13: Building Careers and Writing Résumés
13–11
OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES STUDENTS OFTEN FACE
Although the majority of your students may have been employed at some time, many in the class
may not yet have work experience. Help students build a list of traits that employers are looking
By now, students are probably automatically applying the three-step writing process; however,
this time, the analysis step must include an analysis of themselves: their strengths and
weaknesses, likes and dislikes, and so forth. Stress the importance of this step in the planning
forth.
Some class members may not have visited the school’s career services office. Provide an
overview of the services the office provides students, and tell them what they need to do to
Students will have numerous misconceptions about effective résumés. Encourage them to bring
in any résumés they created previously so that they can modify them according to chapter
guidelines. Be sure to discuss chronological, functional, and combination résumés. Help students
Address the criticisms that employers often make about applicants’ résumés. Also stress the need
effective ways to present their information. When discussing the various résumé sections, such
as education and work experience, encourage students to ask questions about what to include and
how to present it.
13: Building Careers and Writing Résumés
13–13
6. Preparing Résumés and Application Letters. Have each student put together an application
package for a job. You may want the students to prepare the packet for an immediate part-
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE
13-1. Networking is essential because it is the most common way that employees find jobs.
and oral communication)
13-2. The purpose of a résumé is to provide a persuasive message designed to get you job
13-3. Many employers prefer the chronological format because it presents your professional
communication)
13-4. Putting a keyword summary in a scannable or electronic résumé helps employers find your
APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE
13-5. If you have one or more part-time, temporary, or entry-level jobs that don’t relate to your
too many minor and irrelevant work details can clutter your résumé, particularly if you’ve
13.3; AACSB Tag: Written and oral communication)
13-6. Yes, a qualifications summary offers a brief view of your key qualifications. The goal is to
given you a dominant professional “theme,” and you can craft a qualifications summary
communication)
13-7. If you don’t have a clear career path when you enter the job market, a qualifications
summary would be an appropriate way to convey the experiences you do have. The goal is
13: Building Careers and Writing Résumés
13–16
13-14. Yes, you should clarify that those accomplishments were the result of a team effort, not
just your individual efforts. Otherwise, you will be exaggerating your experience, which
AACSB Tag: Ethical understanding and reasoning)
EXPAND YOUR SKILLS
employers to get the information they need very quickly. (LO 13.1; AACSB Tag: Ethical
understanding and reasoning)
be observed, and the summary should clearly and effectively convey the information that was
learned. (LO 13.1; AACSB Tag: Written and oral communication)
CASE SOLUTIONS
13-15. Career Planning: Researching Career Opportunities
Note: This exercise gives students the opportunity to utilize a variety of different research tools.
human readers alike.
Subject: Researching PointBridge and the technology consulting market
Dear Ms. Ritter,
Among them, one firm that stood out was PointBridge, a Chicago-based consulting company.
Founded in 2004, PointBridge is a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner that builds high-impact
business solutions with Microsoft technology.