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Appendix A

Careers in Business

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Careers in BusinessWords such as excited, challenged, scared, and frustrated have been used to describesomeone involved in a job search. The reality, however, is that everyone who is em-ployed must have looked for a job at one time or another„and survived. Althoughfirst-time employees often think that they will work for the same company for their en-tire career, most people change jobs and even careers during their lifetime. In fact, ac-cording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, today•s job applicants will change jobs overten times. Therefore, the employment information that follows will be of lasting value.Let•s begin our discussion with a look at the factors affecting an individual•s careerchoices.

The Importance of Career ChoicesMost people think that career planning begins with an up-to-date résumé and a job in-terview. In reality, it begins long before you prepare your résumé. It starts with you andwhat you want to become. In some ways you have been preparing for a career ever sinceyou started first grade. Everything you have experienced during your lifetime you cannow use as a resource to help define your career goals. Let•s start with a basic assump-tion: It is likely that you will spend more time at work than at any other single place dur-ing your lifetime. It therefore makes sense to spend those hours doing something you en-joy. Unfortunately, some people just work at a job because they need money to survive.Other people choose a career because there is a commitment not only to a profession butalso to their own interests and talents. Whether you are looking for a job or a career, youshould examine your own priorities. Before reading the next section, you may want toevaluate your priorities by completing the exercise in Figure A.1.

Personal Factors Influencing Career ChoicesBefore you choose your career or job, you need to have a pretty good idea of what mo-tivates you and what skills you can offer an employer. The following five questions mayhelp you to refine further what you consider important in life.

1. What types of activities do you enjoy? Although most people know what they en-joy in a general way, a number of interest inventories exist that can help youto determine specific interests and activities that can help you land a job thatwill lead to a satisfying career. In some cases it may help just to list the inter-ests or activities you enjoy, along with those you dislike. Watch for patternsthat may influence your career choices.

2. What do you do best? All jobs in all careers require employees to be able to •dosomething.Ž It is extremely important to assess what you do best. Be honestwith yourself about your ability to succeed in a specific job. It may help tomake a list of your strongest job-related skills. Also try looking at your skillsfrom an employer•s perspective. What can you do that an employer would bewilling to pay for?

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A2 Appendix A: Careers in Business

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3. What kind of education will you need? The amount of education you need is de-termined by the type of career you choose. In some careers, it is impossible toget an entry-level position without at least a college degree. In other careers,technical or hands-on skills are more important than formal education.Generally, more education increases your potential earning power, as illus-trated in Figure A.2.

4. Where do you want to live? When you enter the job market, you may want tomove to a different part of the country. According to the Occupational OutlookHandbook, the western and southern sections of the United States will experi-ence the greatest population increase between now and the year 2012. Thepopulation in the Midwest will stay about the same, whereas the Northeastwill decrease slightly in population. These population changes will affect jobprospects in each of those areas. Before entering the job market, most peoplethink that they are free to move any place they want. In reality, job applicantsmay be forced to move to a town, city, or metropolitan area that has jobsavailable.

5. Are you willing to work long hours? In some occupations you usually work longhours and receive relatively high pay„perhaps due, in part, to the time youspend working. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,time-consuming occupations often have average weekly earnings that arehigher than those of other occupations. Figure A.3 shows the occupationswith the highest percentages of workers who spent sixty or more hours a weekin 2004. Topping the list for both hours and earnings are physicians and sur-geons, 29 percent of whom worked sixty or more hours per week in 2004.

� � FIGURE A.1

Source: Susan D. Greene and Melanie C. L Martel, The Ultimate Job Hunter•s Guidebook, 4th ed. Copyright ©2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company, p. 17. Reprinted with permission.

Salary

Family (children/spouse/parents)

Personal time

Job location

Work-related travel

Potential for advancement

Commuting time

Friendly coworkers/boss

Job responsibilities

Personal hobbies

Prestige

Benefits

Vacation time

Retirement plan

Security/stability

Personal growth/fulfillment

Exposure to new skills

Job and Personal VariablesPriorities Now Priorities in 5Ð10 years

WHICH PRIORITIES ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU?

Look over the list of job and personal variables. In the left-hand column, number them inorder of current priority to you. Then renumber them in the right-hand column based onthe priorities you anticipate having five or ten years down the road.

