Bài giảng Business Communication Design - Chapter 15: Creating a Career and Designing Résumés

2/ePPT 15Creating aCareerandDesigning RésumésMcGraw-Hill/IrwinCreating a CareerCreating a career means selecting the right field and matching your skills to the job you want and will enjoy.© Brand X Pictures/PunchStockA Career-Finding StrategyExamine Your Professional Goals and InterestsFind Out MoreShadowingbusiness professional means to spend time watching him or her perform in the work environmentA Career-Finding StrategyFind Out More (continued)Visit the campus career counseling center or placement office.Check out employment planning and job listing websites on the Internet.Network with professionals in the fields that interest you.A Career-Finding StrategyFind Out More (continued)Take a part-time or freelance job in the field.Read trade journals.Review classified ads in newspapers.Write exploratory letters to companies.A Career-Finding StrategyCreate a Professional Inventory of Skills and Abilitiesoral and written communicationsecond languagesproblem solvingcomputer proficiencyTake a Temporary JobDesigning Your RésuméRésuméa written marketing tool that briefly summarizes your skills, abilities, education, and experience for a potential employerRésumé Formats Chronological Résuméa traditional format organized by positions held, starting with the most recent Functional Résumépresents relevant skills and achievements in categories rather than under job titles. It does not require dates of employment or titles.Résumé Formats Targeted Résuméa customized format tailored to a precise career field or job. It contains only the content that applies to a set of job requirements. Integrated Résuméincludes aspects of all the other formats Scannable Résuméformatted in plain text for electronic scanning systemsRésumé FormatsTABLE 15.1 Scannable WordsSample RésumésIndicate date that degree will be completed.List courses related to the position you are seeking.Use bullets to identify accomplishments.Capabilities demonstrate skills you want to highlight.Boldface job titles and bullet major duties.Use dates to indicate time spent in positions.FIGURE 15.1 Chronological Résumé FormatSample RésumésFIGURE 15.2 Functional Résumé FormatList courses that demonstrate competence in the field where you are seeking employment.Group career and other experiences into categories that emphasize relevant skills and strengths.Downplay scant work history by placing it at the end of your résumé.Sample RésumésFIGURE 15.3 Targeted Résumé FormatList academic activities that are tailored to the field.Use a special heading to highlight work experience that matches the job or field.Limit experience listed to a specific job or career field.Other related academic activities and skills can be listed at the end of your résumé.Sample RésumésFIGURE 15.4 Integrated Résumé FormatBullet information in categories.Group related experience and skills in categories.List job experience from most recent first as you would using a chronological format.Separate responsibilities and accomplishments for each position.Place your education at the end of the résumé if it is not directly applicable to the position or if your experience is stronger.Sample RésumésFIGURE 15.5 Scannable Résumé FormatUse key words that match the job description or listing.Use a single- rather than a two-column format.Use asterisks or hyphens rather than bullets for lists.Use white space so scanner can identify and read separate categories.If you indent, use the space bar rather than tabs.Avoid the use of bold, italic, or underlining when formatting the résumé.Résumé Ingredients Identificationa heading centered on top of the first page of a résumé that includes your full name, home address, telephone number, and e-mail address Educationincludes academic degrees earned, major field of study, date your degree was completed or anticipated, and your grade point average (GPA)Résumé Ingredients Accomplishmentssomething you have achieved or produced by using your talent and skills Capabilitiesthe abilities you possess, such as communication skills, computer proficiency, and second languages Professional experiencefull-time, parttime, volunteer, internship, and self-employment experienceRésumé IngredientsTABLE 15.2 Action VerbsRésumé Ingredients Referencespeople who know you personally, your work, and your talents and who will recommend you for employmentRésumé IngredientsThe Problems with Résumésdoes not identify accomplishments or achievementscontains falsehoods & liesis long & wordyexceeds the need to knowRésumé IngredientsThe Problems with Résumés (continued)is scattered, jumbled, & hodgepodgecontains typos, poor grammar, & misspellingsuses “I,” “me,” & “my”shows obvious employment gapsDesigning Cover LettersCover letterbrief and persuasive application document that accompanies your résuméDesigning Cover LettersWhat Cover Letters AccomplishDistinguish from other applicantsIllustrate knowledge of and interest in companyIdentify how key skills and work experience can benefit the company and meet the requirements of the jobDemonstrate ability to express self as a business communicatorDesigning Cover LettersWriting the Cover LetterSteps to Writing Cover Lettersone page letter; printed on same paper as résumédirect to specific person not “Dear Sir” or “Director”in opening, emphasize letter’s purposebuild interest in body of letter highlighting qualificationslast paragraph motivates action and makes contacting you easythoroughly proofread your cover letterremember to sign your cover letter (in ink)Designing Cover LettersTypes of Cover LettersSolicited applicationssent in reply to requests for résumés involving open positionsExploring opportunitiesinvolves selecting a company and preparing a letter to request an informational meetingDesigning Cover LettersFIGURE 15.6 Sample Solicited Cover LetterFirst paragraph identifies how you learned about the position and states that you are applying for the job.Duties and skills that match the job description can be bulleted.A proactive closing paragraph indicates that you will be following up to gain an interview.Designing Cover LettersFIGURE 15.7 Sample Exploring Opportunities Cover LetterFirst paragraph demonstrates knowledge of the company.Bullets highlight the most applicable qualities listed in the résumé.The close mentions résumé and initiates follow-up.Finding a JobNetworkingidentifying and contacting people you know who can help you find a job or who may refer you to someone who can helpFinding a JobNetworkMake an employers listWrite exploratory letters to companies on your listAttend job fairsSearch the InternetWebsites for job listings and job fairs?Questions