978-0073403267 Chapter 30 Key Lecture Points, Teaching Tips, and In-Class Exercises

Type

Quiz

Book Title

Business Communication: Building Critical Skills 6th Edition

ISBN 13

978-0073403267

April 6, 2019

Module 30 - Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers

Module 30

Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers

LO 30-1 Apply strategies for follow-up phone calls and letters.

LO 30-2 Solve dilemmas with job offers outside of your first choice.

LO 30-3 Apply strategies for enthusiasm on the job.

LO 30-4 Develop behaviors for future job application success.

Module Overview

As Module 30 shows, what happens after the job interview can affect whether the applicant gets

the job. In most situations, it’s simple courtesy to send a thank-you letter or to make a quick

thank-you phone call. However, more creative responses can also benefit the applicant,

particularly in situations where competition for a job is intense or the job requires creativity.

 Teaching Tip: Whether from entertainment or simple inexperience, students

sometimes have wildly inappropriate concepts of what qualifies as a “creative

response.” Share with students that ethically showing initiative or responsibility or

solving a business problem—such as in the example at the beginning of this module

—is appropriate. However, no interviewee should be expected to do anything that

might be considered inappropriate or illegal, regardless of how important the job

might be.

 Teaching Tip: Remind students to stay positive and upbeat during and after the

interview, even if they don’t think it went very well. More than a few successful

businesspeople have left a job interview thinking they’ve failed only to find

themselves later offered the job. Consider asking your employed students to share

experiences where this may have happened.

While interviewees should send the appropriate correspondence or make the appropriate phone

calls, they should also be patient. The hiring process can take time. Once the interview is over

and the follow-up is complete, applicants should turn their energies to other pursuits while they

wait. Not only will this help them to avoid stress, but they can also respond to job offers with

more objectivity; building anticipation for the job offer may cause them to respond emotionally

to it, rather than think things through.

manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

30-1

Module 30 - Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers

What’s in This Supplement

This supplement is organized around the major questions posed in Module 30. It covers

Part 1: Key Lecture Points, Teaching Tips, and In-Class Exercises Page 507

Part 2: Answers to Textbook Assignments Page 513

Part 3: Appendixes of Handouts/Transparency Masters Page 515

PowerPoint presentations can be found at our Web page at www.mhhe.com/bcs6e.

Questions (with answers) suitable for quizzes are in the Instructor’s Test Bank. For student

practice quizzes with answers, see our Web page.

Part 1: Key Lecture Points, Teaching Tips, and In-Class Exercises

What should I say in a follow-up phone call or letter? LO 30-1

Reinforce positives and overcome any negatives.

As PP 30-3 and PP 30-4 show, follow-up phone calls should address

these questions:

“Is there more information I can give you?”

“I’ve been giving a lot of thought to your project and have some

new ideas. Can we meet to go over them?”

“Where do I stand? How does my work compare with the work

others presented?” and follow-up letters should

Remind the reader of what he or she liked about you.

Counter any negative impressions.

Use the jargon of the company and refer to specific things from

the interview.

Be enthusiastic.

Refer to the next move.

A well-written follow-up letter can be the deciding factor that

gets you the job (PP 30-6).

manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

30-2

Module 30 - Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers

In-Class Exercise: Have students critique the follow-up letter example in Figure 30.1 (p.

509). What are the letter’s strengths? Weaknesses? How might they improve these

weaknesses? If students identify significant weaknesses, consider having them rewrite

the letter as homework, to be turned in the next class period.

In-Class Exercise: Give students 10-15 minutes to complete Exercise 30.8 (p. 513).

Afterward, have them partner up and critique each other’s solutions for another 10

minutes. Then have them revise their answers accordingly, turning the final version

in to you.

What should I do if my first offer isn’t the one I most want? LO 30-2

Phone your first-choice employer to find out where you are on that list.

