Transcript Technical writing

TECHNICAL WRITING
October 8, 2014
Today
Job application (résumés) – Continued
Good
Bad
Résumé - What employers like to see
1. Honesty – no false is misrepresented information
2. Attractiveness – proper font and layout
3. Organization – proper format
4. Conciseness – brief, and to the point (descriptive)
5. Accuracy – error-free
6. Currency – all information should be up-to-date
7. Relevance – Information should be relevant to the position
Résumé - What employers like to see
Which of these do you have?
Writing your résumé
Consider these questions:
1. What classes did you excel in?
2. What papers, reports, or presentations earned you your highest
grades?
3. What computer skills have you mastered?
Writing your résumé
Consider these questions:
4. What technical skills (other than computer skills) have you acquired?
5. What jobs have you had?
6. Have you ever been promoted or chosen for special duty or tasks?
Writing your résumé
Consider these questions:
7. Do you work well with people?
8. Can you organize complicated tasks or identify and solve problems
quickly?
9. Have you had experiences/responsibilities managing money?
10. Have you won any awards or scholarships or received a raise,
bonus, commendation, and/or promotion at work?
Parts of a résumé
Do not include:
- Salary demands or expectations.
- Work schedule preferences, days off, overtime
- Travel restrictions
- Your citizen’s number
- Height, weight, hair color
- Religion, political affiliations
- Hobbies, interests (unless they are relevant)
Parts of a résumé - summary
NAME
Contact information
Career objective
Credentials (Education and Experience)
Related skills and Achievements
Computer skills
(Honors/awards)
References
Parts of a résumé
Contact information
Gwen Gao
42 Lanark Street, Clayton, VIC 3168
Ph: 010-6388-5030
[email protected]
Note: avoid unprofessional e-mail addresses
[email protected]
[email protected]
Parts of a résumé
Career objective
Create an objective that directly related to the position you
have applied for.
Consider:
1. What kind of job am I Iooking for?
2. What kind of job am I qualified for?
3. What abilities do I have that match the position?
Parts of a résumé
Career objective
Avoid:
“I want to join a company.”
“Looking for high-paying job that brings personal satisfaction.”
Real-life example:
Objective: I want a base salary of $50-$60,000 dollars, not
including bonus. And some decent benefits. Like a retirement
plan, health insurance, personal or sick days.
Parts of a résumé
Career objective
Be focused:
Internship in marketing to apply the training earned through
my education.
Regional sales representative using my proven skills in ecommerce and communication to develop and expand a
company base.
Parts of a résumé
Credentials (Education & Experience)
- The order can vary.
- If you are a recent (or soon-to-be) graduate with little
experience, list education first.
- Only include relevant items!
Balancing Education and Experience
Any part-time work (paid, or not), vacation job,
volunteer experience, or internship show an
employer that you are responsible and
knowledgeable.
i.e,. If you worked at GS 25, it shows that you can
work with money and provide customer service
and take responsibility for your own duties without
supervision.
Parts of a résumé
Credentials - Education
- Begin with most recent education first, then list everything
significant since high school.
Include:
Name(s) of school(s)
Dates attended
Degree/Diploma/Certificate earned.
- This includes relevant training courses or military training.
Parts of a résumé
Credentials - Education
IMPORANT: A résumé is NOT a transcript, though. Do not
simply list all the courses you took.
- Instead, concentrate on describing the skills you learned.
Parts of a résumé
Credentials - Experience
- A key category for many employers
- Show that you have held a job before and that you are
responsible.
Parts of a résumé
Credentials - Experience
- Begin with most recent position (reverse chronological
order).
Include:
- Company name
- Location (city, province, country [if necessary])
- Your job title
- Dates of employment
Parts of a résumé
Credentials - Experience
- For each job, provide a short description (one or two
lines) of your duties and achievements.
March 2010 – June 2012
Promotions Assistant, Promostaff
- Managed product research studies in supermarkets
- Collated results and highlighted critical feedback items.
- Promoted to team leader due to excellent feedback
from clients.
