INTRODUCTION

Top companies place a high priority on finding the right employees and the investments they
are willing to make in both personnel and technology to attract and keep valuable talent.
Identifying and landing the ideal job can be a long and difficult process, particularly in tough
employment markets. As you craft your personal strategy for finding the right job, keep these
guidelines in mind

Section 1: Applying and Interviewing for Employment

 Submitting Your Résumé

When you apply for employment, your résumé in some form will usually be the centerpiece of your
job search package. However, it needs support from several other employment messages before,
during, and after the interview process. These can include application letters, job-inquiry letters,
application forms, and follow-up notes.

Application Letters
Whenever you mail, e-mail, upload, or hand-deliver your résumé, you should include an
application letter, also known as a cover letter, to let readers know what you’re sending, why
you’re sending it, and how they can benefit from reading it. Take the same care with your
application letter that you took with your résumé. A poorly written application letter can prompt
employers to skip over your résumé, even if you are a good fit for a job.

If you’re sending a solicited application letter (in response to an identified job opening) you’ll
know what qualifications the organization is seeking. You’ll also have more competition because
hundreds of other job seekers will have seen the listing. If you are sending an unsolicited letter (a
prospecting letter to an organization that has not announced an opening), you will have to do some
research to identify the requirements the position is likely to have. In addition, search for
information about the company, its customers, the profession, or the manager to whom you are
writing. Using such information in your letter will help you establish common ground with your
reader and show that you are tuned into what is going on in the industry.

Application Letter Tips

No matter whether your letter will be solicited or unsolicited, do everything you can to address your
letter to a specific person who can hire you. Search LinkedIn, the company’s website, and Twitter. If

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another applicant finds a name and you don’t, you will be at a disadvantage. In addition, the following
tips can improve the effectiveness of your letter:
• Avoid using gimmicks in application letters
• Address your letter to the person who can hire you, if at all possible
• Be as clear as possible about the kind of opportunity you seek
• Show that you understand the company and the position
• Never volunteer salary information unless an employer asks for it
• Keep it short—and keep e-mail cover letters even shorter; in just two or three paragraphs,
convey how your strengths and character would fit the position
• Show some personality; this will help balance the choppy, shorthand style of your résumé
• Project confidence without being arrogant

Résumé Follow-Up
Deciding if, when, and how to follow up after submitting your résumé and application letter is one of
the trickiest parts of a job search. First, keep in mind that employers continue to evaluate your
communication efforts and professionalism during this phase, so don’t say or do anything to leave a
negative impression. Second, adhere to whatever instructions the employer has provided. If a job
posting says “no calls,” for example, don’t call. Third, if the job posting lists a close date, don’t call or
write before then, because the company is still collecting applications and will not have made a
decision about inviting people for interviews. Wait a week or so after the close date. If no close date is
given and you have no other information to suggest a timeline, you can generally contact the company
starting a week or two after submitting your résumé.

 Understanding the Interviewing Process

An employment interview is a formal meeting during which both employer and applicant ask
questions and exchange information. The employer’s objective is to find the best talent to fill job
openings. Your objective is to find the right match for your goals and capabilities.
As you get ready to begin interviewing, keep two vital points in mind. First, recognize that the process
takes time. Start your preparation and research early; the best job offers usually go to the best-prepared
candidates. Second, don’t limit your options by looking at only a few companies. By exploring a wide
range of firms and positions, you might uncover great opportunities that you would not have found
otherwise. You’ll increase the odds of getting more job offers, too.

Interview Sequence
Most employers interview an applicant multiple times before deciding to make a job offer. Applicants
often face a sequence of interviews, each with a different purpose.

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First is the preliminary screening stage, which can take place on campus, a company’s office, by
telephone, or via a computer-based screening system. Time is limited in screening interviews, so keep
your answers short while providing a few key points that differentiate you from other candidates.
The next stage of interviews, the selection stage, helps the organization identify the top candidates
from all those who qualify. During these interviews, show keen interest in the job, relate your skills
and experience to the organization’s needs, listen attentively, and ask insightful questions that show
you’ve done your research.
If the interviewers agree that you’re a good candidate, you may receive a job offer, either on the spot
or a few days later by phone, mail, or e-mail. In other instances, you may be invited back for a final
evaluation, often by a higher-ranking executive. The objective of the final stage is often to sell you on
the advantages of joining the organization.