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Trends in EmploymentThe new millennium has brought change in employment opportunities to the U.S. la-bor market. Employment in 2012 is expected to reach 165.3 million, an increase of21.3 million, or 14.8 percent, above the 2002 level. For the latest information, visit theOffice of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections website atwww.bls.gov/emp/. (See Figure A.4.)

As you look ahead to your own career, you should consider the effects that thetrends described below will have on employment and employment opportunities.

� Jobs in service industries will account for a larger proportion of total employ-ment.

� Training„and retraining„will become increasingly important as firms requiretheir employees to use the latest technology. Good jobs will require strong edu-cational qualifications.

Appendix A: Careers in Business A3

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Winter 2004…2005, p. 17.

� � FIGURE A.2

MORE EDUCATION MEANS HIGHER EARNINGS AND LOWER UNEMPLOYMENT

New data tell an old story: The more you learn, the more you earnÑand the less likely you are to be unemployed.Earnings increase and unemployment decreases with additional years of education. Education pays, in part, because employers believe that educated workers learn tasks more easily and are better organized. However, the data here areaverages; variations occur at all educational levels. The biggest reason for the variety in earnings is the different occu-pations people enter as a result of their education.

Median weekly earnings, 2003

Professionaldegree

Median weekly earnings for workers25 years and older

Doctoral degree

Master’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Associate degree

Some college,no degree

High schoolgraduate

Some high school,no degree

$1,349

$1,307

$1,064

$900

$672

$622

$554

$396

2.1%

1.7%

2.9%

3.3%

4.0%

5.2%

5.5%

8.8%

Unemployment rate, 2003

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� Automation of factories and offices will create new types of jobs. Many of thesewill be computer-related.

� The number of women, Hispanics, Asians, two-income families, and older work-ers in the work force will increase.

� There will be a greater emphasis on job sharing, flexible hours, and other inno-vative work practices to accommodate employees. In some cases employees willbe able to complete assignments at home on remote computer terminals.

College graduates with majors in business and management, computer science,education, engineering, and health professions will be in high demand according to


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� � FIGURE A.3

TIME-CONSUMING OCCUPATIONS AND WHAT THEY PAY

Management occupations dominate the list of time-consuming careers. Even in these occupations, not all workersdevote such long hours to the job, and not all earn the average in their field. Hours and earnings of individual workersdepend on many factors, including industry, employer, and specific job tasks. Earnings data shown are for wage-and-salary workers; earnings for self-employed workers are not included.

Source: Occupational Outlook Quarterly, Summer 2005, p. 44.

Median weekly earnings

Physicians andsurgeons

Food servicemanagers

Farm, ranch, andother agricultural

managers

Veterinarians

Chief executives

Fire fighters

Clergy

Railroadconductors and

yardmasters

$1,660

$1,117

$621

$657

$1,050

$933

$771

$881

24%

29%

24%

20%

19%

17%

16%

Lawyers$1,561

15%

16%

General andoperationsmanagers

$1,129

14%

Percent working 60 hours or more per week

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human resources experts. There will be fewer manufacturing jobs, and those that re-main will require high-tech skills.

Figure A.5 shows the twenty occupations that the Bureau of Labor Statistics pro-jects will grow faster or much faster than average between now and the year 2012. AndFigure A.6 shows the twenty occupations that are projected to add about eight millionjobs, 39 percent of all projected growth. The jobs also have a great deal of variety withregard to the skills and aptitudes of workers, working conditions, and the nature of thework.

Occupational Search ActivitiesWhen most people begin to search for a job, they immediately think of the classifiedads in the local newspaper. Those ads are an important source of information aboutjobs in your particular area, but they are only one source. Many other sources can leadto employment and a satisfying career. As illustrated in Figure A.7, a wealth of infor-mation about career planning is available. Therefore, you must be selective in both thetype and amount of information you use to guide your job search.

The library, a traditional job-hunting tool, has been joined in recent years by theInternet. Both the library and the Internet are sources of everything from classifiednewspaper ads and government job listings to detailed information on individual com-panies and industries. You can use either of them to research an area of employmentthat interests you or a particular company. In addition, the Internet allows you to checkelectronic bulletin boards for current job information, exchange ideas with other jobseekers through online discussion groups or e-mail, and get career advice from pro-fessional counselors. You also can create your own web page to inform prospective em-ployers of your qualifications. And you may even have a job interview online. Manyprominent companies are now using their websites to post job openings, accept appli-cations, and interview candidates. In fact, the Internet has been called the future of re-cruiting.


