ENC 3250: Professional Writing

Communicating for Career Success

Presented byT. E. Roberts, Instructor

University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee

Week 8 • Fall 2015Length of this lecture audio (11 slides) =

00:xx:xx[Note that audio is from a previous academic term;

date references in the slides are correct for Fall 2015.]

Write down the audio codes and the numbers of the slides where they arementioned. You will submit the codes for the Week 6 , 7, and 8

lectures with Assignment 3 by Oct. 19, 6 p.m.

© 2015, T. E. Roberts

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 2 of 11

Week 8 Agenda

Interview tips

Email & website posting

The Winning Impression

Matching academic experience with employers’ needs

Creating a career plan

Job-hunting resources

Assignment 3 submission details

Assignment 4 outline

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 3 of 11

Interview Tips

Be prepared to show who you are, not just what you know

Dress in “business attire,” not “business casual” (see USFSM Career Services for advice)

Rehearse on video … eliminate annoying speech habits and mannerisms … shake hands properly, and look the person in the eye … enunciate your words and smile

If this advice sounds unappealing to you, pursue a career in which such behavior is not expected

© 2012, Scott Adams (www.dilbert.com)

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 4 of 11

Interview Tips (continued)

Put yourself in the interviewer’s position Probably tired, stressed out, over-scheduled, doing

the 15th interview of the week What can you do to make this person’s job easier?

Assuming you have the expected skill-set, a manager will consider hiring you because you are the right fit with the company or team

Read the tips on the course website -- written in part by a retired business executive and student in a previous ENC 3250 course

Review interview tips on Monster.com

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 5 of 11

32 Common Interviewing Mistakes

1. Does not allow time for traffic delays on way to interview2. Poor or casual personal appearance3. Lack of interest and enthusiasm: passive and indifferent4. Over-emphasis on money: interested only in best dollar offer, benefits, hours and vacation5. Condemnation of past employers6. Failure to look at the interviewer when conversing7. Limp, fishy handshake8. Unwillingness to go where sent9. Late to interview10. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer’s time11. Asks no questions about job or company12. Indefinite response to questions13. Overbearing, over-aggressive, conceited with superiority or “know-it-all complex.”14. Inability to express self clearly: poor voice diction, grammar15. Lack of planning for career: no purpose and goals16. Lack of confidence and poise: nervous and ill at ease

17. Failure to participate in activities18. Unwilling to start at the bottom--expects too much too soon19. Makes excuses, evasive, hedges on unfavorable factors in record20. Lack of tact21. Lack of courtesy: ill mannered22. Lack of maturity23. Lack of vitality24. Indecision and hesitation25. Sloppy application, not fully completed or saying “see resume”26. Merely shopping around seeking a counter offer27. Wants job for short time28. No interest in company or industry29. Low moral standards30. Intolerant: strong prejudices31. Narrow interests32. Inability to take criticism

The list is based on reports from 153 executive search firms. Source: Carnegie Resources, 2009-2010.

Create a Winning Impression

Research the company and the position

Show confidence, poise, and enthusiasm

Choose opportunities that you really want to pursue, not those motivated by desperation or mere curiosity

Keep your dirty jokes, prejudices, street language, and negative comments about past jobs to yourself

Be on time, clean, alert, and sober!

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 6 of 11

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 7 of 11

Matching Academic Experience With Employers’ Needs

If you expected an “A” but earned a “B,” apply this experience to the workplace -- how do you deal with disappointment?

Did you learn how to interpret and create complex charts and graphs? How to understand and apply specialized vocabulary in a professional field? How to perform sophisticated analysis using math, logic, and creativity?

Did you learn to read, listen, and follow directions? (note the advantage of work experience and military service)

Did you learn how to express yourself concisely and efficiently and to put your reader’s or listener’s needs ahead of your own?

Did you learn how to avoid whining, simply solve a problem, and move on to the next challenge?

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 8 of 11

Creating a Career Plan

The younger you are, the shorter your future view (seek “wisdom of your elders” but be skeptical!)

Combine careful planning and spontaneity Look for opportunities where you least expect them Read, observe, learn voraciously as an autodidact --

your brain doesn’t need a course, teacher, or textbook If you stick only with what you CAN do, count on:

Atrophy of your talents Stale, bored outlook on living and working Reputation as a cranky, jaded, worn-out person Weakening of personal and professional relationships

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 9 of 11

Job-Hunting Resources

USFSM Career Center http://www.usfsm.edu/students/careercenter/

Required for Assignment 3 (on Welcome page and in Canvas FILES section): Roberts_JobHuntingAdvice_Oct-2015.docx

Job listings and advice: http://www.monster.com

Contacts through family, friends, blogs, avocations

Professional and trade associations

Alumni and professional networks

Thousands of company and job-listing websites (be cautious)

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 10 of 11

Assignment 3 Details

Follow instructions and deadline in syllabus -- Assignment 3 is due by 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 19 (include audio codes for Weeks 6, 7, and 8 -- total of nine codes, plus the slide numbers where mentioned)

Choose a job listing that fits your interests and skills as basis for resume and cover letter

Write your documents as if you were completing your degree this semester

Apply all relevant USAGE TIPS (end of syllabus) Name the attachment and email subject correctly:

If you want a detailed review (and will send a revision), name your submission Lastname_3250_3_markup.docx

If you want just a grade: Lastname_3250_3.docx

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 11 of 11

Assignment 3 Submission Details

Follow the format in the syllabus scrupulously -- if you can’t follow simple directions, you are already at a big disadvantage in job-hunting

Text of the job description should be copied and pasted from the source (for example, monster.com) -- keep the format simple and no more than a single page (OK to use smaller type for this page)

Cover letter, resume, and Linkedin profile must each be one page only (reader’s time and attention are limited)

Your submission will consist of four pages in a single document divided by forced page breaks -- see directions in syllabus and this sample submission: http://www.todroberts.com/USF/3250_3_sample.docx First page = job description Second page = cover letter Third page = resume Fourth page = Linkedin profile (see instructions)

ENC 3250, Fall 2015 • Week 8 • Slide 12 of 11

Assignment 4 Outline (due Nov. 2, 2015)

Carefully review instructions in syllabus Will introduce three options for Assignment 4 in Week 9

lecture Business or professional report Business proposal Business plan

Choose your topic wisely -- you may not change it later Consider this submission important for your professional

development and job-hunting Submit 150-word outline of topic and approach by Nov. 2,

2015, 6 p.m. (see sample outlines on course website: http://www.todroberts.com/USF/3250_ResearchOutline_Samples.pdf)

Review Slide 2 in the Week 1 lecture to see how previous students have regarded this assignment

Include audio codes for Week 9 and 10 lectures with outline