English 302 Job Package

Letter of application, Resume,

Description of position memo, Analysis

Corey/Messenger Assignments

The job search seems to be a stressful one for most juniors and seniors. Your life flashes before you and you realize, “Hey, I need a job!” This assignment is to give some experience by simulating what you’ll be doing in a few short months. The first thing you need to do is to locate a job you're interested in applying for--one that coincides with your interests, abilities, and education. You can locate your job opening in several places: professional publications, newspapers, your placement office, or by word of mouth from friends, relatives, instructors, or other networking means. Your job application package is a persuasive communication consisting of two parts: a resume and a letter of application. This assignment, however, has three.

Part One: Description of Position Memo (10 pts)

This memo/email is to be addressed to me and must be properly formatted. Headings may be used if you desire and understand how to use them (we'll cover this more in-depth later). In this memo, I need to see the following information:

• Job title

• Company name

• Company's address

• Pay scale, if known

• Requirements for the position

• Additional skills desired, if available

• Duties of position

• Basic company information

◦ size

◦ type of business

◦ product/service

◦ CEO/hierarchy

• Any other pertinent information

1) Attach the actual job announcement below (or retype it), and identify your source for finding out about the opening (name of the journal, newspaper, agency, web site, friend, etc.)

2) Make a list of qualifications required of all job candidates (degree in Accounting, one year experience, good communication skills, etc.). Then make a second list of qualifications that you think are desirable (willingness to work hard, good "people" skills, high grade point, etc.). You might just make 2 columns and label Required Qualifications and Desirable Qualifications.

3. What do you know about the organization to which you are applying? How will your knowledge influence the way you describe yourself? (Have you done your homework and researched the company?) Essentially you are providing an audience analysis document. Think about who your audience is and what they want.

Part Two: Resume (pass/fail)

The resume is usually the "constant," piece of information and you will probably use the same one with several different letters of application. As we discussed in class, there is no single way to write a good resume, but most have the following things in common:

1) They contain all the essential information about the writer's qualifications for a specific kind of job.

2) They are success oriented and emphasize things the applicant has done well (in school, on the job, in life).

3) They are easy to read (all the information can be located at a glance) because of effective organization, visual language, and informative document design.

4) They reveal something about the applicant that distinguishes him/her from the crowd (personality, intangible qualities, special skills).

5) They have no errors!

One other note about your resume: it is a living document; therefore it will change over time (probably change many times before you reach a final solution). Don’t think about having a document that you will be stuck with forever. Like any other business communication, resumes change depending on the writer, the reader, and the situation.

Part Three: Letter of Application (10 pts)

Unlike your resume, your letter of application will be targeted toward each specific organization you contact. Because you are essentially "selling" yourself, your letter should include the elements of persuasion we have already discussed:

1) Attention and interest--concrete details about your qualifications

2) Reader benefits--what you can bring to the reader's organization

3) Proof--evidence that you are knowledgeable, experienced, interested in your major field of study, have the necessary skill sets

4) Trust--sincere tone and references to personal attributes

5) Action--specific request (e.g., for an interview)

In order for your persuasive communication to be effective, you will need to analyze your audience--to think about what the prospective employer is looking for, what you have in your background that can fulfill these needs, and how you can articulate your qualifications so they match the reader's concept of a desirable candidate. The audience analysis sheet is designed to help you do this.

A final note about your job package: be especially careful to correct any spelling or mechanical errors before handing in your assignment. Many employers have extremely rigid standards about this and will eliminate you (or lower your ranking) for the slightest lapse in correctness.