Reading Activity
For recent
college graduates or professionals beginning a new job search, a job hunt can
be an exhausting process. One of the reasons is that, according to the experts,
to be successful in your job search, you have to "market" yourself,
and many people just don’t know how.
The two of the most important building blocks for a
successful job search: the resume and cover letter. The purpose of a resume is
to tell an employer what a person has done in the past. The cover letter tells
the prospective employer what skills and abilities the job seeker has that will
allow them to be successful in the future with their company. Each cover letter
should be crafted to be very specific to the job applied for.
It is recommended never having a resume longer than
one page. Anything beyond that won’t get read. Most resumes are read, on
average, for eight seconds.
If you have limited work experience, like a new
college grad, consider creating a functional resume that emphasizes skills. For
example, near the top of your resume you would list such skills as knowledge of
specific software, bilingual skills, or relevant volunteer experience.
However, there are common mistakes in job hunting. For
example, graduates need to respond quickly to job leads, i.e. within a day.
They need to return a potential employers’ call immediately and be on time for
interviews.
Remember, a first job is not necessarily a dream job.
But it does add to your professional experience.
All experts agree that thank you notes for an
interview need to be sent within one day of an interview. Thank you notes also
give you the opportunity to point something out about yourself that you didn't
make clear during the interview process.
When it’s time to sit back and wait for the job
interview calls to come in, remember to listen to the outgoing message of your
home answering machine or cell phone. If a potential employer hears poor
language, your job offer could be doomed.
So whether you’re a new college graduate or an
experienced professional who has been recently downsized, the guidelines are
the same. Write a good resume and cover letter, be organized and keep track of
who you interview with, write thank-you notes and maintain a professional
image, even if you’re just at home waiting for the phone to ring. You never
know.
Read
the statements below and say whether they are TRUE, FALSE or NOT MENTIONED.
1. A resume describes
how you can contribute to the company in the future.
2. A different cover
letter should be written for each job you apply for.
3. Resumes are usually looked at only
very briefly.
4. A functional
resume mainly describes your experience.
5. Resumes and cover letters should use
only formal language.
6. Candidates sometimes have a relaxed
mentality about a prospective job.
7. Not returning a call immediately can
hurt your chances.
8.Thank you notes can help you improve
your interview.
Adapted from an activity by Johnnie Finnis
Answers here!
