Summary
Highlights
This chapter focuses on communication skills for employment, covering resumes, cover letters, and other essential documents. It also addresses establishing a web presence to aid in job searching. Key components of employment communication include resumes, cover letters, follow-up letters, and resignation letters.
When preparing a resume, identify your strengths, including education, employment history, accomplishments, and skills. Research prospective employers by reviewing their websites, human resources, and external sources like Glassdoor. Choose three to five references who know your character and skills well, and always ask for permission before listing them.
Employers expect a complete, error-free, neat, and professional resume that emphasizes your best qualities. They look for qualifications, personality fit, career plans aligned with company goals, education, experience, skills, work habits, and integrity. Make your resume stand out with good design features like symmetry, white space, bolding, and easy-to-read fonts.
Essential resume sections include identification, education, and work experience. Optional sections can include job objectives, skills, military service, volunteer experience, honors, and a summary of qualifications. Resumes can be organized in priority order (most important to least important) or reverse chronological order (most recent first).
Chronological resumes provide a historical account of employment and education with no gaps, emphasizing dates. Functional resumes are more flexible, focusing on skills and accomplishments regardless of when they occurred. Electronic resumes, including email, ASCII text, scannable, online, and video resumes, are common today. Scannable resumes rely on keywords, so use synonyms and thorough information, often drawing keywords from job postings.
Write multiple drafts and proofread carefully. Consider having different resumes for different types of jobs. Use as few words as possible, employing fragments, lists, nouns, descriptive phrases, and strong verbs. Focus on quantifiable accomplishments rather than just job duties. Maintain a parallel grammatical structure and consistent verb endings for clarity and readability.
Cover letters accompany your resume and should express interest, highlight qualifications, and request an interview, not exceeding one page. Follow-up letters are sent after an interview to thank the employer, reiterate interest, and reassert qualifications. Resignation letters announce your intention to leave, state your last day (typically two weeks' notice), and maintain a courteous and professional tone without burning bridges.
E-portfolios are personal websites to showcase accomplishments, personality, and credentials. Content can include 'about me' sections, writing samples, skill demonstrations, and work samples. Use a table of contents, provide context for each item, and use a contact form instead of personal contact information. Social media, especially LinkedIn, is a powerful tool for job searching and career development. Facebook and Twitter can complement your LinkedIn profile. Plan your social media presence carefully, create a credible profile, and engage with others.