While some interviewers may offer a job at the end of the interview, many instead contact the

applicant later. In either case, the applicant should respond immediately. However, responding

does not necessarily mean accepting the offer. Many employers allow an employee time to think

things over. A two-week period is not uncommon. Taking time to think things over is especially

important in situations where the job offer comes from an employer that is not the applicant’s

first choice. During that period of time, applicants can carefully consider where they stand, as

well as contact other employers to learn the status of their applications.

As illustrated on PP 30-5, students can use specific strategies in responding to job offers:

If your first offer is not from your first choice, express your

pleasure at being offered the job, but do not accept it

immediately.

Ask for two weeks to consider the offer.

Then call the other companies you’re interested in.

Explain, “I’ve just got a job offer, but I’d rather work for you.

Can you tell me what the status of my application is?”

If you still need time, ask for an extension beyond two weeks to consider the offer.

Make your acceptance contingent upon a written job offer confirming the terms.

When you’ve accepted one job, let the other places you visited know that you're no

longer interested.

 Teaching Tip: Remind students that a reasonable amount of flexibility from the

employers can be expected. However, cooperation is a two-way street. Employers

may frown upon applicants who seem to be needlessly stalling or taking advantage

of them. Applicants should carefully analyze their audiences to understand what

may be appropriate to request.

manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

30-3

Module 30 - Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers

 Teaching Tip: Students might also consider using a forced choice chart, as indicated

on Appendix 30-A and Appendix 30-B. Students develop criteria that they want

and compare those criteria one against one another until all items are compared.

Then, they tally the results, seeing which of the items got chosen the most to

determine what is more or less important to them.

If the applicant hasn’t heard from an employer but is still interested in the job, he or she can send

a letter. An example is shown in Figure 30.2 (p. 512).

Being enthusiastic LO 30-3

Emphasize to students that every employer wants employees who are

enthusiastic about their work. Enthusiastic people seem more energetic

than others; they’re more fun to be around. The

more enthusiasm you show, the better you’ll do in job interviews and

on the job itself (PP 30-7).

As PP 30-8 suggests, for employees to be enthusiastic, they should

follow these strategies:

Seek your ideal job

Match the job to your skills, kind of co-workers you

want, and level of responsibility you want, for instance.

To show enthusiasm

Smile.

Lean forward as you talk.

Use energy in body movements.

Let your comments show your interest.

Participate fully in games and activities.

Is there anything else I should do? LO 30-4

Reflect on your successes, keep good records, and be excited about your future!

In the rush to get a job, job seekers sometimes overlook the fact that the work doesn’t end there!

Others realize correctly that getting the job they want is the start of their career or its next

important phase. They should celebrate their accomplishment—they deserve it. But later, they

should take a few moments to reflect on things they might improve next time. Could they make

their résumé or cover letter stronger? How might they even better prepare for future job

interviews?

As PP 30-10 through PP 30-12 point out, key success behaviors are to

manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

30-4

Module 30 - Follow-Up Letters and Calls and Job Offers

Celebrate your accomplishment!

Reflect on what you could improve for future job searches.

Could you make your résumé or cover letter stronger?

How might you even better prepare for future job

interviews?

Start a file with the answers, and include copies of job application

materials.

To navigate your career course better, answer these questions

periodically:

How have your habits, expectations, and goals changed?

What do you want from your job or career in the next year?

Five years? Ten years?

How has your job field changed, and what should you do to

stay current in it?

How committed are you to staying in your career? If you

want to change careers, why?

Last Word: The final part of the job application process,

following up, is no less important than any other part. Like

the last hurdle in a race, though, tripping over it can spell disaster. Encourage

students to treat following up with as much energy and enthusiasm as writing job

application letters or creating résumés. Doing so can mean the difference between

getting and not getting the job.

Special Note: If this is the last module students complete for your course, congratulate them and

wish them success! Many are about to enter an exciting period of their lives—the search for that

ideal job. If it’s the first search, what they do now can significantly shape their attitudes toward

future job searches.

Congratulate yourself, too! Rest assured that whatever they take from your course will serve

them well in the days ahead.

manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.

30-5