The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters

Mary Ellen Guffey, Essentials of Business Communication, 6e Ch. 13-1

The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters


1 to 3

4 to 7

8 to 11

12 to 15

1. The average employee will have worked athow many jobs over the course of a career?

Test Your Employment Savvy


1 to 3

4 to 7

8 to 11

12 to 15

1. The average employee will have worked athow many jobs over the course of a career?



True False

2. Having your job terminated ranks in thetop ten of life’s most severe crises.



True False

2. Having your job terminated ranks in thetop ten of life’s most severe crises.



Chronological (arranged around dates)

Functional (arranged around skills)

Combination

3. You are putting together a résumé. What format do recruiters generally prefer?



Chronological (arranged around dates)

Functional (arranged around skills)

Combination

3. You are putting together a résumé. What format do recruiters generally prefer?



Searching the Internet

Sending out hundreds of résumés

Networking

Reading the classified ads

4. Many experts in the field of recruitingthink that the surest way for a college graduate to find a job today is by



Searching the Internet

Sending out hundreds of résumés

Networking

Reading the classified ads

4. Many experts in the field of recruitingthink that the surest way for a college graduate to find a job today is by



10 to 19 percent

20 to 29 percent

30 to 49 percent

50 percent or more

5. You begin your job search the way mostpeople do by looking through the newspaperads. What percentage of availableopportunities can you find in those ads?



10 to 19 percent

20 to 29 percent

30 to 49 percent

50 percent or more

5. You begin your job search the way mostpeople do by looking through the newspaperads. What percentage of availableopportunities can you find in those ads?



Potential employers and professional organizations

Family members, friends, neighbors, associatesSchool alumni and former instructorsYour dentist, your doctor, other service providersAll of the above

6. You’ve heard that “networking” is a good way to find a job. Who should be on your list of people to contact?



Potential employers and professional organizations

Family members, friends, neighbors, associatesSchool alumni and former instructorsYour dentist, your doctor, other service providers.All of the above

6. You’ve heard that “networking” is a good way to find a job. Who should be on your list of people to contact?



About 20 percent

About 40 percent

About 60 percent

About 80 percent

7. You’re now a serious candidate for a job.What percentage of companies will requirepre-employment drug testing?



About 20 percent

About 40 percent

About 60 percent

About 80 percent

7. You’re now a serious candidate for a job.What percentage of companies will requirepre-employment drug testing?



Dress in campus casual attire

Dress professionally in a suit

Hit a happy medium

Call to ask interviewer

8. You’ve landed a job interview with a company that has a casual dress code. What should you do?




Dress in campus casual attire

Dress professionally in a suit or

Hit a happy medium

Call to ask interviewer

8. You’ve landed a job interview with a company that has a casual dress code. What should you do?


• Preparation• Research the job market.

• Use newspapers, the Web, and other resources to learn about jobs, qualifications, and employers.

• Analyze your strengths.• What will sell you for the job you want?

• Study other résumés as models.• Experiment with formatting.

Writing a Persuasive Résumé


• Heading and Objective• List your name, address, phone.• Include a career objective for a targeted job.

• 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.



• Work Experience• List your previous jobs.

• Start with the most recent jobs. Include employer’s name and city, dates of employment (month, year), and most significant title.

Manager, Fleet Equipment, Kettering, Ohio. 6/03 to present

Salesperson, Kmart, Dayton, Ohio. 4/02 to 5/03

Tax Preparer, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. March, 2003, to present. Sinclair College, Dayton, Ohio



• Work Experience• Describe your experience.

• Use action verbs to summarize achievements and skills relevant to your 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.



• Work Experience• Include 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.



• Special Skills, Achievements, Awards• Highlight your computer skills.

• All employers seek employees proficient with word processing, databases, and spreadsheets.

• Show that you are well-rounded.• List awards and extracurricular activities, especially if they

demonstrate leadership, teamwork, reliability, loyalty, initiative, efficiency, and self-sufficiency.



• Additional 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 24-pound paper and a quality printer.

• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.





• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.Proofread!





• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.Proofread! Proofread!





• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!






• Have a friend or colleague critique your résumé.Proofread! Proofread! Proofread! Proofread!


RÉSUMÉ OFJENNIE JENKINS

3320 Lafayette Street, #12San Leandro, CA 94561

(415) 781-5592

OBJECTIVE: An entry-level position where my proven communication, accounting, and administrative skills could be utilized in a path leading to advancement into management eventually.

DEGREE from San Francisco State University. Broadcast Communication Arts. Bachelor of arts. 3.2 in major.