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EASY ONLINE ACCESS TO JOB OUTLOOK INFORMATION

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website offers a wealth of employment-related infor-mation. Even the full text of the Occupational Outlook Handbook is accessible on thiswebsite.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, http://stats.bls.gov/emp/home.htm; accessed December 6. 2005.

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� � FIGURE A.5

THE FASTEST-GROWING OCCUPATIONS

The thirteen fastest-growing occupations are health care related and five others are computer related.

Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics website: www.bls.gov/emp/emptab3.htm; accessed November 13, 2005.

Medical assistants

Network systems and data communication analysts

Physician assistants

Social and human service assistants

Medical records and health information technicians

Physical therapist aides

Computer software engineers, application

Computer software engineers, systems software

Physical therapist assistants

Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors

Database administrators

Veterinary technologists and technicians

Hazardous materials removal workers

Dental hygienists

Occupational therapist aides

Dental assistants

Personal and home care aides

Self-enrichment education teachers

Computer systems analysts

Occupational therapist assistants

Employment growth in selected occupations, projected 2002–2012(Percent of change)

59

57

49

49

47

46

46

45

45

44

44

44

43

43

43

42

40

40

39

39

As you start a job search, you may find websites helpful. In addition to the libraryand the Internet, the following sources can be of great help when you are trying to findthe •perfect jobŽ:

1. Campus placement offices. Colleges and universities have placement officesstaffed by trained personnel specialists. In most cases these offices serve asclearinghouses for career information. The staff also may be able to guide youin creating your résumé and preparing for a job interview.

2. Professional sources and networks. A network is a group of people„friends, rela-tives, and professionals„who are in a position to exchange information (in-cluding information about job openings) in your field of business. And ac-cording to many job applicants, networking is one of the best sources ofcareer information and job leads. Start with as many people as you can thinkof to establish your initial network. (The Internet can be very useful in thisregard.) Contact these individuals, and ask specific questions about job oppor-tunities that they may be aware of. Also ask each of these individuals to intro-duce or refer you to someone else who may be able to help you to continueyour job search. For networking to work, you must continue this process.Remember that you must follow all leads. Even if you have referrals and in-

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troductions, you must still •getŽ the job. Finally, remember to thank the peo-ple who have helped you.

3. Private employment agencies. Private employment agencies charge a fee forhelping people find jobs. Typical fees can be as high as 15 to 20 percent of anemployee•s first-year salary. The fee may be paid by the employer or the em-ployee. As with college placement offices, private employment agencies pro-vide career counseling, help to create résumés, and provide preparation forjob interviews. Before you use a private employment agency, be sure you un-derstand the terms of any contract or agreement you sign. Above all, makesure that you know who is responsible for paying the agency•s fee.

4. State employment agencies. Another source of information about job openingsin your immediate area is the local office of your state employment agency.Some job applicants are reluctant to use state agencies because the majority ofjobs available through these agencies are for semiskilled or unskilled workers.From a practical standpoint, it can•t hurt to consult state employment agen-cies. They will have information about some professional and managerial po-sitions available in your area, and you will not be charged a fee if you obtain ajob through a state employment agency.


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OCCUPATIONS GAINING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF JOBS

These twenty occupationsÑout of about 500Ñare projected to add over eight million jobs, 39 percent of all projectedgrowth. Five are health-related occupations, and two are teaching related.

Source: www.bls.gov/emp/emptab 4.htm; accessed November 13, 2005.

Registered nurses

Postsecondary teachers

Retail salespersons

Customer service representatives

Employment growth in selected occupations, projected 2002–2012(In thousands)

Home health aides

Personal and home care aides

Truck drivers, light or delivery services

Landscaping and groundskeeping workers

Sales representatives, wholesale and manufactur-ing, except technical and scientific products

Cashiers, except gaming

Cleaners, except maids and housekeeping cleaners

General and operations managers

Waiters and waitresses

Nursing aides, orderlies, and attendants

Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer

Reception and information clerks

Security guards

Office clerks

Teacher assistants

Combined food preparation and serving workers,including fast food

623

603

596

460

454

454

414

376

367

343

337

325

317

310

294

279

279

246

237

237

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Many people want a job immediately and are discouraged at the thought of an oc-cupational search taking months. The fact is, though, that people seeking entry-leveljobs should expect their job search to take three to six months. Job applicants who wanthigher-paying positions can expect to be looking for work for as long as a year, eight-een months, or more. Of course, the state of the economy and whether employers arehiring or not can shorten or extend a job search for anyone.