Parts of a résumé
Credentials - Experience
- You may include any relevant volunteer work you have
done.
- This may be especially important if you have no work
experience.
- Describing your volunteer duties can demonstrate your
previous responsibilities.
Parts of a résumé
Related skills and achievements
- Indicate any additional languages you speak or write, extensive
travel, certificates or licenses, and memberships to
professional organizations or community groups.
i.e., Language skills.
- English: Advanced (spoken and written)
How could I prove this on a résumé?
- i.e., English: Advanced (spoken and written): TOEFL ibt 115
Parts of a résumé
Computer skills
- Knowledge of computer hardware, software, etc. is
extremely valuable in the job market.
Any relevant software knowledge is especially useful
- i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, Photoshop, etc.
Parts of a résumé
Honors/awards
- Include only if they are relevant.
i.e.,
Community service awards
Academic awards
Parts of a résumé
References
- Usually, you state:
References available upon request.
Parts of a résumé - summary
NAME
Contact information
Career objective
Credentials (Education and Experience)
Related skills and Achievements
Computer skills
Honors/awards
References
Résumé language: “Action” words
Points to remember:
- Résumés must be concise and to-the-point.
- In this small space, you must be as descriptive
as possible.
Using the proper “résumé language” can help your résumé stand
out from others.
i.e., I looked after the store’s money that people bought
things with.
 Managed daily cash flow.
Résumé language: “Action” words
Look at the following job descriptions.
Edit them to incorporate action words.
Résumé language: “Action” words
Made a website for the Daegu Animal Shelter.
Found workplace-related problems and made reports.
Gave advice to customers about products to purchase.
Took existing surveys and changed them for our customers.
Gave presentations about future projects
Made old procedures simpler
Was the leader of 4 other employees
Résumé language: “Action” words
Made a website for the Daegu Animal Shelter.
 Designed
Created
Established
Résumé language: “Action” words
Found workplace-related problems and made reports.
 Identified workplace related problems and composed
filed
drafted
Résumé language: “Action” words
Gave advice to customers about products to purchase.
 Recommended products to customers
 Assisted customers with product purchases
Advised customers on product purchases
 Provided advice…
Résumé language: “Action” words
Took existing surveys and changed them for our customers.
 Customized existing… for our customers
Modified existing surveys for our customers
 Converted existing surveys to serve customers..
Résumé language: “Action” words
Gave presentations about future projects
Delivered presentations about..
Held presentations…
Presented (on) future projects
Prepared (and delivered) presentations about..
Résumé language: “Action” words
Made old procedures simpler
Stream-lined old procedures
Simplified old..
Modified…
Résumé language: “Action” words
Was the leader of 4 other employees
 Led a team of…
Supervised…
 Managed..
 Directed…
Some real-life résumé fails
Hobbies: “Having a good time”
Skills: “I can type without looking at thekeyboard.”
Languages: “Speak English and Spinach.”
“Able to say the ABCs backward in under five seconds.”
Hobbies: “Drugs and girls”
Fixing a bad (terrible) Résumé
Look at the résumé.
With your partner, identify as many problems as you can.
- Make notes on the paper.
Résumé
Fixing a bad (terrible) Résumé
Fixing a bad (terrible) Résumé
Re-write the résumé.
-email address résumé
- No phone #
- Bio details
- Vague and poorly written objective OBJECTIVE
- KAC not defined
- List of classes
- GPA
- Exclamation mark!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- No entrance date for uni
- HS info unnec.
- Use of “I”
- NO use of “résumé” language
Sample résumés
http://careers.monash.edu.au/students-grads/apply-for-ajob/resume-samples.html
Assignment 3
Find an entry level position or internship that you would be
interested in applying to.
Prepare an application for that job
- Résumé
- Cover letter
Some websites to search
http://www.monster.com/
http://www.goinglobal.com/en/job-search/
http://www.overseasjobs.com/
http://www.workopolis.com
Or, try a Google search.
i.e., “entry level marketing jobs California”
Or, check company websites.
Reminder
DO THE WEBSITE READINGS (and watch the video)