employment package

Dr.  A.  Vanthuyne   COMM  6019-­‐75   Due: October 13, 2017 before 10pm (NOTE* NO late submissions will be marked- think of this as a job application deadline Value: 10% INSTRUCTIONS

• Use the one of the job ads posted by me (see Content for Week 5) or choose a real job advertisement in your field, and posted within the last twelve months, from a newspaper, the Internet, or elsewhere. Include a copy of the job posting with your assignment.

1. Produce a professional cover letter targeted* to the job of your choice.

*Targeted refers to content that directly relates to the company, position, and job description that you are applying for.

2. Produce a professional resume targeted to the job of your choice. • Please note that you cannot invent qualifications or experience; anything that appears

on the resume or cover letter must be true. Remember, employers can fire employees for being less than honest during the application process.

• Your resume should be at least one page in length but no more than two. • Your letter should be no more than one page in length. You will submit your

assignment (cover letter, resume/career brief) in ONE document in the Assignment 2 FOL dropbox.

• The resume and cover letter are of equal weight for this assignment.

3. Also submit a Career Brief or a LinkedIn Profile Summary • This can be with or without a Brand Statement as part of your application package

(please do not post on a LinkedIn profile, just include the text in your assignment). • his will be part of your resume; you can add it at the beginning of your resume under

your name/contact OR at the end of your resume in a separate section (depending if you choose the career brief or LinkedIn summary).

EVALUATION: Criteria for the Resume:

• appropriate content (adapted to job ad) • appropriate style and organization for the content • visual attractiveness and readability • clarity and persuasiveness • absolute correctness in form and language

Criteria for the Cover Letter:

• appropriate content (adapted to job ad) • appropriate letter structure • appropriate style (neither too formal nor too informal) • clarity and persuasiveness • absolute correctness in form and language

Criteria for the Career Brief/LinkedIn Profile Summary:

• appropriate content and structure • concern for readability and visual attractiveness • clarity and persuasiveness • absolute correctness in form and language

*The last point in each section is crucial. Potential employers generally discard resumes and cover letters that contain even a single error. *See the next page for a comprehensive checklist for when you complete your employment package

Résumé/Career Brief or LinkedIn Summary Yes Cover Letter Yes Format and Style (5) Format & Style (5) • Has a clear & concise profile/objective line or career goal

• Block format followed precisely

• Bullets are formatted well & appropriately spaced. • Appropriate outside address (or letterhead), date line, inside address, salutation (including an individual’s name), body, complimentary close, signature block, end notations

• The resume fits on no more than two pages if at all possible; the text

makes good use of the entire page.

• Conventions for indicating job title, company name, location, and dates of employment are effective, complete & consistent throughout

• Spacing in between parts of the letter is correct and the letter is centered vertically on the page.

• Beginning and ending dates are included throughout, including volunteer work, and are aligned properly, etc

• Has a clear/concise subject line stating the reason for writing or the job posting, title, competition # (if applic.)

• Resume includes all necessary sections and information with appropriate headings r Missing:

• Letter fits on no more than one page.

• Font types & different sizes used throughout; pleasing to the eye and creates a crisp look.

Content & Adherence to Assignment (15) Content & Adherence to Assignment (15) • The overall content of the resume has integrity - it follows format

(chronological, functional, combined etc.).

The letter is persuasive and assertive without being pushy or pompous.

• Has a clear & concise profile that meets the business needs (with or without objective)

No Profile (-3 marks)

• Text is broken into logical paragraphs with good paragraph structure. Information in the letter is well organized.

• Letter mentions 3-4 key skills, duties/experience, and indicates how the candidate meets company needs.

• Resume clearly and concretely details duties, skills, and accomplishments. Past-tense action verbs are used to quantify skills and duties. |

• Letter indicates how you heard about the job.

• Closing: Appropriate next step is suggested.

• Style is persuasive and assertive without being pushy or pompous.

• The letter is concise and the words selected most accurately and effectively convey meaning.

• Accomplishment statements used throughout | è No Accomplishments (-3 marks)

_________________________________________________________ Other:

• Letter demonstrates that you researched the company (it is tailored to the company and position)

è No Research (-5 marks)

Grammar, Mechanics, and Punctuation (5) Grammar, Mechanics, and Punctuation (5) Shows effective use of proofreading and editing; eliminates errors through the use of spellchecker program; ensures that document contains correct grammar, language and punctuation. Errors may include: q Bullets not in parallel form q Capitalization q Commas, Semicolons,

Apostrophes / periods etc. used inappropriately

q Run-on sentences, comma splices etc.

q Awkward / unclear phrasing /syntax / word choice

q Verb tense inconsistent and inappropriate (past/present)

q Use of “I”; Pronouns q Spelling q Other:

Résumé Total: ( / 25 ) Marks

Shows effective use of proofreading and editing; eliminates errors through the use of spellchecker program; ensures that document contains correct grammar, language and punctuation. Errors may include: q Parallelism q Capitalization q Misplaced Modifiers q Commas splices &

Semicolons

q Apostrophes / periods etc. q Sentence fragments q Run-on sentences q Awkward or unclear phrasing

/ syntax q Word choice q Tone, level of language too

conversational and/or slang q Spelling q Missing Signature q Other:

Cover Letter Total: ( / 25 ) Marks