Business
Communication
Chapter 15
Getting a Job
Copyright 2010 South-Western Cengage Learning
Section 15.1
2
Job Search
 Process of finding job
openings and apply for
jobs.
 Finding a Job Requires:
 Preparation
 Determination
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Your Goals
 Personal goals
 Clarifies what is
important to you
 Career goals
 What do you want
out of a career
© Blend Images / Jupiter Images
Consider your personal goals and career goals
when planning a job search.
15.1 Job Search
4
Goals
Personal
Career
 What do I enjoy doing?
 Consider short term and long
 What are my interests?
term goals
 What job do I want to be
doing 10 years from now?
 How far do I want to advance
in my career field?
 Do I prefer steady, fixed work
hours or a flexible, varied
work schedule?
 Where do I want to live?
 In what type of environment
do I want to work—inside,
outside, etc.?
 Do I want to work with
people? machines? Animals?
Ideas?
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Job Qualifications
 Skills, abilities, experience, and training that prepare a
person to do a job
 Identifying your qualifications gives you the
information you need to prepare a resume and market
yourself during an interview.
 Job Interview
 A discussion of a job and your qualifications with an
employer
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Experience
 List ALL Work
Experience
 Temporary
 Part-time
 Non-paying jobs
 Paid work
experience
© Brand X Pictures / Jupiter Images
Both paid and volunteer work can help
prepare you for a job.
 List Achievements
and Activities
15.1 Job Search
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Information to Include About
Work Experience
 Name, address, and phone number of each employer
 Job title
 Names of supervisors
 Salary history
 Dates of employment
 Major tasks, duties, and skills
 Military experience
 Unpaid volunteer activities (such as fund-raising for
charity)
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Skills and Education
 List specific skills that relate to your intended
career and any special courses or programs you
have completed.
 Include HIGH SCHOOL information ONLY if
you have no postsecondary education
 Name of school
 City and state of school
 Dates attended or expected graduation date
 Certificates or degrees earned or courses
completed
 Honors or awards received
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Personal Traits
 Work Ethics
 Aptitude tests
 Honesty
 Personality tests
 Creativity
 Self-assessment tests
 Enthusiasm
 Computer skills
 Communication skills
 Problem-solving skills
 Decision-making skills
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Career Portfolio
 Computer file, file folder, notebook, or small briefcase
 Contains
 Samples of your work
 Transcripts, certificates, or diplomas
 Test scores
 Letters of recommendation
 Awards
 Copies of job application forms
 Copies of resume
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Job Opportunities
 School placement offices
 Job search network
 Newspapers and
professional magazines
 Internet
 Employment agencies
 Researching organizations
© Tony Sanchez-Espinosa / Shutterstock
Working in a temporary position is a
good way to get work experience.
15.1 Job Search
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Internship
 Allows a student to work for a company for a set period
of time as part of a learning experience
 Usually paid for your work
 Sometimes offered a permanent position with the
company
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Networking
 Talking with people you
know
 Family
 Friends
 Acquaintances
 Many of the BEST jobs
are never advertised but
are given to someone
who learned about the
job through networking
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Publications
 Newspaper Ads
 Do research to learn
 May or many not state
about the company
 Respond quicky
 Follow instructions in
the ad
name of company
advertising the job
 If company name is
given . . .
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Internet
Employment
Agencies
 Monster.com
 Match job Seekers with
 CareerBuilder.com
Job Opportunities
 Public and private
agencies
 State employment
agencies (Dept. of Labor)
 Temp agencies
 Federal and state
governments
 Gain work experience
 Meet potential employers
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Do Your Research!!
 Helps you decide whether you think you would like to
work for the company
 Interviews more likely to hire someone who knows
something about their company
 Visit library
 Check company’s annual reports
 Go Online to company’s Website
 Talk to people who are familiar with company
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Things to Know about the
Company
 Organization Identification
 Name, city and state of home office
 Internet address
 Name of Interviewer
 Organization classification
 Type of organization—business, govt., or charitable
 Organization Activities
 Brand names, competition, production, sales, service
 Organization site
 Number of employees
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Section 15.2
19
Resume
 A concise summary of
an applicant’s
qualifications for a job
 Also called a data sheet
 Tool used to market
yourself to employers
 Effective resume helps
you get an interview
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Guidelines for Preparing a
Resume
 Margins—1” on all sides
 Use parallel structure in
 Print on 20-lb Bond
headings and lists
 Use action verbs
paper
 Use light colors—white,
gray, or off white
 Avoid pastels
 Avoid bright colors
 Use matching envelopes
 Filed correspondence
 Correct all spelling,
grammar, and
punctuation errors
 Format to ONE page
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Preparing a Resume
 Reverse chronological order
 Most recent information presented first
 Functional order
 List skills in order of importance to emphasize your
strengths
 Parts of a resume
 Contact information and job objective
 Special qualifications
 Education and experience
 Activities, interests, and achievements
15.2 Resume
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Resume Formatting Tips
View the PowerPoint entitled “Building a Resume”
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Alternative Resumes
 Scannable print resume
 Print resume formatted so that it can be scanned into an
electronic file using OCR software
 Electronic resume
 Resume saved as a computer file
 Web resume
15.2 Resume
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Web Resume
 Resume that can be
viewed on the web using
a browser program like
Internet Explorer
 Links to other parts such
as work samples,
drawings, or other items
from a career portfolio
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Truthful Resumes
 Ethical behavior requires that all the information
included on your resume be true.
 DO NOT list skills or training that you do not have in
order to appear qualified for a job
15.2 Resume
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Case Study
 Jason found several job opening that seemed like
good opportunities. He revised his resume for each
job including keywords that related specifically to
that job. One job posting included the phrase
“Knowledge of Java helpful.” Jason included
“Knowledge of Java” in the skills listed on his
resume but had no Java experience. He plans to do
some reading on the topic if he gets called for an
interview with the company.
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Questions to Consider
 Has Jason acted in an
unethical way? Why or
why not?
 What do you think might
happen if Jason is asked
about his experience with
Java at an interview?
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Section 15.3
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Application Letter
 Opening paragraph
 Body paragraphs
 Closing paragraph
 Guidelines
© Photodisc / Getty Images
Your application letter should capture the
reader’s attention.
15.3 Application Letter and Form
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Application Forms
 Using sample forms
 Completing a form
© khz / Shutterstock
A job application form includes contact
information and qualifications of an applicant.
15.3 Application Letter and Form
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The Job Interview
 Preparing for a job
interview
 Taking part in a job
interview
© Stockbyte / Getty Images
Make eye contact and greet the
interviewer with a smile.
15.4 Interview and Follow-Up Messages
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Follow-Up Messages
 Thank-you letter
 Acceptance or rejection
letter
© Blend Images / Jupiter Images
A thank-you letter lets the interviewer
know that you appreciate the interview.
15.4 Interview and Follow-Up Messages
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Reading Job Announcements
 Reading skills are important for locating and getting
a job
 When reading a job announcement
 Note job requirements and qualifications
 Note keywords to use in a resume or application letter
 Link your skills and experience to the job requirements
15.4 Interview and Follow-Up Messages
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Vocabulary
application form
application letter
career portfolio
electronic resume
internship
job interview
job objective
job search
networking
qualifications
reference
resume
scannable resume
Web resume
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