RÉSUMÉ OFJENNIE JENKINS

3320 Lafayette Street, #12San Leandro, CA 94561

(415) 781-5592

OBJECTIVE: An entry-level position where my proven communication, accounting, and administrative skills could be utilized in a path leading to advancement into management eventually.

DEGREE from San Francisco State University. Broadcast Communication Arts. Bachelor of arts. 3.2 in major.

Poor Résumé


EXPERIENCE

Apprentice KPFA - 94.1 in Berkeley, CA. Duties included scheduling studios. Also recruited staff. Some paperwork. Often given responsibility to act as production manager. 10/03 to present.

Pacifica HousePosition for financial manager. Duties included payroll and benefits for employees of shelter. Was responsible for the books, also for cash transactions. Took care of some donations. Expected to help raise funds. I prepared all payroll reports. Also petty cash. Chaotic environment, underfunded.

EXPERIENCE

Apprentice KPFA - 94.1 in Berkeley, CA. Duties included scheduling studios. Also recruited staff. Some paperwork. Often given responsibility to act as production manager. 10/03 to present.

Pacifica HousePosition for financial manager. Duties included payroll and benefits for employees of shelter. Was responsible for the books, also for cash transactions. Took care of some donations. Expected to help raise funds. I prepared all payroll reports. Also petty cash. Chaotic environment, underfunded.

Poor Résumé


Spring, 1999

Worked for one spring with Renaissance Rainbow, which is a performing arts troupe operating out of San Francisco. My duties included scheduling interviews with print and broadcast journalists. Was responsible for volunteers and publicity.

Other temporary positionsManpower, Inc. San Francisco. Worked at many different places as a temp. 1999-02. Dorhring Company. File clerk, receptionist, general duties. Other places. Good Earth Restaurant - server 1998-1999.

Spring, 1999

Worked for one spring with Renaissance Rainbow, which is a performing arts troupe operating out of San Francisco. My duties included scheduling interviews with print and broadcast journalists. Was responsible for volunteers and publicity.

Other temporary positionsManpower, Inc. San Francisco. Worked at many different places as a temp. 1999-02. Dorhring Company. File clerk, receptionist, general duties. Other places. Good Earth Restaurant - server 1998-1999.

Poor Résumé


Poor Résumé

PersonalSelf-starter, can finish jobs without supervision.Marital status: single Birth: 6/15/80Health: Excellent Hobbies: Knitting, singing,

like to readFirst Baptist Gospel Choir Awards: Spirit Award,

Oakland High SchoolDean’s List, college, 2 semesters

PersonalSelf-starter, can finish jobs without supervision.Marital status: single Birth: 6/15/80Health: Excellent Hobbies: Knitting, singing,

like to readFirst Baptist Gospel Choir Awards: Spirit Award,

Oakland High SchoolDean’s List, college, 2 semesters


Jennifer Marie Jenkins3320 Lafayette Street, #12San Leandro, CA 94561

(415) 781-5592

Objective: Administrative position involving• Payroll • Accounting • Employee Benefits • Customer Service

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS• Two years’ experience in responsible administrative and accounting positions• Disciplined self-starter; able to work without supervision• Proficient with PCs including Word, Excel, and the Internet

Jennifer Marie Jenkins3320 Lafayette Street, #12San Leandro, CA 94561

(415) 781-5592

Objective: Administrative position involving• Payroll • Accounting • Employee Benefits • Customer Service

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS• Two years’ experience in responsible administrative and accounting positions• Disciplined self-starter; able to work without supervision• Proficient with PCs including Word, Excel, and the Internet

Improved Résumé


• Can be counted on to follow through on every detail, until a task is successfully ..completed• B.A. degree, San Francisco State University

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE10/03 to Apprentice, Radio Production, KPFA - 94.1, present Berkeley, CA• As production manager, schedule studios, recruit support staff• Process scripts, permissions, and logs involved in weekly productions

2002-03 Financial manager, The Pacifica House (shelter),San Francisco, CA

• Used computer to manage payroll and employee benefits for a staff of 26• Completed all projects on time, despite chronically chaotic environment

• Can be counted on to follow through on every detail, until a task is successfully ..completed• B.A. degree, San Francisco State University

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE10/03 to Apprentice, Radio Production, KPFA - 94.1, present Berkeley, CA• As production manager, schedule studios, recruit support staff• Process scripts, permissions, and logs involved in weekly productions

2002-03 Financial manager, The Pacifica House (shelter),San Francisco, CA

• Used computer to manage payroll and employee benefits for a staff of 26• Completed all projects on time, despite chronically chaotic environment

Improved Résumé


• Managed agency's cash flow, involving funder reimbursements, in-kind donations, ..and fund-raising• Processed all accounts payable and receivable, monthly, and quarterly statistical ..reports for local, state, and federal funding agencies; oversaw petty cash• Designed a flow chart to track success of a $25,000 fund-raising project