Types of Interviews
Organizations use various types of interviews to discover as much as possible about applicants.
A structured interview follows a set sequence of questions, allowing the interview team to compare
answers from all candidates. In an open-ended interview, the interviewer adapts the line of
questioning based on your responses and questions.
In a panel interview, you meet with several interviewers at once; in a group interview you and
several other candidates meet with one or more interviewers at once.
In a behavioral interview, you are asked to describe how you handled situations from your past. A
situational interview focuses on how you would handle various hypothetical situations on the job.
In a working interview, you actually perform work-related tasks. Perhaps the most unnerving type of
interview is the stress interview, which is set up to see how well a candidate handles stressful
situations, such as long periods of silence, criticisms of your appearance, deliberate interruptions, and
abrupt or even hostile reactions by the interviewer.

What Employers Seek

Interviews give employers the chance to go beyond the basic data of your résumé to get to know you
and to answer two essential questions. The first is whether you can handle the responsibilities of the
position. Naturally, the more you know about the demands of the position, and the more you’ve
thought about how your skills match those demands, the better you’ll be able to respond.
The second essential question is whether you will be a good fit with the organization and the target
position. This line of inquiry includes both a general and a specific aspect. The general aspect
concerns your overall personality and approach to work. Employers want people who are confident,
dedicated, positive, curious, courteous, ethical, and willing to commit to something larger than their
own individual goals. The specific aspect involves the fit with a particular company and position. Just

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like people, companies have different “personalities.” Expectations also vary from job to job within a
company and from industry to industry.

Pre-Employment Tests
Many companies rely on pre-employment testing to determine whether applicants are suited to the job
and whether they’ll be worth the expense of hiring and training.
Employers have had some success in using integrity tests to identify job candidates who are more
likely to steal from their employers or commit other ethical or legal infractions.
Personality tests try to assess either general character or suitability for the demands of a specific
profession. General tests attempt to profile overall intellectual ability, attitudes toward work, interests,
and managerial potential, as well as such characteristics as dependability, commitment, honesty, and
motivation.
Cognitive tests measure a variety of attributes involved in acquiring, processing, analyzing, using, and
remembering information. Typical tests involve reading comprehension, mathematics, problem
solving, and decision making.
Job knowledge and job skills tests are the most common type. They are designed to assess
competency or specific abilities needed to perform a job.
To avoid the increased costs and reduced productivity associated with drug abuse in the workplace,
many employers require applicants to be tested for substance abuse. Companies with mandatory
testing have found real advantages, including lower accident rates, fewer disability claims, and
decreased violence and absenteeism.
Background checks help employers learn more about you. A background check might be used to
verify the credentials on your résumé, to see how well you manage credit, or to learn if you have a
criminal record.

 Preparing for a Job Interview

Now that you’re armed with insights into the interviewing and assessment process, you’re ready to
begin preparing for your interviews. Preparation will help you feel more confident and perform better
under pressure, and preparation starts with learning about the organization.

Research the Company

Today’s companies expect serious candidates to demonstrate an understanding of the company’s
operations, its markets, and its strategic and tactical challenges. When planning your employment
search, you probably already researched the companies you sent your résumé to. But now that you've
been invited for an interview, you'll want to fine-tune your research and brush up on the facts you've

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collected. Making this effort demonstrates your interest in the company, and it identifies you as a
business professional who knows the importance of investigation and analysis.
In addition to learning about the company and job opening, learn as much as possible about the
managers who will be interviewing you, and get their names, if you can. A good place to search is
LinkedIn, since many professionals have profiles on that popular business networking site.