Regardless of how long it takes, most people will tell you that a job search alwaystakes too long. During a job search, you should use the same work habits that effectiveemployees use on the job. When searching for a job, resist the temptation to •take theday off.Ž Instead, make a master list of activities that you want to accomplish each day. Ifnecessary, force yourself to make contacts, do job research, or schedule interviews thatmight lead to job opportunities. (Actually, many job applicants look at the job hunt astheir job and work from eight to five, five days a week until they find the job they want.)Above all, realize that an occupational search requires patience and perseverance. Andaccording to many individuals who have been through the process of trying to find a job,perseverance may be the most important trait that successful job hunters need.

Planning and PreparationIt is generally agreed that competition for the better jobs will get tougher and tougher.The key to landing the job you want is planning and preparation„and planning be-gins with goals. In particular, it is important to determine your personal goals, to decideon the role your career will play in reaching those goals, and then to develop your ca-reer goals. Once you know where you are going, you can devise a reasonable plan forgetting there.

The time to begin planning is as early as possible. You must, of course, satisfy theeducational requirements for the occupational area you wish to enter. Early planningwill give you the opportunity to do so. But those people with whom you will be com-peting for the better jobs also will be fully prepared. Can you do more?


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� � FIGURE A.7

CAREER INFORMATION SOURCES

Career information is available from the library, campus placement offices, professionalsources, and employment agencies.

Library and Internet Campus placementoffices

Listings of available jobsCareer planningpublicationsWorkshops and seminarsJob fairs

¥¥

¥¥

¥¥¥¥

Friends, relatives, andcolleaguesTeachers, employers,and businesspeopleTrade associationsTrade journalsIndustry newslettersBusiness and civic groups

¥

¥

¥¥¥¥

Listings of available jobsCareer counselingCareer developmentsessionsTemporary services

¥¥¥

¥

Professional sourcesand networks

Employment agencies

NewspapersCareer informationGovernment materialsAnnual reports andindustry brochures

EMPLOYMENT

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The answer is yes. Corporate recruiters say that the following factors give job can-didates a definite advantage:

� Work experience. You can get valuable work experience in cooperativework/school programs, during summer vacations, or in part-time jobs during theschool year. Experience in your chosen occupational area carries the mostweight, but even unrelated work experience is important.

� The ability to communicate well. Verbal and written communication skills are in-creasingly important in all aspects of business. Yours will be tested in your lettersto recruiters, in your résumé, and in interviews. You will use these same commu-nication skills throughout your career.

� Clear and realistic job and career goals. Recruiters feel most comfortable with can-didates who know where they are headed and why they are applying for a spe-cific job.

Again, early planning can make all the difference in defining your goals, in sharp-ening your communication skills (through elective courses, if necessary), and in ob-taining solid work experience. See Table A.1 to learn about online career planning re-sources.

Letter and RŽsumŽPreparation is also important when it is time to apply for a position. Your collegeplacement office and various publications available in your library (including such di-rectories as Standard & Poor•s Register of Corporations and the Thomas Register) can helpyou to find firms to apply to for jobs. As already mentioned, help-wanted ads, theInternet, networking, and employment agencies also may provide leads.


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ONLINE CAREER PLANNING

Every day, more and more people are using the Internet for their career planning activi-ties. Obtaining information about employers, picking up helpful rŽsumŽ writing and in-terviewing tips, making contacts, and upgrading employment skills are just a few of theweb-based career tasks growing in popularity. (Visit the text website for updates andadditions to these URLs.)

