Business Communication Chapter 15 Homework Most students know that all available jobs are not advertised or posted on websites. Many jobs are filled in-house, through employee referrals, or from an existing talent pool

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Solution and Answer Guide

Guffey/Loewy, Business Communication: Process & Product, 10e, 2022, 9780357129234;

Chapter 15: The Job Search, Résumés, and Cover Letters in the Digital Age

Table of Contents

Zooming In—Critical Thinking Answers …………………………………………………………………………… 1

Is Job Searching Like Dating? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1

Zooming In—Your Turn Solution ……………………………………………………………………………………. 2

Applying Your Skills With Amanda Augustine ……………………………………………………………………………….. 2

Ethics Check Answers …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 3

Are Millennial Job Hoppers Getting a Bad Rap? ……………………………………………………………………………. 3

Critical Thinking Answers ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4

Activities Solutions …………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 6

Zooming In—Critical Thinking Answers

Is Job Searching Like Dating?

• Amanda Augustine feels strongly that networking is the most effective way to find a

job. What if you don’t like networking and are uncomfortable pushing yourself into

awkward conversations that you find distressing?

Solution

Are you hesitant to network because it seems pushy and self–serving? Don’t be. Networking

isn’t about using other people or aggressively promoting yourself. Think of it as making

friends and getting to know people. As humans, we are wired to socialize and connect with

• What do you know about the hidden job market, and how does networking help a new

grad find a job in this elusive market?

Solution

Most students know that all available jobs are not advertised or posted on websites. Many

jobs are filled in-house, through employee referrals, or from an existing talent pool. Some

• Career expert Amanda Augustine encourages job applicants to develop their own

“brands.” You may object that you are not a car or a line of sneakers. What does

“branding” mean to you, and why is it be essential in a competitive job market?

Solution

Student responses will vary on what branding means to them. You can guide the discussion

by pointing out that branding is a form of self-promotion expected by recruiters so that they

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Zooming In—Your Turn Solution

Applying Your Skills With Amanda Augustine

• In groups of three to four, address the topics Ms. Augustine has brought up. Ask each

student to contribute at least two responses. Individually or as a group, summarize

your findings in an e-mail report addressed to Ms. Augustine but delivered to your

instructor. Treat this message as a short report, dividing it into logical sections with

headings.

Solution

To: Amanda Augustine <amanda,augustine@xxx.xxx>

From: Student Name

Subject: Ideas for Article Aimed at First-Time Job Seekers

Job Search Prior to Graduation

In general, most soon–to-graduate students realize the importance of thinking about the job

Benefits of Networking

Students also understand the importance of networking. They agree that knowing someone

Professional Networking Sites

Some students seem to be reluctant to use professional networking sites such as LinkedIn.

These students are more familiar with Instagram and other social media sites. The people I

Student Name

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Ethics Check Answers

Are Millennial Job Hoppers Getting a Bad Rap?

• Although millennial workers (in their 20s and 30s) have been criticized as job hoppers,

current data on job tenure reveal that young employees are as loyal to employers as

those in previous generations. However, young people do tend to change jobs. Is it

unethical and a sign of disloyalty to change jobs?

Solution

Students might observe that workers of all ages change jobs for many reasons: higher

Critical Thinking Answers

1. When asked if they would pass up a traditional job for full-time gig work, 53 percent of

Generation Z (ages 16-25) respondents in a global study said yes. Commissioned by the

Workforce Institute of Kronos, this study, titled “Gen Z and the Gig Economy: It’s Time

to Gig in or Get Out,” surveyed 3,400 individuals around the world. What is it about gig

work that appeals to young people and others? What disadvantages do you see?

Solution

One would have to know how the survey question was phrased to be able to comprehend its

full meaning. However, it is fairly obvious that a full-time gig job (whatever that means) might

2. “If you are starting your job search with Monster.com, CareerBuilder, or similar search

tools, then you are starting at the end of the chain,” claims job-search author Ryan

Guina. What do you think he means?

Solution

Writing from experience, job-search author Ryan Guina thinks it is a big mistake to start your

search or pin your hopes on listings at job boards. He contends that organizations post jobs

at job boards only as a last resort. A listed position may already have been quietly filled, but

3. Why do you think some businesses avoid advertising job openings? If jobs are unlisted,

how can candidates locate them?

