Technical Communication A Reader-Centred Approach First Canadian Edition

1
Technical CommunicationA Reader-Centred
ApproachFirst Canadian Edition

• Paul V. Anderson
• Kerry Surman

www.techcomm.nelson.com
2
Obtaining a Job

• Chapter 11

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Learning Objectives

• Apply the reader-centred approach to work-related
  communications
• Write effective résumés and job application
  letters
• Apply special considerations to online
  applications
• Apply ethical considerations to job application
  materials

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Central Principles of the Reader-Centred Approach

• Think constantly about your readers
• As you make each writing decision, consider your
  readers characteristics, situation, and goals
• Concentrate on crafting a usable and persuasive
  communication
• Focus on how your readers will respond moment by
  moment

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Writing Your Résumé

• Defining objectives for your résumé
• Planning your résumé
• Drafting your résumé's text, graphics, and visual
  design
• Evaluating your draft
• Revising your draft

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Defining Your Résumés Objectives

• Identify your employers
• Determine your résumé's persuasive objectives
• Try to learn exactly what the employer wants
• Understand your résumé's usability objectives
• Deal with the complexity of objectives

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What Employers Seek in New Employees

• Technical expertise
• Essential employability skills
• Favourable personal attributes

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Planning Your Résumé

• Two conventional structures
• Chronological
• See Figure 11.1, page 270
• Functional
• See Figure 11.2, page 272
• Length depends on qualifications

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Drafting Your Résumé

• General strategies
• Sections
• Drafting the text of a chronological résumé
• Drafting the text of a functional résumé
• Designing your résumé's appearance

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General Strategies for Drafting Résumés

• Take an employers perspective
• Think creatively about your qualifications
• Be specific
• Write succinctly
• Eliminate irrelevant information

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Drafting the Text of a Chronological Résumé

• Name and contact information
• Professional objective
• Work experience
• Activities
• Special abilities
• Interests
• References

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Special Educational Qualifications to Highlight

• Advanced courses related to the job
• Courses that broaden your range of abilities
• Co-op placements
• Special projects
• Academic honours or scholarships
• International experience
• On-the-job training or courses

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Facts to Highlight About Your Work Experience

• Your accomplishments
• Knowledge gained
• Responsibilities given

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Organizing and Describing Your Work Experience

• List the jobs in chronological order
• Put your action in verbs
• Use strong verbs
• Use parallel construction

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Drafting the Text of a Functional Résumé

• Same aims as a chronological résumé
• Difference in organization
• Consolidate the presentation of accomplishments
  in a special section at the beginning
• Use subheadings within this section to organize
  the information in skills and accomplishments

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Designing Your Résumé's Appearance

• Short, informative headings and heading levels
• Lists and bullets
• Typefaces bolding, italics
• White space and ample margins
• Visual balance

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Evaluating the Draft of Your Résumé

• Ask someone else to review your résumé
• Have them read from the readers perspective
• Have them check features for contribution to
  usability and persuasiveness
• Proofread carefully yourself
• Check for spelling, grammar, consistency

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Revising Your Résumé

• Be guided by your knowledge of your readers
• Tailor your résumé to specific employers

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Electronic Résumés Special Considerations

• Scannable résumés
• Résumés submitted via the Internet
• Webpage résumés

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Scannable Résumés

• Design a scannable résumé that differs from a
  paper résumé
• Include keywords
• Increase the number of hits your résumé receives

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Résumés Submitted Via the Internet

• You may need to submit your résumé
• As an email attachment
• By completing an online form
• Draft your text first in word processing
  software, then paste in the appropriate format

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Webpage Résumés

• Link to samples of online work and more complete
  descriptions
• Keep your design simple and uncluttered
• Include a link to your email address
• Post only at secure services

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Writing Your Job Application Letter

• Defining your letters objectives
• Planning your letter
• Drafting your letter
• Evaluating your letter
• Revising your letter

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Defining Your Letters Objectives

• Usability objectives include answers to these
  questions
• Why do you want to work for me instead of someone
  else?
• How will you contribute to my organizations
  success?
• Will you work well with my other employees and
  the people with whom we do business?

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Defining Your Letters Objectives (continued)

• Persuasive objectives are
• To respond to the employers questions in ways
  that make the employer want to hire you
• To convey a favourable sense of attributes that
  employers value but cant be communicated easily
  in your résumé

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Planning Your Letter

• Look for information about things the
  organization is proud of to make your letter
  reader-centred
• Learn about employers
• Ask a knowledgeable person
• Contact the company
• Search the Web
• Check resources on campus

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Drafting Your Letter

• Introduction
• Indicate the job you want and why
• Qualifications
• Explain how your knowledge and experience prepare
  you to contribute
• Conclusion
• Look ahead to the next step

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Evaluating Your Letter

• Review the personality you project
• Review your tone
• See Figure 11.3, page 285

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Revising Your Letter

• You may encounter the same difficulties you
  encounter when revising your résumé
• Use your creativity and good judgment
• Think constantly about your readers

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Ethical Issues in the Job Search

• You are permitted to present facts about yourself
  in a selective way
• You are also expected to present the favourable
  information about yourself in impressive language
• You are not permitted to list credentials you
  dont have or jobs you havent held

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Writing For Employment in Other Countries

• Information on and format of résumés may differ
• Letters may or may not be required
• A list of references, or a letter of reference,
  may be included in the initial application

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In Summary

• Apply the reader-centred approach to job
  application materials
• Tailor your online applications
• Ensure that your job application materials are
  ethically aligned