Chapter 8 Applying for a Job

Chapter ObjectivesChapter Objectives

ExplainExplain how to find job openings. how to find job openings.CreateCreate job résumés, letters of application, job résumés, letters of application,

and portfolios.and portfolios.PreparePrepare job application forms correctly. job application forms correctly.

Key ConceptsKey Concepts

Job hunting requires using all resources Job hunting requires using all resources available to find job openings.available to find job openings.

A personal fact sheet will help you write A personal fact sheet will help you write letters of application, prepare job résumés, letters of application, prepare job résumés, and fill out application forms.and fill out application forms.

A well-written résumé can help you stand out A well-written résumé can help you stand out to an employer.to an employer.

A short, carefully worded letter of application A short, carefully worded letter of application should accompany each résumé you submit.should accompany each résumé you submit.

An application form must be filled out An application form must be filled out completely and neatly. completely and neatly.

Finding Job OpeningsFinding Job Openings

Sources of job leads include:Sources of job leads include: Friends and relatives.Friends and relatives. Networking.Networking. School placement services.School placement services. Direct employer contact.Direct employer contact. Want ads.Want ads. Trade and professional journals.Trade and professional journals. Government and private employment services.Government and private employment services. The Internet.The Internet.

Friends and RelativesFriends and Relatives

Friends and relatives Friends and relatives may know of may know of employment employment opportunities for you. opportunities for you.

Give them copies of Give them copies of your résumé.your résumé.

Résumé:Résumé: A brief history A brief history of your education, of your education, work experience, and work experience, and qualifications for qualifications for employment.employment.

NetworkingNetworking

Networking: Networking: Talking Talking with people and with people and creating connections creating connections that can lead to more that can lead to more information or business.information or business.

Social and professional networks can help you Social and professional networks can help you find a job, but a strong professional network may find a job, but a strong professional network may be more important. be more important.

Your network will become stronger as you make Your network will become stronger as you make more contacts and show your abilities.more contacts and show your abilities.

School Placement ServicesSchool Placement Services

Your school may have a placement office or Your school may have a placement office or counselor to help find students employment.counselor to help find students employment.

The placement office notifies qualified The placement office notifies qualified students about interviews when a job students about interviews when a job becomes available.becomes available.

Direct Employer ContactDirect Employer Contact

Directly contacting Directly contacting employers is a good way employers is a good way to find job openings.to find job openings.

Make a list of possible Make a list of possible employers by looking in employers by looking in the Yellow Pages, the Yellow Pages, visiting the chamber of visiting the chamber of commerce or public commerce or public library, and asking library, and asking friends and relatives for friends and relatives for contacts.contacts.

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Direct Employer ContactDirect Employer Contact

Personnel/human resource department:Personnel/human resource department: Department of a company that handles Department of a company that handles responsibilities related to employment.responsibilities related to employment.

If the company does not have a personnel If the company does not have a personnel department, contact the department manager department, contact the department manager or the president.or the president.

Write or call the appropriate contact person Write or call the appropriate contact person to express interest in employment.to express interest in employment.

Want AdsWant Ads

Job openings are listed in newspapers in the Job openings are listed in newspapers in the “classified ads” or “want ads.”“classified ads” or “want ads.”

These ads list job openings, the skills These ads list job openings, the skills required, and salary ranges.required, and salary ranges.

Blind ad:Blind ad: An ad that does not include the An ad that does not include the name of a company or contact person.name of a company or contact person.

Trade and Professional JournalsTrade and Professional Journals

Many trade and professional magazines Many trade and professional magazines publish job ads seeking experienced workers.publish job ads seeking experienced workers.

These journals publish up-to-date information These journals publish up-to-date information about developments and trends in a given about developments and trends in a given occupation.occupation.

Reading journals will help you know your Reading journals will help you know your field better. field better.

Government Employment ServicesGovernment Employment Services

Most large cities and towns have state Most large cities and towns have state employment offices to help people find jobs employment offices to help people find jobs within and outside government. within and outside government.

