Writing and Interviewing for Employment

2. 16 “There is no substitute for hard work.” ― Thomas Edison, American inventor Writing and Interviewingfor Employment

3. After completing the chapter, you will be able to: • Organize information about your work experience and education to plan and write an effective résumé. • Describe the parts of a résumé. • Explain the two basic formats of a résumé. • List different ways in which you can publish your résumé. • Write a persuasive cover letter that expresses your job goals and qualifications. • Identify the steps to prepare for a job interview. (continued)

4. Explain the importance of evaluating your performance in an interview. Write follow-up messages after a job interview. Describe the employment process. Discuss how to research and plan for a career.

5. Writing a Résumé • Résumé (pronounced rez-uh-may) • gives an employer a profile of your career goals, education, and work history • purpose is to sell yourself to a potential employer • snapshot telling who you are and why you would be an asset as an employee

6. Writing a Résumé Use the writing process as your guide. Start with prewriting activities. Match words in the job description on your résumé.

7. Writing a Resume 1. What is the chief purpose of a résumé? 2. What words and phrases should you match in a résumé?

8. Parts of the Résumé • Name and personal information • name • address • telephone number • e-mail address (for professionalcommunication only)

9. Parts of the Résumé • Summary • optional • valuable for people who have considerable experience and expertise in a particular field • Career objective • optional • can be general or specific description of the position you are seeking • A summary statement and career objective can be combined and either heading may be used.

10. Parts of the Résumé • Work experience • This section is the main focus for the employer. • Begin with your current or most recent employer. • List the positions you held, dates of employment, and names and locations of employers. • Describe the work experience with each employer. • Use action verbs. • Activities outside of school or work, such as volunteer work, can show experience relevant to the job. • Use keywords asrésumés may be scanned for wordsthat relate to the functions of the position. • Use words that reflect latest language in the field.

11. Parts of the Résumé • Education • Begin with the most recent diploma or degree earned. • List certifications you earned, special courses or training programs completed, or other educational achievements related to the position. • Honors/awards/publications • Employers look for well-rounded individuals. • Employers are especially interested in applicants who are community oriented.

12. Parts of the Résumé • Memberships and professional affiliations • Special skills or additional training • References • person who knows you well and can comment on your qualifications, work ethic, personal qualities, and work-related aspects of your character • provided only on request by employer

13. Parts of the Resume 1. Which section of the résumé is the main focus for an employer? 2. Why would you list any activities outside of school or work? 3. When are references provided to an employer?

14. Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Proofreading Your Résumé Draft. Select the standard parts or categories of information that best fit your situation. Follow the guidelines given in this chapter for writing descriptions of your job duties and achievements. Revise. Résumés should be one page for applicants with shorter work histories and two pages for more experienced applicants. A great deal of the revision work involves making the information fit the one- or two-page format.(continued)

15. Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Proofreading Your Résumé Edit. Be sure to use the keywords for which the employer will be looking. Describe your past work duties and achievements in language that represents current usage in the field. Use words and phrases that appear in the job description so your résumé can be scanned for these words. Format. Select the format that best suits your information and the job for which you are applying.(continued)

16. Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Proofreading Your Résumé Review. Whenever possible, enlist the opinion of someone who is a good writer and who has experience with résumés. Check spelling/grammar and proofread. An error-free résumé is essential. Errors in a résumé give the employer a poor impression of you and your attention to detail.

17. Résumé Formats • Chronological résumé • emphasizes employers and work experience with them • most recent employer appears first

18. Résumé Formats • Functional résumé • lists work experience according to categories of skills • highlights your best skills

19. Résumé Formats • Electronic résumé • complete on a Web site • attachment to an e-mail • Scannablerésumé • Do not use unusual fonts the reader may not have. • Use a one-column format. • Avoid horizontal lines, boxes, or shading. • Avoid asterisks, dashes, parentheses, and brackets. • Use all capital letters for headings. • Do not use italics, underlining, or graphics. • Double-space between items in each section.

20. Resume Formats 1. What are the two basic formats for a résumé? 2. Why should you use only common fonts in a résumé that is to be submitted electronically?

21. Publishing Your Résumé Shutterstock • Publishing is the process of making the résumé available to the person who needs to receive it. • print (traditional method) • fax • e-mail (electronic) • online (electronic)

22. Publishing your Resume 1. What is the traditional way in which a résumé is published? 2. List two ways a résumé may be published electronically.