Employer’s Questions
Throughout the interview process, you can expect to get a mix of questions that are specific to you and
the particular job opening, as well as questions that are of a more general nature, such as the
following:
What is the hardest decision you’ve ever had to make? Be prepared with a good example, explaining
why the decision was difficult and how you made the choice you made.
What are your greatest weaknesses? Describe a weakness so that it sounds like a virtue (such as
working too hard) or describe a relatively minor shortcoming and explain how you’re working to
improve.
Where do you want to be five years from now? Your answer should reflect your desire to contribute to
the employer’s long-term goals, not just your own goals. Whether this question yields useful
information is a matter of debate, but be prepared to answer it.
What didn’t you like about previous jobs you’ve held? Describe something that you didn’t like in a
way that puts you in a positive light, such as having limited opportunities to apply your skills or
education. Avoid making negative comments about former employers or colleagues.
Tell me something about yourself. Ask if the interviewer would like to know about your specific skills
or attributes. If this point is clarified, then respond accordingly. If it isn’t, explain how your skills can
contribute to the job and the organization.

Plan Your Questions

Remember that an interview is a two-way conversation: The questions you ask are just as important as
the answers you provide. By asking insightful questions, you can demonstrate your understanding of
the organization, steer the discussion into areas that allow you to present your qualifications, and
verify for yourself whether this is a good opportunity. Plus, interviewers expect questions and tend to
look negatively on candidates who don’t have any questions to ask.

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Polish Your Style
Competence and confidence are the foundation of your interviewing style, and you can enhance those
by giving the interviewer an impression of poise, good manners, and good judgment. You can improve
your style by staging mock interviews with a friend. Record these practice sessions and evaluate them.
After each practice session, look for opportunities to improve.
As you stage your mock interviews, pay particular attention to your nonverbal behavior, including
your posture, eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures. Do you come across as alert and upbeat or
passive and withdrawn? Pay close attention to your speaking voice, as well. If you tend to speak too
rapidly, practice speaking more slowly. If your voice sounds too loud or too soft, practice adjusting it.
Work on eliminating speech mannerisms such as you know, like, and um. Train yourself to pause
silently for a moment instead, as you gather your thoughts and plan what to say.

Professional Image
Physical appearance is important because clothing and grooming reveal something about a candidate's
personality, professionalism, and ability to sense the unspoken “rules” of a situation. The best policy is
to dress conservatively. Wear the best-quality clothing you can, but remember that “clean and
appropriate” clothes are far more important than “expensive and flashy” clothing.
Good grooming makes any style of clothing look better. Make sure your clothes are clean and
unwrinkled, your shoes un-scuffed and well shined, your hair neatly styled and combed, your
fingernails clean, and your breath fresh.
Remember that an interview is not the place to express your individuality or to let your inner rebel run
wild. Send a clear signal that you understand the business world and know how to adapt to it. You will
not be taken seriously otherwise.

Be Ready Upon Arrival

When you go to your interview, take a small notebook, a pen, a list of the questions you want to ask,
several copies of your résumé, an outline of what you have learned about the organization, and any
past correspondence about the position. You may also want to take a small calendar, a transcript of
your college grades, a list of references, and a portfolio containing samples of your work, performance
reviews, and certificates of achievement. Taking calls or texting during an interview is rude.
Therefore, turn off your mobile phone for the duration of the interview.
Be sure you know when and where the interview will be held. The worst way to start any interview is
to be late. Verify the route and time required to get there, even if that means traveling there ahead of
time. Allow plenty of time for unforeseen problems.
When you arrive, you may have to wait for a while. Use this time to review the key messages about
yourself you want to get across in the interview. Conduct yourself professionally while waiting. Be
courteous to everyone you encounter and avoid chewing gum, eating, or drinking. Anything you do or

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say at this stage may get back to the interviewer, so make sure your best qualities show from the
moment you enter the premises.

 Interviewing for Success

At this point, you have a good sense of the overall process and know how to prepare for interviews.
The next step is to get familiar with the three stages of every interview: the warm-up, the question-
and-answer session, and the close.

