Transcript WEEK 7 - RESUME WRITTING AND INTERVIEW - CHAPTER 18.ppt

Building Careers and
Writing Résumés
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 1
Securing Employment in
Today’s Job Market
• Understanding the employer’s
approach
• Organizing your approach
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 2
Employment Search Process
1. Build toward a career
2. Prepare a résumé
3. Understand the interview process
4. Prepare for interview
5. Take the interview
6. Follow up and accept the offer
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 3
Employer’s Approach
to the Recruiting Process
• Look inside the company
• Networking and personal references
• Employment agency or search firm
• Unsolicited résumés
• Newspaper want ads
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 4
Organizing Your Approach
• Track business news
• Monitor financial news
• Research specific firms
• Build a network
• Seek career counseling
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 5
Three-Step Résumé Process
• Planning
• Writing
• Completing
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 6
Planning Your Résumé
• Identify audience and purpose
• Include pertinent information
• Determine the best medium
• Build on your strengths
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 7
What Employers Seek
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Results orientation
Workplace achievements
Versatility
Signs of progress
Standards of excellence
Flexibility
Communication skills
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 8
Areas of Concern
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Frequent job changes
Gaps in work history
Level of experience
Long-term with one company
For-cause job termination
Criminal or arrest record
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 9
Organizing Your Résumé
• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination
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Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 10
Writing Your Résumé
• Respect your résumé
• Take your time
• Review good models
• Minimize frustration
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Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 11
Keep the Résumé Honest
• Workplace references
• Background checks
• Credit histories
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 12
Adapting to the Audience
• Consider the employer’s perspective
• Build on past accomplishments
• Stress your future potential
• Translate skills and experience
• Clarify educational achievements
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 13
Composing Your Résumé
• Name and address
• Career objective or summary
• Academic credentials
• Employment history
• Activities and achievements
• Relevant personal data
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 14
Completing Your Résumé
• Revising
• Producing
• Proofreading
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 15
Common Résumé Problems
• Wrong length
• Amateurish
• Hard to read
• Boastful
• Wordy
• Generic
• Too slick
• Gimmicky
• Poorly reproduced
• Carelessly written
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 16
Producing Your Résumé
• Printed traditional résumé
• Printed scannable résumé
• Electronic plain-text file
• MS Word file
• HTML format
• PDF file
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 17
Printing a Traditional Résumé
• High-quality paper
• Crisp, clear image
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 18
Printing a Scannable Résumé
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Use sans-serif fonts
Separate characters
Avoid columns
Avoid special characters
Separate phone and email
Use plain white paper
Identify all pages
Include a keyword summary
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 19
Digital Résumé Formats
• Plain-text file
• MS Word file
• HTML version
• PDF format
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 20
Proofreading Your Résumé
• Headings and lists
• Grammar and punctuation
• Spelling and word choice
• Paper and digital formats
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 21
Distributing Your Résumé
• Postal mail
• E-mail
• Fax machine
• Online
• Personal website
• Index service or job site
© Prentice Hall, 2008
Business Communication Today, 9e
Chapter 18 - 22