23. Cover Messages • A cover message is a letter or e-mail sent with a résumé to introduce yourself and summarize your reasons for applying for a job • do not repeat the details in your résumé • do provide a summary highlighting your key qualifications • Three parts of a cover letter: • introduction • body • conclusion

24. Cover Messages Typical cover letter

25. Cover Messages 1. What is the purpose of a cover message? 2. What are the three basic parts of a cover message?

26. Job Interview • Job interview • The first step is to learn as much as you can about the company and job. • Fully research the job and company before the interview. • The interview is the employer’s opportunity to see if you are qualified and to assess you as an individual. • This is your opportunity to sell yourself in person.

27. Job Interview Shutterstock • Dress appropriately in the interview. • Dress conservatively. • Avoid trendy dress, which may be seen as inappropriate.

28. Job Interview Dress appropriately

29. Job Interview • Prepare for questions likely to be asked. • 1. What makes you a good employee? • 2. What are your strengths and weaknesses? • 3. Tell me something about yourself. • 4. Describe the experience you have that relates to the position. • 5. What type of position are you interested in? • 6. What do you plan to be doing five years from now? • 7. What type of work environment do you prefer? • 8. Why do you want to work for this organization? • 9. Are you willing to work overtime?

30. Job Interview • Ask questions in the interview. • What are the specific duties for this position? • To whom will I report in this position? • Do you have a policy of promoting employees and of providing on-the-job training? • What are the working hours? • Is travel, weekend work, or overtime required? • What is the salary you are offering? (2nd interview) • What is the anticipated start date if I am hired? • When do you expect to make your decision?

31. Job Interview • Practice questions so you appear relaxed, organized, competent, and professional in the interview.

32. Job Interview 1. What is the first step in preparing for a job interview? 2. Why should you practice answering questions that are likely to be asked in a job interview? 3. Why is it better to dress more conservatively for a job interview rather than more trendy?

33. Evaluating the Interview • Evaluate your interview performance as soon as possible after the interview. • Evaluating is a way to improve for the next interview. • Make a list of what you feel you did right and wrong. • Every interview is a chance to practice, so do not feel your time was wasted if you find you are not interested in the job.

34. Evaluating the Interview • Ask yourself questions about the interview. • Was I adequately prepared? • Did I remember to bring copies of documents? • Was I on time for the interview? • Did I talk too much or too little? • Did I honestly and completely answer the interviewer’s questions? • Did I dress appropriately? • Did I display nervous behavior? • Did I come across as composed and confident? • What questions could I have handled better?

35. Evaluating your Interview 1. When should you evaluate your performance in a job interview? 2. Why is it important to evaluate your performance in a job interview?

36. Interview Follow-Up Messages • Immediately after the interview, send a thank-you message.

37. Interview Follow-Up Messages • If offered the job, send an acceptance message. • This is your first official act as a new employee. • The letter must be well written.

38. Interview Follow-Up Messages • If declining an offer, send a message stating only facts.

39. Interview Follow-Up Messages If withdrawing from the process, send a withdrawal message stating you no longer wish to be an applicant.

40. Interview Follow-up Messages 1. When should you write a thank-you message for a job interview? Why is it important to develop a well-crafted acceptance message? When writing a message declining a job offer, why is it important to be positive in the message?

41. Employment Process Shutterstock • Complete a job application form. • printed form • online

42. Employment Process • The employer will conduct an employment verification. • checking your employment history information • usually checks just dates, job titles, and other objective data • The employer will do a background check into your personal data. • credit reports • driving record (if relevant to the job) • criminal record

43. Employment Process What are two ways in which a job application form may be completed? 2. What is employment verification? 3. What are three things that may be part of a background check by an employer?

44. Career Planning • There are many ways to research career opportunities • career aptitude tests • personal interests • strengths • weaknesses • Internet • career handbooks • professional organizations • networking—speaking with people you know • helps evaluate opportunities • may lead to job offers

45. Career Planning 1. What do career aptitude tests measure? 2. What is networking, as related to a career search?

46. A résumé is a document that provides potential employers a profile of your career goals, your work history, and your job qualifications. The most important part of your résumé is the listing of your work experience and achievements. Consider which format will best present your information to the potential employer.

47. Résumés are traditionally printed and mailed. A cover message is an introduction to who you are and why you are the right person for the position, but should not repeat all of the information on your résumé. The job interview is the opportunity to impress the interviewer that you are the person for the job. As soon as possible after the interview, review your performance.

48. Immediately after your interview, follow up with a thank-you letter. At some point in the employment process, you will need to complete an application form for the Human Resources Department to keep on file.