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Chapter 13 Lecture Notes ● 7
E. Polishing Your Résumé and Keeping It Honest
• Condense information into as few headings as possible.
• Consider graphic highlighting to improve readability.
F. Proofreading Your Résumé
Proofread for errors in spelling, grammar, mechanics, content, and format.
Figures 13.9 – Figure 13.13 Résumé Gallery
V. Optimizing Your Job Search with Today’s Digital Tools (p. 448)
A. Getting Your Résumé Selected: Maximizing Keyword Hits
• Include specific keywords or keyword phrases.
• Focus on nouns.
B. Showcasing Your Qualifications in a Career E-Portfolio
• An e-portfolio provides readers with a snapshot of your talents,
accomplishments, and technical skills.
Figure 13.14 Making a Career E-Portfolio
C. Expanding Your Employment Chances with a Video Résumé
• Video résumés enable job candidates to present their experience,
qualifications, and interests in video form.
D. Wowing Them with an Infographic Résumé
• Infographic résumés are often used in the field of graphic design or journalism.
Chapter 13 Lecture Notes ● 8
E. How Many Résumés and What Format?
• Print-based résumé
• Plain-text résumé for digital submission
F. Submitting Your Résumé
• Word document
• Plain-text document
Figure 13.15 Infographics: A Novel Way to Show Education, Experience,
and Skills
Figure 13.16 Portions of Plain-Text Résumé
VI. Creating Customized Cover Messages (p. 454)
Although most job listings don’t specifically mention a cover letter, a well-written,
persuasive cover letter should accompany every résumé you send out. Without it, your
résumé may never be read.
A. Gaining Attention in the Opening
• Address the message to an individual by name.
Figure 13.17 Solicited Cover Letter
Figure 13.18 Unsolicited Cover Letter
B. Promoting Your Strengths in the Message Body
• Demonstrate that your background and training meet the job requirements.
C. Motivating Action in the Closing
• Ask for an interview. Consider hooking the request to a statement reviewing
your strongest points.
D. Sending Your Résumé and Cover Message
Chapter 13 Lecture Notes ● 9
Figure 13.19 E-Mail Cover Message
E. Final Tips for Successful Cover Messages
• Avoid starting an excessive number of sentences with “I.” Make activities and
Critical Thinking Discussion Guide
11. How has job searching for candidates and job placement for hiring managers
changed in the digital age? In your opinion, have the changes had a positive or a
negative effect? Why? (Obj. 1)
Job searching and hiring for candidates and hiring managers have changed dramatically in
12. The authors of Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters claim that every year 50 million
U.S. jobs are filled, almost all without a job posting. Why do you think businesses
avoid advertising job openings? If jobs are unlisted, how can a candidate locate
them? (Obj. 3)
Jobs that are unlisted often develop in one of three ways: (a) a growing company creates a
new job; (b) an employee quits leaving an open position; or (c) an employee is fired from
Chapter 13 Lecture Notes ● 10
13. Some employment authors claim that the paper résumé is dead or dying. What's
behind this assertion, and how should current job candidates respond? (Obj. 4)
In this digital age, the résumé is evolving, but the paper résumé is not disappearing.
Although applicants may not send their résumés by U.S. mail, the "job search is not going
14. Why might it be more effective to apply for unsolicited jobs than for advertised jobs?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of letters that “prospect” for jobs. (Obj. 6)
The advantage of unsolicited prospect letters is reduced competition. Many people apply
15. Some jobs are advertised even when a leading candidate has the position nailed
down. The candidate could be an internal applicant or someone else with an inside
track. Although not required by law, management policies and human resources
departments at many companies demand that hiring managers list all openings on
job boards or career sites. Often, hiring managers have already selected candidates
for these “phantom” jobs. Do you believe it is ethical to advertise jobs that are not
really available?
From a job candidate's view, it seems reasonable and fair that all jobs be advertised. From
a company's view, such a requirement seems unnecessary, restrictive, and unproductive.
Chapter 13 Lecture Notes ● 11
COMMUNICATION WORKSHOP: Ethics
Fudging the Facts on Résumés: Worth the Risk?
No job seeker wants to be in the unhappy position of explaining résumé errors or defending
misrepresentation. Avoiding the following actions can keep you off the hot seat:
• Enhancing education, grades, or honors
Career Application. Student responses will vary, of course. The important thing is for them
Workplace in Focus
Page 434 to come
In writing your LinkedIn career summary, use keywords and phrases that might appear in job
descriptions. Also use words that describe what you do and who you are. In addition, be sure
to use words that relate to the targeted position. Use expressions such as proficient in,
competent in, and ability to when appropriate.
Page 454 to come
Effective cover messages include the following characteristics: (1) refers to the name of a
