Week 6 Getting a job

If I can only get that interview . . .

We all know that the job market is tight these days not only for reason of the economy but because there are so many people in the marketplace with varying skills, backgrounds and experience  People with 20 years of experience are competing for positions with new college graduates. For both candidates the first task is to be able to talk about your qualification in such a way that will get you that interview.

What does it mean to tailor employment documents?

Employment documents include resumes, cover letters, and any business message that concerns employment. Your message will be directed to your contact(s) in the organization and will vary depending on what your intent is upon writing. Regardless of the type of message, it is very important to make sure that you use a writing strategy that will effectively reach your reader.

In any piece of writing it is important to keep your audience in mind. Ask yourself, who will read my document? When you tailor a document to a particular audience, you are adapting your writing for a reader. It is important to consider what you want your message to convey to the audience.

Why is it important for me to tailor my employment documents?

It is important to tailor your employment documents for a specific audience in order to convey your message clearly and convincingly. Considering your audience will help you to personalize the document and make it relevant to the reader. If you write without a specific audience in mind, the document might be far too general and vague, or it might include too much information. When you tailor a document to a specific audience, the document will have better "unity of purpose and style," and it will make the reader feel more involved (Hale).

Audience is important for all pieces of writing, and even more so for any employment document because employment documents must be able to persuade the reader that what you are saying is true in order to be effective. You are directly communicating with the organization, and you want the reader to understand your message and its relevance.

For what types of readers should I tailor my employment documents?

There are two kinds of readers that an employment document should be tailored for:

Skimmers and Skeptics.

Skimmers are readers that are typically very busy. Pressed for time, they often skim employment documents in a rather short period of time. Consequently, the documents you prepare for this particular reader should:

• State the main point clearly and up front
• Place the most important information at the beginning or ending of paragraphs
• Highlight key dates or figures

Both of the following examples represent the same experiences. A skimmer would be able to understand Example 2 much more quickly, though. Remember we have talked about how people read with an intent to "get it" quickly and with little effort.

Example 1

Managed $10,000 in project accounts, compiled and published engineering reports as assistant to Vice President, coordinated registrations, payments, and literature for software training seminars.

Example 2

• Managed $10,000 in project accounts.
• Compiled and published engineering reports as Assistant to Vice President
• Coordinated registrations, payments, and literature for software training seminars.

The second type of reader is a Skeptic. A Skeptic is a reader that is cautious and doubtful. Skeptical readers will tend to read a document carefully, questioning its validity. Ultimately, they will question the writer's claims. In order to meet the needs of the Skeptic, it is necessary to support your statements with sufficient details and evidence. Provide specific examples, numbers, dates, names, and percentages to meet the needs of the skeptical reader.

For example:

NOT: I performed very well in my classes.

BUT: I received the Dean's List Honors 7/8 semesters and received a Women in Communications Scholarship in May 2001.

Why Make an E-Portfolio

Why do this e portfolio? 

“E-Portfolios or personal websites provide students the opportunities to showcase their best work and demonstrate in meaningful ways what skills and knowledge they can bring to potential organizations. The electronic identity adds another dimension to the resume and cover letter because it contains tangible examples that potential employers can see.

Where do you start?

It’s simple; you start by compiling your most impressive work. Pick work that really exemplifies who YOU are as a candidate for a job. Make sure to include a few key sections in your portfolio, like the following:

About me

Resume

Professional work (including relevant projects, responsibilities, and promotions)

Academic work (including course work, conference presentations, and published work)

Contact information

No matter what kind of job you’re interested in, you need to remember that this ePortfolio is an extension of your resume, meaning that it is not a static product. Each time you accomplish something that could further your job search prospects, you should update your ePortfolio.

What about all of my other stuff?

Use your portfolio like a hub of your information. LinkedIn, for example, on its own is not a portfolio; however, LinkedIn is very important in your job search.  Every student should have a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn allows you to upload slideshows and video, but it does not have the flexibility of an e-Portfolio website.  Don't think of it as an either/or situation; every student should have a LinkedIn profile and include the address in your e-Portfolio website, as well as on your resume and business card.

Here are some examples from other school from graduating students:

Clemson

Plus there is other stuff like

vizualize.me

Creative resumes

Digital resumes 

Your Name

Address

Cell Phone

Email

Education

• College (anticipated graduation date)
• Major/Minor

Skills

• Technical and/or software skills
• Microsoft Word
• Final Cut Pro
• Microsoft Access
• HTML
• SAP Business Objects
• Quark
• Adobe Photoshop

Experience

WalMart (Pittsburgh, PA 2007-2009)

• Developed customer service manual
• Reorganized toy department
• Salesperson of the month three times (Jan. 07, March 08, Dec 09)

The ‘Doah newspaper (Winchester, VA 2008)

• Wrote stories for multimedia site
• Edited contributor content
• Edited HTML for site

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1. Address the letter to a specific person rather than to a title.
2. Use a stronger, more dynamic opening that grabs the reader’s attention.
3. Avoid repeating information that already appears in your resume. Do not list work experience without specifically addressing how it relates to the position for which you are applying.
4. Avoid using too many “I”s. The cover letter should be more about what the reader
5. Never say anything negative in a cover letter. It flags you as a potentially difficult employee.
6. Do not mention any inside contacts unless they can help you get the job. Be more specific about what you like about the company to which you are applying.
7. Do not make salary demands or give salary expectations unless specifically requested to provide them. A cover letter is generally not the proper place to address salary concerns.
8. Promise to make a follow-up call yourself.
9. Avoid boring closing statements.

Use active verbs

Show off your skills until you get more experience

Have a separate sheet for your references

•  Name
•  Title
• Address
• Cell phone
• Email

Don’t give it all away in your resume. Save some of yourself for your cover letter and interview.