Questions and Answers

Questions and answers will consume the greatest part of the interview. The interviewer will ask you
about your qualifications and discuss many of the points mentioned in your résumé. You'll also be
asking questions of your own.
Let the interviewer lead the conversation, and never answer a question before he or she has finished
asking it. Tailor your answers to make a favorable impression. Don't limit yourself to yes or no
answers. If you're asked a difficult question, think before responding. If you periodically ask a
question or two from the list you've prepared, you'll not only learn something but also demonstrate
your interest.
Paying attention when the interviewer speaks can be as important as giving good answers or asking
good questions. The interviewer's facial expressions, eye movements, gestures, and posture may tell
you the real meaning of what is being said. Be especially aware of how your comments are received.
Employers cannot legally discriminate against a job candidate on the basis of race, color, gender, age
(from 40 to 70), marital status, religion, national origin, or disability. If you are asked questions that
are personal or potentially unlawful, how you respond depends on how badly you want the job, how
you feel about revealing the information asked for, what you think the interviewer will do with the
information, and whether you want to work for a company that asks such questions.

The Interview Close

Like the warm-up stage, the end of the interview is more important than its duration would indicate. In
the last few minutes, emphasize your value to the organization and correct any misconceptions the
interviewer might have.
You can generally tell when the interviewer is trying to conclude the session. When you get the signal,
respond promptly, but don't rush. Thank the interviewer for the opportunity and express an interest in

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the organization. If you can do so comfortably, try to pin down what will happen next, but don't press
for an immediate decision.
If you do receive an offer during the interview, you'll naturally want to discuss salary. However, let the
interviewer raise the subject. If asked your salary requirements, say that you would expect to receive
the standard salary for the job in question. If you don't like the offer, you might try to negotiate,
provided you're in a good bargaining position and the organization has the flexibility to accommodate
you.

 Following Up after an Interview

Staying in contact with a prospective employer after an interview shows that you really want the job
and are determined to get it. Doing so also gives you another chance to demonstrate your
communication skills and sense of business etiquette.
Any time you hear from a company during the application or interview process, be sure to respond
quickly. Companies flooded with résumés may move on to another candidate if you they don’t hear
back from you within 24 hours.

Follow-Up Messages
Write a thank-you message within two days of the interview, even if you feel you have little chance of
getting the job. In addition to demonstrating good etiquette, a thank-you message gives you the
opportunity to acknowledge the interviewer’s time and courtesy, convey your continued interest,
reinforce the reasons that you are a good fit for the position, and ask politely for a decision. Depending
on the company and the relationship you’ve established with the interviewer, the thank-you message
can be handled via letter or e-mail.
If you’re not advised of the interviewer’s decision by the promised date or within two weeks, you
might make an inquiry. A message of inquiry is particularly appropriate if you’ve received a job offer
from a second firm and don’t want to accept it before you have an answer from the first.
If you receive a job offer while other interviews are still pending, you'll probably want more time to
decide, so write to the offering organization and ask for a time extension. Preface your request with a
friendly opening. Ask for more time, stressing your enthusiasm for the organization. Conclude by
allowing for a quick decision if your request for additional time is denied. Ask for a prompt reply
confirming the time extension, if the organization grants it.
When you receive a job offer that you want to accept, reply within five days. Begin by accepting the
position and expressing thanks. Identify the job that you're accepting. In the next paragraph, cover any
necessary details. Conclude by saying that you look forward to reporting for work.

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After all your interviews, you may find that you need to write a letter declining a job offer. The bad-
news plan is ideally suited to this type of letter. Open warmly, state the reasons for refusing the offer,
decline the offer explicitly, and close on a pleasant note, expressing gratitude.
If you get a job offer and are currently employed, you can maintain good relations with your current
employer by writing a letter of resignation to your immediate supervisor. Follow the bad-news plan,
and make the letter sound positive, regardless of how you feel.