After you fill out an application, an After you fill out an application, an employment counselor will interview you to employment counselor will interview you to find out your skills and interests.find out your skills and interests.

When jobs become available, the office will When jobs become available, the office will set up your interviews with them.set up your interviews with them.

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Government Employment ServicesGovernment Employment Services

One-Stop Career Centers coordinate local, One-Stop Career Centers coordinate local, state, and national resources to provide a state, and national resources to provide a wide range of employment, education, and wide range of employment, education, and training services.training services.

Some of those resources include:Some of those resources include: O*NET Online.O*NET Online. America’s Career InfoNet.America’s Career InfoNet. America’s Service Locator.America’s Service Locator.

Private Employment AgenciesPrivate Employment Agencies

Private employment agencies help companies Private employment agencies help companies find workers and job seekers find find workers and job seekers find employment.employment.

These agencies charge fees for their service, These agencies charge fees for their service, either to the employer or the job seeker.either to the employer or the job seeker.

Only a small percentage of jobs are found Only a small percentage of jobs are found through private agencies.through private agencies.

Searching the InternetSearching the Internet

The Internet allows The Internet allows you to search for jobs you to search for jobs in different cities, in different cities, states, and countries.states, and countries.

Job-search Web sites Job-search Web sites list openings by type, list openings by type, title, and location.title, and location.

Many companies Many companies announce job announce job openings on their openings on their Web sites.Web sites.

Before You ApplyBefore You Apply

Before you apply for Before you apply for any jobs, you need to any jobs, you need to make a personal fact make a personal fact sheet.sheet.

Personal fact sheet:Personal fact sheet: A written summary A written summary of important facts of important facts that helps a person that helps a person write letters of write letters of application, prepare application, prepare résumés, and fill out résumés, and fill out applications.applications.

Preparing a Personal Fact Preparing a Personal Fact SheetSheet

Important items to include on your fact sheet:Important items to include on your fact sheet: Name.Name. Address.Address. Phone number.Phone number. E-mail address.E-mail address. Date of birth.Date of birth. Summary of education.Summary of education. Work experiences.Work experiences. Skills.Skills. Honors.Honors. Activities.Activities. References.References.

Reference:Reference: A person who A person who knows you well and is knows you well and is willing to discuss your willing to discuss your personal and job personal and job qualifications with qualifications with employers.employers.

Job RésumésJob Résumés

An employer can An employer can quickly learn about you quickly learn about you by reading your by reading your résumé.résumé.

A well-prepared A well-prepared résumé can draw résumé can draw attention to your attention to your qualifications and help qualifications and help you get an interview.you get an interview.

Job Résumé InformationJob Résumé Information

Place your name and contact information at Place your name and contact information at the top of your résumé.the top of your résumé.

Organize your résumé by headings to make it Organize your résumé by headings to make it easy to read.easy to read.

List the headings in order of what you feel is List the headings in order of what you feel is most important for the employer to know.most important for the employer to know.

Use résumé-writing software to help you Use résumé-writing software to help you organize and format your information.organize and format your information.

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Job Résumé InformationJob Résumé Information

The following headings are used most often in The following headings are used most often in résumés:résumés: Job objective – explain the type of job you seek.Job objective – explain the type of job you seek. Education – schools attended from high school Education – schools attended from high school

onward.onward. Work experience – jobs held and dates of employment.Work experience – jobs held and dates of employment. Honors/activities – school/community organizations Honors/activities – school/community organizations

and activities.and activities. Personal information – hobbies, optional and normally Personal information – hobbies, optional and normally

not listed.not listed. References – instead of giving details, say the References – instead of giving details, say the

information is available.information is available.

Preparing a RésuméPreparing a Résumé

After you write your résumé, leave it alone After you write your résumé, leave it alone for a couple days, then read it again.for a couple days, then read it again.

Ask other people to read and comment on it.Ask other people to read and comment on it.Your résumé should fit on a sheet of paper, Your résumé should fit on a sheet of paper,

8½8½11 inches.11 inches.Printed résumés look more professional than Printed résumés look more professional than

those that are photocopied.those that are photocopied.

