Name: ____________________________________
Date: _____________
Mr. V - Business Communications
Period: ___________
JOB SEARCH & INTERVIEW PROJECTS
During this week you will learn how to create a resume and cover letter for when you are
applying for a job as well as how to prepare yourself for an interview. On the next few pages you
can take any notes you want on how to make a resume and cover letter. There will be 2
assignments that go along with this topic:
ASSIGNMENT #1 (100 POINTS) – CAREER GOALS/PLAN & JOB SEARCH
You will make a professional resume and job specific cover letter, fill out a job application and
prepare answers to common interview questions for the job you want to have in the future.
What you will hand in:
1) Cover letter written specifically for the job you would like to apply for
2) Professional resume
3) Job listing for the job you are applying for
4) Career goal and plan worksheet
5) Career choices worksheet
6) Questions about your career (will be handed out later in the week)
AT THIS POINT YOU ALREADY HAVE #4 & 5 DONE.
NOTES ON HOW TO COMPLETE THE COVER LETTER AND RESUME ARE ON
THE FOLLOWING PAGES.
YOU ARE WRITING YOUR COVER LETTER AND RESUME FOR THE CAREER
YOU WANT IN THE FUTURE. YOU WILL NEED INFORMATION ON ALL OF THE
EDUCATION AND JOB EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NEED.
NOTES ON WRITING A COVER LETTER
A cover letter typically accompanies each resume you send out. Your cover letter may make the
difference between obtaining a job interview and having your resume ignored, so it makes good
sense to devote the necessary time and effort to writing effective cover letters.
A cover letter should complement, not duplicate, your resume. Its purpose is to interpret the dataoriented, factual resume and add a personal touch. A cover letter is often your earliest written
contact with a potential employer, creating a critical first impression.
There are three general types of cover letters:



The application letter which responds to a known job opening
The prospecting letter which inquires about possible positions
The networking letter which requests information and assistance in your job search
You will most likely be writing an application or prospecting letter.
Your cover letter should be designed specifically for each purpose outlined above as well as for
each position you seek. Do not design a form letter and send it to every potential employer.
Effective cover letters explain the reasons for your interest in the specific organization and
identify your most relevant skills or experiences (remember, relevance is determined by the
employer's self-interest). They should express a high level of interest and knowledge about the
position.
To be effective, your cover letter should follow the basic format of a typical business letter and
should address three general issues:
1. First Paragraph - Why you are writing
2. Middle Paragraphs - What you have to offer and what will make you successful
3. Concluding Paragraph - How you the company can follow up with you/set up an
interview
If you are writing in response to a job posting, indicate where you learned of the position and
the title of the position. More importantly, express your enthusiasm and the likely match between
your credentials and the position's qualifications.
If you are writing a prospecting letter, a letter in which you inquire about possible job openings
- state your specific job objective. Since this type of letter is unsolicited, it is even more
important to capture the reader’s attention.
YOU WILL USE THE SAME HEADING (PERSONAL AND CONTACT INFO) ON THE
COVER LETTER, RESUME, AND LIST OF REFERENCES.
JUST COPY AND PASTE THE HEADING FROM YOUR RESUME THEN BEGIN
WRITING YOUR COVER LETTER.
NOTES ON WRITING A JOB SPECIFIC RESUME FOR YOUR FUTURE CAREER
(A RESUME SHOULD FIT ON 1 PAGE)
Your Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Phone Number
Email address
Separate numbers with a
period. It looks more
professional.
Your email address should be
professional. If yours is not
appropriate, make one up.
OBJECTIVE
In this section, you will write 2-3 sentences about the job/career you are trying to get into and
what characteristics you have that will help you get and succeed in that job.
EDUCATION
School name, Location, Dates of attendance/expected graduation (list most recent first)
List high school, the college you are going to, and any post-graduate education you would need
for this job.
EXAMPLES:

Siena College, Loudonville, NY
9/02-5/06
B.S., Marketing & Management

Saint Francis Preparatory School, Fresh Meadows, NY
9/98-6/02
New York State High School Regents Diploma
WORK HISTORY

List all employment history you have with the most recent experience first. You can make up
jobs that you should have leading up to this career that you want.
EXAMPLES:

