeal to the employer's self-interest and make them want to look at your resume

Cover Letter Organization Your address

Date

Person/Title/Employer Address

Opening Salutation

Opening Paragraph

Paragraph(s) 2(-3)

Closing paragraph

Closing Salutation

Cover Letter Contents Opening Paragraph

State why you are writing

Establish how you learned about the job opening (advertisement in a trade magazine or website for a specific position; a particular person's suggestion that you apply)

Give a brief statement about who you are (MS engineering student at Sogang who is interested in working on ………. Or pursuing a career in ……….).

Paragraph(s) 2(-3)

Highlight a few of the most salient qualifications or accomplishments from your resume.

Arouse your reader's curiosity by mentioning points that are likely to be important for the position you are applying for.

Show how your education and experience suit the requirements of the position, and, by elaborating on a few points from your resume, explain what you could contribute to the organization.

Your letter should complement, not restate, your resume

Cover Letter Contents Closing paragraph

Request further action. Politely request an interview at the employer's convenience.

Thank the reader for his/her consideration of your application and indicate that you are looking forward to hearing from him/her.

Notes Type each letter individually using a word processor

◦ Be sure to tailor each cover letter to each employer/job you are applying for

Print the cover letter and resume on good quality paper Whenever possible, address each employer by name and title Each letter should be grammatically correct, properly punctuated, and perfectly spelled. It also should be immaculately clean and free of errors. ◦ Proofread and edit several times if necessary

If all goes well, the next step is the interview ………………………………………………….