Conducting the Job Search

Based on Chapter 9, Goodall and Goodall

Lynne Dahmen

COM 2301: Advanced Speech

Continuum of Job Seekers

Idle job seeker

interested

Focused

Conscious

Thinking about Your Career

What do you have to offer?What do you want to do?

Your interestsYour compensation goalsYour preferred working environmentYour lifestyle goals/choices

What is the current market?

Building your Skills

Travel/gain intercultural experienceDevelop portfolioTake internship opportunitiesPart-time jobsNetworkExpand your ‘life experience’

Why do Job Research?

Can focus/broaden possible types of jobs

Can define job parametersCan identify potential

employers/industriesCan define you contributionsCan impress potential interviewers

Finding out about Jobs

Newspapers Internet research Other employees Jobsites on the Web Company tours Friends/relatives

On campus opportunities

Job fairs Placement agencies Unsolicited résumés

Ways to use the Web

Career CounselingMaking contacts (newsgroups, listservs)Research companiesSearch for vacanciesPost online résumés

Résumé Basics

Less than one page2 fontsUse active verbsAvoid ‘I’Choose appropriate format (formal,

contemporary, artistic)Make an impression in 45 seconds

Basic Categories

Contact information (school and/or home)

Career objective/qualificationsEducationWork experienceSkillsAccomplishments

Basic Info

American Info Name Address Phone numbers Email

French info Name Address Phone numbers Email Marital status Age Gender Photo (ask)

Objectives/Summary of Qualifications

Objectives To obtain an entry-level sales position which makes

use of my communication and language skills. To obtain an entry-level sales position which makes

use of my communication and language skills and which will lead towards the development of management skills

Qualifications Ten years teaching experience to a variety of age

groups in both formal and informal settings. Five years editorial experience with three as

supervisor of development teams in technical environment

Education

Most recent school firstName and locationTerm of enrollment (months/years)Major/minor fieldsSignificant skills/abilitiesHigh school (usually not in American)If including GPA, include scale

Sample English Education Section

B.A., Anthropology 1992Rutgers College General Honors ProgramRutgers, the State University of NJ, New Brunswick,

NJGeneral Honors, High Departmental Honors

B.S., Biology May 2004 (expected) Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco

GPA: 3.2/4.0Dean’s list, Spring 2002, Fall 2002

Job Section

Name & Location of EmployerWhat organization does (if not clear)Functional titleYour duties and responsibilitiesSignificant achievements/contributions

Sample English Job Listing

S.A.T. Preparation Instructor, Stanley Kaplan Education Center. Madison, WI. Taught preparation in verbal and math skills. (Jan. 2001-June 2003)

Assistant Hospitality Clerk, Sheraton Hotel. Fes, Morocco. (summer 2000) Ensured smooth check-in of international clients Solved complaints of foreign guests (especially

English-speaking) Developed guide sheet for intercultural

communication for Moroccan staff.

Activities & Achievements

Volunteer experienceFamily related experienceTutoringCommunity serviceService activitiesAwardsScholarships

Sample English Activities

Activities and Achievements

School RelatedTeam participant, English Public Speaking

Contest (2001-2004)Writing center tutor (2002)

Extra-curricularHelped raise younger sister for 3 yearsVolunteered at Dar Chebab (Summers, 2001-

2002)

Adding Computer skills Include complete name of producer and program

Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Fireworks, Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

NOT: Adobe, Word, Access Include skill level

Basic familiarity, intermediate experience, advanced user or ‘power user’

Include Computer languages and level Basic Visual Basic, Introductory C++, Advanced Java

Adding Language SkillsSeparate ‘Arabic’ from ‘Moroccan Arabic’

unless you are FLUENT in Classical Arabic (be prepared to write and present)

Use standard measurements of language skill (Beginning, Intermediate, Advanced, Bilingual)

Specify reading, writing, speakingAvoid French interference (Basic notions

of…)Do NOT overstate your abilities

Basic Organizational Approaches

Chronological Most traditional, work experience dominates

Functional Skills dominates, deemphasizes lack of

employment Combination

Includes both, not commonly used, repetitive Academic

Includes publications, presentations, teaching

Basic Style do’s and don’ts

Use only 1 or 2 fonts (Times, Arial, Garamond) Use bold or italics (NOT underlining) for

emphasis Use slight differences in size sparingly Use Headings or design your own Word style to

be consistent Use tabs correctly to align data Use ‘space before/after’ instead of blank lines to

ensure even spacing Do not make information larger than 12 point Do not compensate for lack of information with

SIZE

Basics for Adapting a Résumé for the Web

Prepare résumé for scanning Convert to ‘text only’ (removes ALL formatting

except line breaks) Ensure legibility in ASCII format Add keywords Consider a Web résumé Make links ‘active’ Print out web page to make sure it is not

longer than 1 page Do not include personal contact details (other

than email) on publicly published CVs

Basic Problems with Résumés

Too long To short or sketchy Hard to read or

understand Too wordy Too ‘slick’ Amateurish

Poorly reproduced Grammatical

errors/typos Boastful Dishonest ‘Gimmicky’

The AIDA Approach to Cover Letters

Attention Mention company and products Argue your best skills State clear reference to job ad/position when

relevant Interest

Connect skills to job required Give evidence to support assertions

Desire Suggest how you will contribute to organization

Action Ask to meet them or indicate interest to meet

The bulk of the letter…

Summarizes your qualificationsEmphasizes your accomplishmentsSuggests your personal qualitiesJustifies salary requirements (rare)Refers to your résumé

Parts of the Letter

Your address Your correspondent Date Objective/subject of letter Introduction phrase Mentioning the company Your ‘arguments’ Conclusion with polite closing Signature Attachments at bottom of page

Qualities Employers Look for in a Candidate…

Candidate thinks about resultsKnows how to complete tasksIs well roundedShows progress/developmentHas personal standards/ethicsFlexibleCan communicate well

Dressing the Part

DO: Match clothing to type of

company Have simple and neat

hair Be well groomed (eg

nails) Carry briefcase/portfolio

(avoid ‘student’ sacks and bags)

DON’T: Wear heavy

perfume/cologne Wear lots of jewelry Wear lots of makeup Wear crazy/very high-

heeled shoes Smell of smoke/body

odor/food Chew gum or eat

Following Up after an Interview

Thank-you letter Within 2 days of interview Positive and ‘you’ oriented

Inquiry letter After 2 weeks, or if you have another offer

Request for time extension If you are waiting for other offers

Letter of Acceptance Reply within 5 days, identify position in letter

Letter of Declining an Offer Polite and direct