Section 2: Building Careers and Writing Résumés

 Finding the Ideal Opportunity in Today’s Job Market

Writing the Story of You

Take the time you have now to explore the possibilities, to find your passion, and to identify
appealing career paths. These steps will help you start down the path:
 Identify the nature of the work you’d like to do, if not a specific profession.
 Begin writing the “story of you,” things you are passionate about, the skills you
possess, your ability to help an organization reach its goals, the path you’ve been on
so far, and the path you want to follow in the future.
 Think in terms of an image or a theme you’d like to project.

Writing your story is a valuable planning exercise that helps you think about where you want to go
and how to present yourself to target employers.

Learning to Think Like an Employer

With every hiring decision, companies take great risks and need to prevent the following:

 Hiring someone who doesn’t meet expectations

 Letting a better candidate slip through their fingers

Many companies judge the success of their recruiting efforts by the quality of hire, a measure of
how closely new employees meet the company’s needs. Candidates are judged by:

 Perceived ability to perform the job

 Ability to handle responsibilities
 Reliability
 Motivation
 Whether they “get it” when it comes to being a professional in today’s workplace.

Researching Industries and Companies of Interest

Learning more about professions, industries, and individual companies is easy to do with the
library and online resources.

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 Companies are more likely to be impressed by creative research, such as interviewing their
customers to learn more about how the firm does business.

Seek out advice for online job searches as well as links to hundreds of specialized websites that
post openings in specific industries and professions.

To learn more about contemporary business topics, use these resources:

 Leading business periodicals and newspapers with significant business sections

 Bloggers, microbloggers, and podcasters offering news and commentary on the
business world
 Directories for blogs
 People who write about topics of interest

This research will also help you get comfortable with the jargon and buzzwords currently in use in
a particular field—including essential keywords to use in your résumé.

Translating Your General Potential into a Specific Solution for Each Employer

Customizing your résumé to each job opening shows employers that you will be a good fit for the
position.

From your initial contact through the interviewing process you’ll have opportunities to impress
recruiters by explaining how your general potential translates to the specific needs of the position.

Taking the Initiative to Find Opportunities

When it comes to finding opportunities, the easiest ways are not always the most productive ones.

Major job boards and classified services might have thousands of openings—but many thousands
of job seekers are looking at and applying for these same openings.

Moreover, these job postings are often a company’s last resort, after exhausting other possibilities.

Instead of searching the same job openings as everyone else, take the initiative and find
opportunities:

 Identify the companies you want to work for.

 Focus your efforts on them.
 Get in touch with their human resources departments or individual managers (if
possible).
 Describe what you can offer the company.
 Ask to be considered if any opportunities come up.

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Building Your Network

Networking is the process of making informal connections with mutually beneficial business
contacts. Networking takes place wherever and whenever people communicate:

 Industry functions
 Social gatherings
 Alumni reunions
 All over the Internet

Networking is more essential than ever, because the vast majority of job openings are never
advertised to the general public. The more people who know you, the better chance you have of
being recommended for one of these hidden job openings.

Start building your network now, before you need it. Here are some places to make contacts:

 Classmates could end up being some of your most valuable contacts.

 Identify people with similar interests in your target professions, industries, and
companies.
 Read news sites, blogs, and other online sources.
 Follow industry leaders on Twitter.
 Follow individual executives at your target companies to learn about their interests
and concerns.
 Connect with people on LinkedIn and Facebook, particularly those dedicated to your
career interests.
 Participate in student organizations, especially those with ties to professional
organizations.
 Visit trade shows to learn about various industries and meet people who work in those
industries.
 Don’t overlook volunteering; you can demonstrate your ability to solve problems,
manage projects, and lead others.

Remember that networking is about people helping each other, not just about other people helping
you. Pay close attention to networking etiquette:

 Learn something about the people you want to connect with.

 Don’t overwhelm others with too many messages or requests.
 Be succinct in all your communication efforts.
 Don’t give out other people’s names and contact information without their permission.
 Never email your résumé to complete strangers.
 Don’t assume you can send your résumé to everyone you meet.
 Remember to say thank you every time someone helps you.

To become a valued network member, you need to be able to help others in some way. The more
you network, the more valuable you become in your network—and the more valuable your
network becomes to you.