Electronic RésuméElectronic Résumé

Submit the file by e-Submit the file by e-mail in a format that mail in a format that can be scanned into a can be scanned into a database.database.

Use a file with no Use a file with no special formatting.special formatting.

If you have prepared If you have prepared your résumé your résumé electronically, save it electronically, save it as a separate text-only as a separate text-only file.file.

The Job PortfolioThe Job Portfolio

Portfolio: Portfolio: A well organized collection of materials A well organized collection of materials that supports your job qualifications. that supports your job qualifications.

Your portfolio should include a letter of Your portfolio should include a letter of application, résumé, and samples of your best application, résumé, and samples of your best work.work.

A good portfolio may take months or years to A good portfolio may take months or years to develop and needs to be continually updated.develop and needs to be continually updated.

Developing a Home PageDeveloping a Home Page

Your home page should Your home page should include your résumé as well include your résumé as well as photos of completed as photos of completed projects.projects.

Post only the information an Post only the information an employer needs to reach employer needs to reach you, such as an e-mail you, such as an e-mail address.address.

To protect your privacy, do To protect your privacy, do not post your home address not post your home address or telephone number.or telephone number.

Contacting an Employer by TelephoneContacting an Employer by Telephone

A telephone call to the employer may help A telephone call to the employer may help you learn more about the job.you learn more about the job.

Plan your call and be prepared.Plan your call and be prepared. Choose a quiet location for making the call.Choose a quiet location for making the call. Prepare a list of your questions.Prepare a list of your questions. Have a pencil and paper handy.Have a pencil and paper handy. Use good phone manners.Use good phone manners.

Letter of ApplicationLetter of Application

Letter of application:Letter of application: A letter sent to an A letter sent to an employer to apply for a job. Also called a employer to apply for a job. Also called a cover letter.cover letter.

Write the letter to the hiring manager.Write the letter to the hiring manager.Your letter should include three paragraphs.Your letter should include three paragraphs.

Opening paragraph – state your purpose and the job Opening paragraph – state your purpose and the job or type of work you seek.or type of work you seek.

Middle paragraph – explain what qualifies you for the Middle paragraph – explain what qualifies you for the job.job.

Last paragraph – request an interview and provide Last paragraph – request an interview and provide your contact information.your contact information.

Job Application FormsJob Application Forms

Employers use Employers use application forms to application forms to screen applicants.screen applicants.

If your application is If your application is incomplete, difficult incomplete, difficult to read, or smudged, to read, or smudged, it may be screened it may be screened out.out.

Your personal fact Your personal fact sheet will help you fill sheet will help you fill out application forms.out application forms.

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Job Application FormsJob Application Forms

Follow these tips when filling out an Follow these tips when filling out an application form:application form: Read the entire application before starting.Read the entire application before starting. Carefully follow the instructions.Carefully follow the instructions. Complete every question on both sides of the form.Complete every question on both sides of the form. For social security number, write “will provide if For social security number, write “will provide if

hired.”hired.” For salary, write “open” or “negotiable.”For salary, write “open” or “negotiable.” Include part-time jobs in your work history.Include part-time jobs in your work history. Be as neat as possible.Be as neat as possible.

Illegal Questions on Job ApplicationsIllegal Questions on Job Applications

Federal laws dictate what questions can be Federal laws dictate what questions can be asked by employers in an application form or asked by employers in an application form or interview.interview.

These laws prevent discrimination in hiring These laws prevent discrimination in hiring related to race, color, religion, national related to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, and disability.origin, sex, age, and disability.

Legally, you must only answer questions that Legally, you must only answer questions that relate to your ability to do the job.relate to your ability to do the job.

Thinking BackThinking Back

What methods will What methods will you use to find job you use to find job openings?openings?

Why is it important Why is it important to prepare a to prepare a personal fact sheet personal fact sheet before you create a before you create a résumé?résumé?

What are some What are some illegal questions illegal questions employers cannot employers cannot ask in application ask in application forms or interviews?forms or interviews?