American Marketing Association www.marketingpower.com

AmericaÕs Job Bank www.ajb.dni.us

CareerBuilder.com www.careerbuilder.com

CareerJournal www.careerjournal.com

CollegeGrad.com http://collegegrad.com

D&BÕs Million Dollar Databases http://mddi.dnb.com

FedWorld www.fedworld.gov/

HooverÕs Online http://premium.hoovers.com

HotJobs http://hotjobs.yahoo.com

job-interview.net http://job-interview.net

JobStar http://jobstar.org

JobWeb www.jobweb.com

Monster www.monster.com

The Riley Guide http://rileyguide.com

Vault http://vault.com

WetFeet http:// wetfeet.com

� � TABLE A.1

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Your first contact with a prospective employer probably will be through themail„in a letter in which you express your interest in working for that firm. This let-ter should be clear and straightforward, and it should follow proper business-letterform (see Figure A.8). It (and any other letters you write to potential employers) willbe considered part of your employment credentials.

This first letter should be addressed to the personnel or human resources manager„by name, if possible. You may include in this letter, very briefly, some information re-garding your qualifications and your reason for writing to that particular firm. If yoursource of information (newspaper advertisement, employment agency, current employeeof the firm, and so on) indicates that this employer is looking for specific job skills, youalso may want to state and describe in the cover letter the skills you possess. You shouldrequest an interview and, if the firm requires it, an employment application.

You should include a copy of your résumé with your first letter (most applicantsdo). In any case, you should already have prepared the résumé, which is a summary of


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� � FIGURE A.8

LETTER OF APPLICATION

A letter of application should give your qualifications and your reasons for applying to a given company.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website: www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/1999/summer/art01.pdf; accessed May 21, 2006.

J ohn R yan15 Spr ing R oad

H amlet, L S 41112555-555-5555

December 5, 2007

Mr. B rian CarsonHiring ManagerR est E asy HotelHamlet, L S 41112

Dear Mr. Carson:

T he management trainee position you advertised in today’ s Hamlet Gazette greatlyinterests me. T he R est E asy Hotels have always served as landmarks for me whenI travel, and I would like to contribute to their continued growth. I have enclosedmy résumé for your review.

In May, I will be graduating from L arge State University with a degree in business.While in school, I developed strong organizational and customer service skills.A s a dormitory assistant, I organized events, led meetings, and assisted students. A s treasurer of the B usiness Society, I maintained the budget and presented budgetreports. My summer jobs also required extensive interaction with the public. Ibelieve these experiences have prepared me for your management trainee position.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications more fully in aninterview. I can be reached at 555-555-5555. T hank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

John R yan

E nclosure

Addresses are omittedfor e-mailed cover letters

Place your phonenumber near the end

Request aninterview

Sell yourself

Sign each letter

Letter is addressed to aspecific individual if possible

State positionapplied for

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all your attention-getting employment achievements and capabilities. Your goal inpreparing both the cover letter and the résumé is to give the potential employer theimpression that you are someone who deserves an interview.

A résumé should highlight and summarize your abilities and work achievements.The résumé should fit on a single sheet of white high-quality bond letter paper. Itshould be carefully thought out„rework it as many times as necessary to get it rightand put your best foot forward. Make your résumé concise, but be sure to note every-thing important. You need not include explanations or details; you will have an op-portunity to discuss your qualifications during the interviews. It should be written tograb a potential employer•s interest. The employer reading your résumé should wantto meet you to find out more. Your résumé needs to show that despite your current jobtitle, you are qualified for the higher-level position you seek.

Remember that you are writing a résumé that will sell you to a potential employer.If necessary, ask former supervisors and colleagues to tell you what happened to proj-ects or work that you produced. Then use action verbs to describe your major contri-butions. Words such as managed, created, developed, and coordinated sound high pow-ered. Passive words or phrases such as was responsible for and performed are notattention-getting. Highlight your work achievements by using percentages, numbers,or dollar amounts. Such concrete details demonstrate just how important your contri-butions were. In some cases personal traits or the ability to •do somethingŽ may bemore important than technical skills. Employers may be looking for someone who hasthe ability to

1. Prepare letters, memos, and other written communications2. Answer the telephone and talk with customers3. Analyze and solve problems related to a specific job4. Work independently and make decisions5. Be flexible and get the job done6. Get along with others and be a team player

These traits may be extremely important to some employers. And a job applicantwho does not have a lot of occupational experience can use these traits to •beef upŽ aslim résumé.

