Chapter 14 Finding and Obtaining Employment

1. Chapter 14Finding and Obtaining Employment

2. 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

3. Interview 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

4. Interact 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

5. Apply for Training orVolunteer 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

6. Begin a Working Résuméor 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

7. Request 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

8. Compile a Dossier orPortfolio • 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

9. Begin 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

10. Your ability to communicate effectively in job related documents might determine whether you get interviewed for a job.

11. RecommendationRequest 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

12. RecommendationRequest 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

13. Letters 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

14. Letters 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

15. Your 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

16. Résumés May Contain • Contact Information • Career Objective • Education • Experience • Honors and Awards • Activities • References

17. Contact 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

18. Career 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

19. Education • 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

20. Experience • 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

21. Honors 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

22. Activities • 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

23. References • 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

24. Design 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

25. Online 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

26. Online 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

27. Scannable 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

28. Scannable 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

29. Curriculum 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

30. Transnational 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.

31. Ethics 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.

32. Cover 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

33. Cover Letters Contain • 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

34. Preparing 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

35. When Participating in 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

36. When Participating in 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

37. When Participating in 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

38. Follow-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

39. Negotiating andAccepting 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

40. Job 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

41. Job 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