Chapter 11- Communicating in the Job Search
Sample Solutions to Problem-Solving Cases
Case #3
This case is an excellent opportunity for students to define their long-term career goals and become
more strategic in their job searches. It also generates material that can be transferred to Webpage
profiles, useful in students’ initial searches for employment.
Students will want to identify their strengths, include transferrable skills as well as specialized skills,
and begin to brand themselves in a particular area of their field.
The resume and reference sheet should reflect the formats provided in the chapter. The overall cover
letter strategy should begin with an attention-getting opening, and be generic enough to appeal to a
wide range of companies. However, it should be specific enough to highlight specialized skills.
Clearly, before sending the cover letter to specific organizations, students should tweak it to reflect
each organization’s needs.
Example
Dear Ms. O’Daniel:
With two student ADDY awards, an internship at Cake Adversing, and a passion for social media, I’m
seeking an entry-level markeng posion that will give me the opportunity to help your organizaon
gain new Facebook fans and customers through social media markeng.
Sincerely,
Ray Loveland
11-1
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McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 11- Communicating in the Job Search
Case #8
This case helps students take initiative in their searches for the right internships. Often, students have
specific types of experience in mind when seeking internships. A prospecting letter gives them some
control over the internship process and helps ensure that they get the experience they really want.
While students will want to stay open-minded, a letter such as this is a great opportunity to define their
goals. When analyzing purpose and goals, students may want to define the immediate purpose as
“getting a response/interview from the employer” and long-term goals as “getting a position.” When
analyzing audience, students should determine needs and benefits from their future employers’
perspective. In other words, they are the products and they need to sell themselves. How will their
qualifications benefit the organization? Why should employers’ invest in them? The letter should be
written from the you-viewpoint, not the I-viewpoint.
Example
This letter is adapted from the Chapter 11 cover message on p. 340.
Dear Mr. Williams:
From me-consuming performance approvals to complex compensaon packages, human resources
management involves so many details that almost every HR professional could use an intern to assist
with these dues.
Sincerely,
Joyce Woodridge
11-2
Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 11- Communicating in the Job Search
11-3
Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.