Figures A.9, A.10, and A.11 show a chronological résumé, a functional résumé,and a new database résumé. The chronological résumé presents your education, workexperience, and other information in a reverse-time sequence (the most recent itemfirst). The functional résumé emphasizes your abilities and skills in categories such ascommunication, supervision, project planning, human relations, and research. Thedatabase résumé, also called plain text or e-mail résumé, includes the same basic infor-mation, except that the database résumé is written without columns, bullets, or bold oritalic styles. Regardless of the form used, a résumé should include the following: yourname, address, and telephone number; your work experience and major accomplish-ments on the job; your educational background; and any awards you have won. Avoidall extraneous information (such as weight, age, marital status, and the names and ad-dresses of references) that could be supplied during an interview. Reserve your em-ployment and/or career objectives for mention in the one-page cover letters you sendto potential employers with copies of your résumé.

Job Application FormsOnce you have mailed your cover letter and résumé, the next step generally dependson the employer. Most interested prospective employers will ask that you complete anemployment application form, come in for a job interview, or both. Regardless of whathappens next, you should view both the application form and the interview as oppor-tunities to tell the prospective employer about any special skills and talents that makeyou the type of employee the company is looking for.

The typical job application form asks for the following information:


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� Personal data� Educational background� Military record� Employment history� Criminal record� Character references

Do the best job you can when answering questions in each of these areas. The wayyou complete an application form demonstrates your ability to follow directions andto communicate effectively. The suggestions listed in Table A.2 can help you to avoidsome of the most common mistakes applicants make.

The Job InterviewYour résumé and cover letter are, in essence, an introduction. The deciding factor inthe hiring process is the interview (or several interviews) with representatives of the


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� � FIGURE A.9

SAMPLE CHRONOLOGICAL RƒSUMƒ


A lison C han

Objective

Current Address1016 Campus Drive, room 312College T own, L S 41112453-555-5555Chan@ L S.edu

T o obtain a position in public relations using my communication and promotional skills

Permanent Address1510 Park StreetHamlet, L S 41112454-555-5555Chan@ somewhere.com

Show results

Horizontal lineshelp definedifferent sections

Students often listeducation before experience

Coursework relating tothe position applied for

E ducation

Univer sity of L ar ge StateB achelor of A rts, E nglish, expected 2007Minor: B usinessG.P.A .: 3.5/4.0, E nglish Honors Society

R elated C our sesPublic R elationsMarketingConsumer B ehavior

Pr ogr am C oor dinatorCampus A ctivities Council, L arge State University• Initiated and organized the Campus R un for Charity• Promoted event with fliers, e-mail, newspaper ads, and campus radio station announcements• 1,000 students participated

2005–present

2004–2005

summers, 2003 and 2004

C ampus T our G uideOffice of R ecruiting, L arge State University• L ed weekly tours for prospective students and parents• A nswered questions and addressed concerns• Wrote information sheet explaining campus-housing policy• Selected to train new guides

T he L anguage of A dvertisingWriting for Mass MediaWriting for B usiness

E xper ience

F or eign L anguage Skills

R eferences available on request

A dministr ative A ssistantA B C B usiness, Harristown, L arge State• Drafted correspondence• Used Microsoft Word and E xcel to type and edit reports• Complimented for accuracy and attention to detail

Fluent in Spanish

Most recentjob first

Separate sectionfor special skills

Statementsometimes omitted

Bulletsemphasizeaccomplishments Give approximate

dates ofemployment

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firm. It is through the interview that the firm gets to know you and your qualifications.At the same time, the interview provides a chance for you to learn about the firm.

Here again, preparation is the key to success. Research the firm before your firstinterview. Learn all you can about its products, its subsidiaries, the markets it operatesin, its history, the locations of its facilities, and so on. If possible, obtain and read thefirm•s most recent annual report. Be prepared to ask questions about the firm and theopportunities it offers. Interviewers welcome such questions. They expect you to be in-terested enough to spend some time thinking about your potential relationship withtheir firm.

Prepare also to respond to questions the interviewer may ask. Table A.3 is a list oftypical interviewer questions that job applicants often find difficult to answer.However, do not expect interviewers to stick to the list given in the table or to the itemsappearing in your résumé. They will be interested in anything that helps them to de-cide what kind of person and worker you are.