Saint Francis Preparatory School, Fresh Meadows, NY – Teacher
(LIST REPONSIBILITES AND DUTIES)

MacArthur High School, Levittown, NY – Computer Lab Instructor
ACTIVITIES

List volunteer experience, sports, clubs, etc as well as dates of involvement

List volunteer experience, sports, clubs, etc as well as dates of involvement
SKILLS

List computer, language or other personal skills here

List computer, language or other personal skills here
References available upon request
9/11-Present
1/09-6/11
MOCK INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT
(50 POINTS)
Due to lack of time until the end of the year, I will not have time to conduct mock interviews
with all of you. As an alternative, you are going to prepare answers to some common interview
questions that could be asked of you.
What you need to do is prepare answers to 2 questions from each of the sections (8 total) and
then answer any other 2 questions you want.
You will have answers for a total of 10 questions.
You may type your answers, but you must label which section and which question number you
are answering.
DO NOT GIVE ONE WORD OR VERY SHORT ANSWERS. ANSWER THE QUESTIONS
JUST HOW YOU WOULD ANSWER THEM ON AN ACTUAL INTERVIEW. YOU
SHOULD TAILOR YOUR ANSWERS TO THE JOB YOU ARE APPLYNG FOR.
SECTION 1 - Interview Questions: Work History
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
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18.
19.
20.
What was the name of company, position title and description, dates of employment of
the last company you worked for?
What were your expectations for the job and to what extent were they met?
What were your starting and final levels of compensation?
What were your responsibilities?
What major challenges and problems did you face? How did you handle them?
What have you learned from your mistakes?
What did you like or dislike about your previous job?
Which was most / least rewarding?
What was the biggest accomplishment / failure in this position?
Questions about your supervisors and co-workers.
What was it like working for your supervisor?
What do you expect from a supervisor?
What problems have you encountered at work?
Have you ever had difficulty working with a manager?
Who was your best boss and who was the worst?
Why are you leaving your job?
Why did you resign?
Why did you quit your job?
What have you been doing since your last job?
Why were you fired?
SECTION 2 - Job Interview Questions About You
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
What is your greatest weakness?
What is your greatest strength?
How will your greatest strength help you perform?
How would you describe yourself?
Describe a typical work week.
Describe your work style.
Do you take work home with you?
How many hours do you normally work?
9.
10.
11.
12.
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28.
29.
How would you describe the pace at which you work?
How do you handle stress and pressure?
What motivates you?
Are you a self motivator?
What are your salary expectations?
What do you find are the most difficult decisions to make?
Tell me about yourself.
What has been the greatest disappointment in your life?
What are you passionate about?
What are your pet peeves?
What do people most often criticize about you?
When was the last time you were angry? What happened?
If you could relive the last 10 years of your life, what would you do differently?
If the people who know you were asked why you should be hired, what would they say?
Do you prefer to work independently or on a team?
Give some examples of teamwork.
What type of work environment do you prefer?
How do you evaluate success?
If you know your boss is 100% wrong about something how would you handle it?
Describe a difficult work situation / project and how you overcame it.
Describe a time when your workload was heavy and how you handled it.
SECTION 3 - Job Interview Questions About the New Job and the Company
1.
2.
3.
4.
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6.
7.
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9.
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13.
14.
What interests you about this job?
Why do you want this job?
What applicable attributes / experience do you have?
Are you overqualified for this job?
What can you do for this company?
Why should we hire you?
Why are you the best person for the job?
What do you know about this company?
Why do you want to work here?
What challenges are you looking for in a position?
What can you contribute to this company?
What is good customer service?
How long do you expect to remain employed with this company?
Is there anything I haven't told you about the job or company that you would like to
know?
SECTION 4 - Interview Questions: The Future
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What are you looking for in your next job? What is important to you?
What are your goals for the next five years / ten years?
How do you plan to achieve those goals?
What are your salary requirements - both short-term and long-term?
Questions about your career goals.
What will you do if you don't get this position?
AFTER YOU COMPLETE THE QUESTIONS, STAPLE THEM TO YOUR JOB SEARCH
PROJECT AND HAND EVERYTHING IN AT THE SAME TIME.