Spring, 1999 Publicity coordinator, Renaissance Rainbow (performance arts troupe), San Francisco, CA

• Scheduled all media interviews and supervised volunteers• Coordinated publicity mailings for African-American Performance Arts Festival

1999-01 Temp positions, Manpower Temporary Services, San Francisco, CA

• Developed customer service skills as telephone interviewer for Dorhring ..Company

• Managed agency's cash flow, involving funder reimbursements, in-kind donations, ..and fund-raising• Processed all accounts payable and receivable, monthly, and quarterly statistical ..reports for local, state, and federal funding agencies; oversaw petty cash• Designed a flow chart to track success of a $25,000 fund-raising project

Spring, 1999 Publicity coordinator, Renaissance Rainbow (performance arts troupe), San Francisco, CA

• Scheduled all media interviews and supervised volunteers• Coordinated publicity mailings for African-American Performance Arts Festival

1999-01 Temp positions, Manpower Temporary Services, San Francisco, CA

• Developed customer service skills as telephone interviewer for Dorhring ..Company

Improved Résumé


Improved Résumé

• Maintained files, routed incoming telephone calls, input employee progress ..journals, prepared interoffice memos, recorded accounts payable checks, ..keyboarded accounts payable correspondence, learned e-mail systems in various ..assignments

EDUCATIONB.A. in Broadcast Communication Arts, San Francisco State University, 2002 GPA in major: 3.2Dean's list, 2 semesters

• Maintained files, routed incoming telephone calls, input employee progress ..journals, prepared interoffice memos, recorded accounts payable checks, ..keyboarded accounts payable correspondence, learned e-mail systems in various ..assignments

EDUCATIONB.A. in Broadcast Communication Arts, San Francisco State University, 2002 GPA in major: 3.2Dean's list, 2 semesters


• Emphasize keywords–nouns that describe traits, skills, and characteristics from job description.

• Avoid unusual typefaces, underlining, and italics.

• Use 10 to 14-point type.

Preparing a Computer-Friendly Résumé


• Use smooth white paper, black ink, and quality printing.

• Be sure that your name is on the first line.

• Provide plenty of white space.

• Avoid double columns.

• Don’t fold or staple your résumé.



• Use abbreviations carefully.• Include all your addresses and telephone

numbers.• Be prepared to send your résumé in

ASCII.Note: Unlike a paper résumé, one that will be scanned by a computer may be as long as you think necessary.



• A focus group of nine expert recruiters gave these individual responses:• “Personal data. That’s a major ‘red flag.’ Also

typos, inconsistent punctuation, and huge paragraphs that look like job descriptions.”

• “Odd-sized résumés from services saying ‘Presenting the candidacy of . . .’ I don't even read them anymore. They’re a major rip-off.”

What Turns Recruiters Off When Reading a Résumé?


• A focus group of nine expert recruiters gave these individual responses:• “Résumés that show no research; not looking

at the employer’s needs.”• “Omissions in terms of dates. And

misspellings!”• “Long cover letters and résumés over two

pages.”



• A focus group of nine expert recruiters gave these individual responses:• “Excess cosmetics, substituting form for

content. A résumé should look nice but not go overboard.”

• “A photo. I have to remove them because managers must be color and gender blind.”

• “Not sending the résumé to the right place.”



• “The objective. Plus dates when things happened and accomplishments.”

• “Information about skills that apply to the job; less about job history and past duties.”

• “Valid information in an easy-to-read, attractive style.”

What Do Recruiters Consider Most Important in a Résumé?


• “The candidate’s address and phone number. Lots of people put them only in the cover letter!”

• “Realizing that the employer is looking for ‘red flags’ and making sure there aren’t any. If you have an employment gap, include a clear statement explaining it.”



• “Meeting the qualifications for the job.”

• “The presentation and the objective.”

• “A clear objective, backed up with qualifying experience and continuity in the work history.”



Writing a Persuasive Job Application Letter

• Opening• Address the letter to an individual by name.• For advertised jobs, name the source;

include job title, date, and publication.• If someone referred you, name that person.• Show that your qualifications fit the job

specifications, show your knowledge of the reader’s business, or show that your special talents will be assets to the company.


• Body• Demonstrate that your background and

training meet the job requirements.• Summarize your principal assets from

education, experience, and special skills.• Avoid repeating specific data from your

résumé.• Refer to your résumé.



• Closing• Ask for an interview. Consider hooking the

request to a statement reviewing your strongest points.

• Make it easy to respond. Tell when and where you can be reached (during office hours). Some recruiters prefer that you call them.



End

Documents

The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters