Part of total job search process

Communication skills indicator

No single correct way

1. Application/cover – to apply for a specific position

2. Appreciation/thank you – to follow up3. Prospecting – to inquire about general

availability of positions4. Networking – to arrange an informational

interview/meeting5. Acceptance – to accept and confirm a job

offer6. Withdrawal – to remove your job

application from consideration7. Rejection – to decline a job offer

Purposes:

1. To present a sales proposal to a customer.2. To present a financial proposal to a customer.3. To set up a committee meeting.4. To set up a business meeting.5. To offer a position to a new employee.6. To communicate to fellow employees a new company policy.7. To write a letter of recommendation in support of a colleague

for a new job.8. To request and justify company support of a specific

departmental proposal (e.g. new equipment, additional funding).

9. To request information or additional information.10. To respond to an inquiry.

Identify purpose, at the beginning Organize material into paragraphs Be professional

◦ High quality paper◦ Error free

Address to specific individual Be succinct, get to the point

Be positive◦ (optimistic, productive, reasonable, responsible)

Cater to reader’s interests

Sign and keep copy

Handwritten

Sent via e-mail

Center letter (side to side, top to bottom) Capitalization

◦ Don’t overdo it (e.g. no need to cap job titles, seasons of the year, courses taken, senior, agriculture, etc.)

Punctuation◦ Don’t overuse commas, semicolons; use periods to

avoid run-on sentences; no need to use period after two-letter abbreviation of state or street

Spelling◦ No mistakes (use spell check); pay attention to

hyphenated words (e.g. in-depth, two word adjectives preceding noun).

Small words better than big words◦ Examples: try vs endeavor

end vs terminatebegin vs commence

Short sentences better than long sentences◦ Example: ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant

leap for mankind.’ – Neil Armstrong Use consistent verb tense (active preferred)

◦ Example: don’t write ‘consistent verb tense should be used’

Use conversational style◦ Example: ‘There has been an affirmative

decision with regard to program termination’ vs ‘The company is ending the program’.

◦ Example: ‘Enclosed herewith is the aforementioned and requested information’ vs ‘I am enclosing the information you requested’

indepth first hand alot all around midwest coop

in-depth firsthand a lot all-around Midwest co-op

1st – purpose, interest, position, source 2nd – qualifications, evidence, refer to

resume 3rd (+) – sell yourself 4th – suggest action (interview, meeting,

phone call). Show appreciation.

1st – purpose (express appreciation, follow up)

2nd – reemphasize qualifications, reiterate interest

3rd – provide supplemental information (if any)

4th – reiterate thanks

1st – Purpose

2nd – Confirmation of terms, action to be taken

3rd – Express appreciation, reiterate interest