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SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL RƒSUMƒ


R ober t V elasquez1310 R ock L edge Street

Hamlet, L arge State 41112454-555-5555

OB J E C T I V ER eceptionist position using my customer service, administrative, and communication skills

E DUC A T I ON

L arge State Community CollegeA .A . in L iberal A rts, expected May 2007G.P.A .: 3.6/4.0

W OR K H I ST OR Y

T able server, Good Food R estaurant, Hamlet, L arge State, 2004–2005Cashier, B lue Skies Chain Store, Hamlet, L arge State, 2002–2004

E X PE R I E NC E

C ustomer Ser viceSelected for the express lane while working as cashierDirected customers to product locationsServed restaurant patrons and responded quickly to requestsHandled food substitutions and special requests efficiently

A dministr ationR ecorded meeting notes and maintained membership roster for College Outdoors ClubCalculated restaurant customers’ bills accuratelyT ype 60 words per minute

C ommunicationE xplained menu items to customersR elayed special requests to chefR eceived A ’ s in speech and composition classes

C omputer A pplicationsMicrosoft Word, Windows X P

Hamlet High SchoolDiploma, May 2005G.P.A .: 3.3/4.0

R eferences available on request

Leave adequatemargins on all sides

Objective statementshould address theposition applied for

Bold capital lettersemphasize majorheadings

Identify majorskills requiredfor the position

Brief work historygoes at the end

Include specificachievements

Begin statementswith action verbs

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Make sure that you are on time for your interview and are dressed and groomed ina businesslike manner. Interviewers take note of punctuality and appearance, just asthey do of other personal qualities. Have a copy of your résumé with you, even if youhave already sent one to the firm. You also may want to bring a copy of your coursetranscript and letters of recommendation. If you plan to furnish interviewers with thenames and addresses of references rather than with letters of recommendation, makesure that you have your references• permission to do so.

Consider the interview itself as a two-way conversation rather than as a question-and-answer session. Volunteer any information that is relevant to the interviewer•squestions. If an important point is skipped in the discussion, do not hesitate to bring itup. Be yourself, but emphasize your strengths. Good eye contact and posture are im-portant, too. They should come naturally if you take an active part in the interview.

At the conclusion of the interview, thank the recruiter for taking the time to seeyou. Then, a day or two later, follow up by sending a short letter of thanks (see FigureA.12). In this letter you can ask a question or two that may have occurred to you afterthe interview or add pertinent information that may have been overlooked.

� � FIGURE A.11

SAMPLE PLAIN-TEXT RƒSUMƒ


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TIPS FOR COMPLETING EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION FORMS

1. Do a Òdry runÓ to practice answering the questions on a typical employment application.

2. If it is not possible to take the application home, complete the application in ink.Print clearly. Use one lettering style. Be neat.

3. Follow the directions on the employment application.

4. Read all questions before you begin answering them.

5. Judge the amount of space that you have to answer each question.

6. Fill in every blank even if you must write not applicable (N/A) or none.

7. Use only recognizable abbreviations.

8. Know your work history.

9. Answer all questions honestly.

10. Choose references carefully.

11. Be careful when writing salary requirements. Avoid committing yourself to a specific number, and know the going rate in your field.

12. Read over the completed application, and look for grammatical or spelling errors.Source: Susan D. Greene and Melanie C. L. Martel, The Ultimate Job HunterÕs Guidebook,4th ed. Copyright © 2004by Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 155Ð156. Adapted with permission.

� � TABLE A.2

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS JOB APPLICANTS OFTEN FIND DIFFICULT TO ANSWER

1. Tell me about yourself.

2. What do you know about our organization?

3. What can you do for us? Why should we hire you?

4. What qualifications do you have that make you feel that you will be successful in your field?

5. What have you learned from the jobs that you have held?

6. If you could write your own ticket, what would be your ideal job?

7. What are your special skills, and how did you acquire them?

8. Have you had any special accomplishments in your lifetime that you are particularly proud of?

9. Why did you leave your most recent job?

10. How do you spend your spare time? What are your hobbies?

11. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

12. Discuss five major accomplishments.

13. What kind of boss would you like? Why?

14. If you could spend a day with someone you have known or known of, who would it be?

15. What personality characteristics rub you the wrong way?

16. How do you show your anger? What type of things make you angry?

17. With what type of person do you spend the majority of your time?

18. What activities have you ever quit?

19. Define cooperation.Source: Adapted from Susan D. Greene and Melanie C. L. Martel, The Ultimate Job HunterÕs Guidebook,4th ed.Copyright © 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company, pp. 176Ð177. Used with permission.