Solution

Companies avoid advertising because doing so brings a flood of applications, many of which

are from people who do not meet the qualifications. In addition, companies would prefer to

4. LinkedIn has 675 million registered users, but only 310 million are active each month.

Although it is highly recommended that new grads complete a LinkedIn profile, some

critics charge that LinkedIn is a waste of time because it has become bogged down

with spam connection requests, posturing, and users’ attempts to market products

instead of building relationships, as originally intended. As a job candidate, would you

post your résumé information at LinkedIn? Why or why not? How could candidates

make better use of LinkedIn?

Solution

Supporters say that LinkedIn lets people connect with others in their industry. Your résumé

can be seen by recruiters everywhere. It’s also a personal branding platform and an

5. Phantom job listings are announcements for jobs that have already been filled

through informal networking processes. The public job posting is necessary to comply

with human resources department rules that mandate the advertising of open

positions. Sometimes the job has been filled by an internal candidate who already had

the position nailed down. 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?

Solution

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Activities Solutions

15.1 Document for Analysis: Poorly Written Résumé

Solution

Weaknesses:

a. Begins with the title “Résumé,” which is unnecessary. Fails to present the writer’s name

so that it can be easily read by a scanner.

b. Omits the area code for the telephone number.

Revision:

Annalise Ortez-Villa

1340 East Phillips Avenue, Apartment D

Littleton, CO 80126

Phone: (303) 455-5182 E-mail: annaliseortez-villa@gmail.com LinkedIn

OBJECTIVE

Accounting associate position in which my recent accounting education and financial

consulting experience can help the organization achieve its goals.

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Expect BA degree with accounting major and finance minor in June 2021

EDUCATION

Colorado State University, Pueblo, CO BA to be conferred June 2021

• Major: Accounting; Minor: Finance GPA: 3.5 (A = 4.0)

Arapahoe Community College, Littleton, CO AA degree, Accounting, December 2018

EXPERIENCE

Primerica Financial Services, Pueblo, CO January 2019–present

Part-Time Financial Consultant

• Applied communication skills in assisting clients in obtaining mortgages, consolidating

Target, Littleton, CO September 2017–August 2018

Line Manager

• Developed team and leadership skills in supervising 12 cashiers and front-end

associates

• Honed organizational skills by preparing weekly work schedules

Mr. K’s Floral Design of Denver August 2016–September 2017

Teacher

• Developed leadership skills by teaching courses in flower design to classes averaging

25 students

ACTIVITIES

• American Accounting Association (AAA), Chair, Spring and Fall, 2019

• Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (M.E.Ch.A), Webmaster, January–May 2021

15.2 Document for Analysis: Poor Cover Letter

Solution

Weaknesses:

a. Fails to use the receiver’s name in the salutation.

b. Neglects to identify the position title and specifically where the announcement

appeared.

c. Fails to back up assertions with evidence of qualifications.

Revision:

1340 East Phillips Avenue, Apt. D

Littleton, CO 80126

May 4, 2021

Ms. Catherine Monroe

Director, Human Resources

Felder & Associates, P.C.

835 South Prairie Avenue

Pueblo, CO 81005

Dear Ms. Monroe:

Please accept my application for the accounting associate position listed May 3 on the Felder

& Associates website.

5182.

Sincerely,

Annalise Ortez-Villa

Enclosure

15.3 Opening Your Job Search With Self-Analysis

Solution

Although this assignment takes time, it is invaluable because it encourages the kind of

15.4 Taking Stock of Your Qualifications

Solution

Be sure to have students prepare these worksheets. They may resist, but with your

15.5 Building Your Future by Choosing a Career Path

Solution

Unless they are actively in the job market, students may appear uninterested in this activity.

15.6 Searching the Job Market

Solution

Students are to clip or print a job advertisement or announcement from (a) a social media

15.7 Learning About Posting a Résumé Online

Solution

Many websites encourage the posting of résumés. Some of the most reputable sites for

posting are LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Monster, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, and CareerBuilder. Your

student investigators should learn that candidates have the option of making a résumé

résumés online.

15.8 Writing Your Résumé

Solution

Have students submit drafts until their résumés and lists of references are perfect. You

15.9 Preparing Your Cover Message

Solution

Discuss with students whether a cover letter or e-mail is appropriate for the job of their

15.10 Using LinkedIn in Your Job Search

Solution

Encouraging students to join LinkedIn is among the most important advice you can give

15.11 Consider a Twitter Mini Résumé as a LinkedIn Alternative

Solution

Student work with vary, but should include a job title, relevant skills, and location along with

15.12 Analyzing and Building Student E-Portfolios

Solution

The goal of this activity is to introduce students to e-portfolios by showing them samples.