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 Be aware that your online network reflects on who you are in the eyes of potential employers, so
exercise judgment in making connections.

Seeking Career Counseling

College career centers offer a wide variety of services, including

 Individual counseling
 Job fairs
 On-campus interviews
 Job listings
 Advice on career planning
 Workshops in job search techniques
 Résumé preparation
 Job readiness training
 Interview techniques
 Self-marketing

You can also find career planning advice online. Many of the websites offer articles and online
tests to help choose a career path, identify essential skills, and prepare to enter the job market.

Avoiding Mistakes

Take care to avoid the simple blunders that can torpedo a job search, such as

 Not catching mistakes in your résumé

 Misspelling the name of a manager to whom you are writing
 Showing up late for an interview
 Tweeting something unprofessional
 Failing to complete application forms correctly
 Asking for information that you can easily find on a company’s website
 Making any other error that could flag you as someone who is careless, clueless, or
disrespectful

As recruiters work to narrow down the possibilities, even a minor mistake on your part can give
them a reason to bump you right out of the candidate pool.

 Planning a Résumé

Writing a résumé really benefits from multiple planning, writing, and completing sessions spread out
over several days or weeks. You are trying to summarize a complex subject (yourself!) and present a
compelling story to complete strangers in a brief document.

Analyzing Your Purpose And Audience

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 A résumé is a structured summary of a person’s

 Education
 Employment background
 Job qualifications
Make sure you understand the true function of a résumé. It’s a brief, persuasive business message
intended to accomplish two objectives:

 Stimulate an employer’s interest in you

 Get you an interview

Learn as much as you can about the individuals who may be reading your résumé. Any bit of
information can help you craft a more effective message.

Gathering Pertinent Information

Gather all the pertinent personal history you can think of, including

 Dates, duties, and accomplishments from previous jobs you’ve held

 Relevant educational experience—formal degrees, skill certificates, academic awards,
or scholarships
 Relevant information about school or volunteer activities
 Offices you have held in any club or professional organization
 Presentations given
 Online or print publications

 Writing a Résumé

As you follow the three-step process to develop your résumé, keep four points in mind:

 Treat your résumé with the respect it deserves. A single mistake or oversight can cost you
interview opportunities.
 Give yourself plenty of time. Don’t put off preparing your résumé until the last second and
then try to write it in one sitting.
 Learn from good models. You can find sample résumés online at college websites and on job
boards.
 Don’t get frustrated by the conflicting advice you’ll read about résumés. Résumés are as much
art as science, and there is more than one way to be successful with them. Choose the
approach that makes the most sense to you and is compatible with what you know about
business communication principles and practices.

If you feel uncomfortable writing about yourself, you’re not alone. Find a classmate or friend who is
also writing a résumé and swap projects for a while. You might be able to speed up the process for
both of you.

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Adapting Your Résumé to Your Audience

The importance of adapting your résumé to your target readers’ needs and interests cannot be
overstated. In a competitive job market, the more you look like a good fit, the better your chances
will be of securing interviews.
Address your readers’ business concerns by showing how your capabilities meet the demands and
expectations of the position and of the organization as a whole.
Adapting to your readers can mean customizing your résumé, sometimes for each job opening.
Express your experience using the terminology of the hiring organization. Take general concepts
and present them in common business language.

Composing Your Résumé

Write your résumé using a simple and direct style.

 Use short, crisp phrases and focus on what your reader needs to know.
 Avoid using the word I, which can sound both self-involved and repetitive.
 Quantify results so that your claims don’t come across as empty.
 Offer concrete proof of accomplishments.
 Use active statements that show results.
 Provide specific supporting evidence.
 Don’t go overboard with small details.

Study job descriptions carefully to understand your target audience’s needs. Keywords can
include:

 Business and technical terms associated with a specific profession

 Industry-specific jargon
 Names or types of products or systems used in a profession
 Job titles
 College degrees

Reference
Courtland L. Bovee & John V. Thill. Business Communication Today (11th Edition)

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