� � TABLE A.3

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� � FIGURE A.12

SAMPLE THANK-YOU LETTER

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website: www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/1999/summer/art01.pdf; accessedMay 21, 2006.

Sandr a W illiams15 Spr ing R oad

H amlet, L S 41112555-555-5555

December 26, 2007

Ms. Susan CarsonDirectorHamlet Child Development CenterHamlet, L S 41112

Dear Ms. Carson:

T hank you for the opportunity to interview with you yesterday afternoon. I amvery interested in the child-care position you described.

My child development classes, summer jobs, and recent volunteer work as astorybook reader at the community center have prepared me well for a preschoolteaching position. I am especially interested in the field trip program youmentioned. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to that effort.

I enjoyed meeting you and your staff and look forward to hearing from you soon.I f I can provide any additional information, please call me at 555-555-5555. T hank you again for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Sandra Williams

Spell the interviewer’sname correctly

Sign your firstand last name

Thank the interviewer

Use a standard business format

Place your phonenumber near the end

Ask someone toproofread the letterbefore you send it

Highlight yourqualifications

Expressinterestin the job

In most cases the first interview is used to screen applicants, or to choose those whoare best qualified. These applicants are then given a second interview and perhaps athird„usually with one or more department heads. If the job requires relocation to adifferent area, applicants may be invited there for these later interviews. After the in-terviewing process is complete, applicants are told when to expect a hiring decision.

Accepting an Offer•We•d like to offer you the jobŽ may be the best news a job applicant can hear. To ac-cept the job, you should send the firm a letter in which you express your appreciation,accept the offer, and restate the conditions of employment as you understand them.These conditions should include the starting salary, employee benefits, and a generaldescription of the job (responsibilities, training, the immediate supervisor•s name, and

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such). If you have any concerns regarding the job, make sure that they are cleared upbefore you send your letter of acceptance: The job offer and your acceptance consti-tute a contract between you and the firm.

Less exciting is the news that begins, •We thank you for your interest in our firm,but. . . .Ž The fact is that there are many more applicants for jobs than there are jobs.(This is so because most people apply for several positions at the same time.) As a re-sult, most people are turned down for some jobs during their careers. Do not be dis-couraged if you don•t get the first position you apply for. Instead, think back over theapplication process, analyze it, and try to determine what you might improve. In otherwords, learn from your experience„and keep trying. Success will come if you perse-vere.

A Final Note about CareersA job is for today, but a career can last a lifetime. Although most applicants are excitedwhen they get their first job, the employment process does not stop with your firstjob„it continues throughout your career. Additional training and education, promo-tions and advancement, and even changing jobs or careers are all part of a continuingprocess.

Although different people measure success in different ways, success in a careermeans more than just knowing how to do a job. You must combine technical skills andmanagerial skills with the ability to get along with people. A number of traits that suc-cessful people usually possess are presented in Table A.4. Generally, people who arepromoted know how to make decisions, communicate well, and handle stress. Thesesame people also can manage another valuable asset„their time.

In any career there will be times when you need to re-evaluate your decisions andopportunities. It may be necessary to determine what you can do to get your careerback on track. It may even be necessary to change jobs or careers to obtain a better ormore rewarding position. Although there are no guarantees, workers who can adapt tochange and who are willing to pursue further education and training are more likely tobe successful. The world is changing, and it is your responsibility to make the right de-cisions. Your teachers, friends, and relatives are willing to help you to make decisions,but it is your life and you must take charge. Good luck!

TRAITS THAT SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE USUALLY POSSESS

1. An ability to work well with others in a variety of settings

2. A desire to do tasks better than they have to be done

3. An interest in reading a wide variety and large quantity of material

4. A willingness to cope with conflict and adapt to change

5. An ability to anticipate problems

6. A knowledge of technology and computer software such as word-processing, spreadsheet,and database programs

7. An ability to solve problems creatively

8. A knowledge of research techniques and library resources

9. Well-developed written and oral communication skills

10. An understanding of both their own motivations and the motivations of others

Source: Jack R. Kapoor, Les R. Dlabay, and Robert J. Hughes, Personal Finance, 8th ed., pp. 44Ð45. Copyright © 2007by McGraw-Hill/Irwin, Inc. Reprinted with permission of The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.

� � TABLE A.4

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