Chapter 14

Lecture Slides

Preparing Rsums and

Application Letters

Learning Objective 1
Prepare for employment by
considering relevant information
about yourself as it relates to job
requirements.

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reserved.

Process of Applying for a

Job
Step 1

Conduct
research;
analyze self,
career, and job

Step 2

Identify job
listing using
traditional and
electronic sources

Step 3

Prepare targeted
rsum and
application
message in
required formats

Step 4

Step 5

Consider
supplementing
the rsum :
Portfolio (print/
electronic) or
video recording

Interview
with
companies

Rsum Presentation and Delivery Options

Print (Designed)
Mailing to company accompanied
by application letter
Mailed follow up to electronic
submission

Scannable
Print rsum
formatted for
computer scanning

Electronic Postings
Email to network contacts,
career and corporate sites,
and career service centers
Online form
Electronic portfolio at
personal website
Beamer to PDA or cell
phone

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Assess Your Marketability

The job search begins with research
Gather relevant information for
decision-making.
Prepare a company/job profile.
Identify unique selling points and
specific support.

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Learning Objective 2
Identify career opportunities using
traditional and electronic methods.

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reserved.

Sources for Identifying Career

Opportunities
Traditional Sources

Electronic Sources

Printed sources
Networking
Career service center
Employers offices
Employment agencies

Professional

Career guidance
information
Job listings
Company web
pages
Rsum posting
services

organizations

2009 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Using Electronic Sources

Use career sites to learn about

phases of job search
_______

Use corporate sites to learn

company
about the ________
specific skillsa
Find out what ____________
company is seeking
electronically with
Network ____________
potential employers

2009 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Learning Objective 3
Plan a rsum that reflects your
qualifications and communicates
your value to potential employers.

2009 Cengage Learning. All rights

reserved.

Watch Out! Potential Areas for

Employment Discrimination

Name: may give rise to race,

ethnicity, or gender discrimination
Marital status: may be
considered differently for male
and female candidates
Physical appearance: may
be viewed negatively for female
candidates
3

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All rights reserved.

Standard Rsum Parts

Identification
Career Objective
Career Summary
Qualifications
Personal Information
References
3

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10

Types of Rsums
Chronological Rsums: traditional
organizational format for rsums
Functional Rsums: points of primary
interest to employers transferable
skills appear in major headings
Chrono-functional Rsums: combines
features of chronological and functional
rsums
3

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11

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12

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13

Chrono-Functional Resume
Uses this visible location to advertise
availability of online portfolio where
applicant has posted digital evidence
of his skills.
Summarizes key qualifications
related to job requirements listed in
job posting.
Includes Education and
Experience, traditional headings in
chronological rsum, but positions
Experience first as key qualifier.
Addresses requirements stated in
job posting that support Marcs ability
to contribute to potential employer.
Adding concurrent with education
emphasizes initiative and discipline
required to finance education and
maintain academic honors.
Includes honors under Education
because they are highly relevant to
job objective and were achieved as
part of education. Divides section into
short chunks that emphasize key
points and increase readability.

Marc R. Pollard
P. O. Box 739
Wilmington, DE 19735-7189
302 555-8312
mpollard@aol.com u http://www.mpollard.com
CAREER OBJECTIVE: Human resources director of a small progressive firm.
PROFILE
Award-winning business graduate with more than ten years supervisory experience.
Superior interpersonal skills, strong organizer with excellent planning and technical
skills; proficiency in Microsoft Word and Access, Windows operating system, and
web browsers. Fluent in Spanish.
Online portfolio available for viewing at http://www.mpollard.com.
EXPERIENCE
Assistant manager, Freemont Inn, Smyrna, May 1994July 2004.

Managed 6 to 10 desk clerks and bellhops during an eight-hour shift.

Recognized as Employee of the Month four times.

Director, Fretz College, August 2004 to present (concurrent with education).

Supervised 72 upper-class male residents and enforced college regulations.

Prepared work schedules and handled payroll for 5 resident assistants and 13
desk assistants.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science, Fretz College, Wilmington, Delaware. To be Conferred May 1,
2007.
Major: MANAGEMENT with a concentration in human resources.
Related courses: International Management, International Communication, Spanish
(three semesters), and technology courses.
GPA: Major: 3.4; overall 3.5 (based on 4.0 scale).
Honors: Phi Kappa Phi (top 10% of junior/senior class). Society of Human
Resources Management (SHRM) National Championship HR team, 1st place winner,
2007.
Continued

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14

Learning Objective 4
Prepare an organized,
persuasive rsum that is
adapted for print, scanning,
and electronic postings.

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reserved.

15

Preparing a Print Resume

Appealing format that highlights key
qualifications and distinguishes resume
from other resumes
Format information for quick, easy reading
Create an appealing output to produce top
professional quality
Consider adding a statement of your
creativity and originality
4

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16

Preparing a Scannable
Rsum

Use popular, nondecorative typefaces

Use 10- to 14-point font
Do not include italics, underlining,
open bullets, or graphic lines/boxes
Print on one side of white, standard
size paper
Do not fold or staple

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17

Making a Rsum Search

Friendly
Place name as first item on

every page
Add powerful keywords in
separate section
- Capitalize first letter of
each keyword
- Begin with most
important, work in
reverse
- Use
only 80 keywords
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18

Types of Electronic
Most
Submissions
E-mail rsum to job bank
common
method

or networking contact
Beaming a quick rsum version
to a PDA or digital phone

Complete online or download form from job

bank, corporate website or career services
center to be returned by email, fax, or mail
Electronic portfolio on your
own personal home page
4

Learning Objective 5
Utilize employment tools
other than the rsum that
can enhance employability.

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20

Supplementing a Resume
Some possible items for your portfolio:
sample speeches with digitized audio or video
clips of the delivery.
performance appraisals and awards.
certificates of completion and attendance records.
reports, proposals, or written documents from
classes.
brochures or programs describing workshops
attended.
commendation messages, records, or surveys
showing client or customer satisfaction with
service.
5

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21

A Professional Portfolio
Illustrates past activities, projects, and
accomplishments
Can be easier to organize and transport
if presented digitally
Must show clear understanding of
audiences needs and your
qualifications

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22

Employment Videos
Be sure the video makes a
professional appearance and is
complimentary to you.
Avoid long talking head
segments. Include segments that
reflect you in a variety of
activities.
Remember that visual media may
lead to stereotyping and
discrimination.
Advertise the availability of your
employment video to maximize
its exposure.

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All rights reserved.

23

Learning Objective 6
Write an application
message that effectively
introduces an accompanying
print (designed) or electronic
rsum.

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24

General Writing Guidelines

1. Use fresh, original language.

2. Avoid I and writer-focused
statements.
3. Dont generalize.
4. Taylor message to employer
needs.
5. Provide requested
information.
6. Communicate knowledge of
company, requirements, and
language in field.
7. Focus on strengths and
positivity.
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25

Preparing Effective
Application Messages
persuasive letter strategy to sell your
Use __________
qualifications
original statements
Use _______
tailored to
Use concise, on-target language _______
employers needs

Use appropriate tone that avoids insincere

flattery false ________,
modesty or ________
boastful
_______,
statements
positive
Focus on strengths and portray a _______
attitude
6

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