Professional Communications
Communicating in the Professional World
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
1
Professional Communication
Successful communication skills in the
professional world are critical and involve
the following: writing, reading, editing,
speaking, listening, software applications,
computer graphics, and Internet research.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
2
Active Listening - Goal
Your goal as a listener:





Comprehend
Retain information
Make effective and accurate responses
Recognize non-verbal cues
Know the purpose/meaning of the
speaker
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
3
Communication Barriers





Distractions
Language or accents
Attention span
Vocabulary
Noise or interruptions
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
4
Resumes
Resumes give insight to your experiences, skills, goals and
activities. It’s a picture of who you are and what you are
capable of doing.
Guidelines to follow:
 Consistent formatting
 Neat
 Brief
 Use action verbs
 Proper headings
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
5
Resume - Headings
You will need to have at least 3 headings. Group your
experiences to reflect your strengths.
Common headings include:









EDUCATION
LEADERSHIP
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
COMMUNITY SERVICE
SKILLS
ATHLETICS
ACTIVITIES
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
6
Resume - Objective
Replace each underline with the information below.
Seeking an/a __________ position that will expand my ____________
skills and utilize those skills to strengthen ____________ operations.
Blank 1 = career name
Bank 2 = skill that matches that career
Blank 3 = Company Name
Image:
Decide what overall impression you want your resume to communicate.
Does it show that you are a leader, a team player, an artist, an innovator, a
salesperson, or something else?
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
7
Resume - Action Verbs
Start phrases with action verbs
to convey enthusiasm and
achievement.
Sample verbs include:
Advised, Analyzed, Coordinated,
Created, Developed, Evaluated,
Guided, Handled, Implemented,
Increased, Led, Managed,
Organized, Performed, Planned,
Presented, Processed,
Researched, Served, Trained.
Photo and Resume by Lutitia Featherston. Used with permission.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
8
Interviewing
Know the Organization
First, Know the Organization
USE THE ORGANIZATION FROM YOUR RESUME OBJECTIVE
 If you want employers to take an interest in you, show
interest in them by demonstrating knowledge of the
position, the organization, and the employer’s industry.
 Find this information at:
Employer websites; Professional associations;
Current employees; Magazines and newspapers
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
9
Interviewing
Know Yourself
Second, Know Yourself
(Mock Interview Prep)
 Tell about yourself
 Explain why you chose your major
 What are your strengths and weaknesses?
 What are your career ambitions?
 What motivates you?
 Why should we hire you?
 What are your top skills or strengths (related to the employer’s needs)?
 You may want to emphasize three or four of these points when
responding to interview questions (e.g., “I have strong sales experience,
I am self-motivated, and I work well in teams.”).
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
10
At the Interview
Professionalism
Third, Convey Professionalism








Dress professionally and conservatively.
Smile, make eye contact, and use a firm
handshake.
Be positive when describing your experiences.
Communicate with Impact.
Structure your responses:
– Briefly describe the context in which the behavior
or action took place.
– Specifically explain the action you took to handle
the situation.
– Most importantly, describe the result or impact
of your action.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
11
At the Interview
Ask Questions
Fourth, Ask Questions
Be prepared to ask questions to build on what you have already learned about
the position, the organization, and the industry. A few sample questions you
might ask:
 How would you describe the ideal candidate for this position?
 What would be expected of this person during the first few months on the
job?
 What are the biggest challenges currently facing your organization (or
industry)?
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
12
At the Interview
Finish Strong
Last of all, Finish Strong




Communicate your enthusiasm before you leave the interview.
Ask for the interviewer’s business card so you can follow up.
Thank the interviewer and project confidence as you shake hands and say
goodbye.
Always send the interviewer a brief thank-you letter or email.
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
13
Overview
 Know Communication Terms
 Listen to Presenter and Answer Questions
 Group-Share and Discuss Answers
 Go Over Resume Objective and Guidelines
 Complete Resume with Objective
 Go Over Mock Interview Guidelines and answer Know the
Organization and Know Yourself
 Complete 2 Mock Interviews, Dressed Professionally
Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2014. All rights reserved.
Images and other multimedia content used with permission.
14