The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation
Business Communication – I
MBA Evening 2013
Teacher - Sir Adeel Siraj
Group Presentation by Tahseen Hussain and Tehsin Shah
CAMS College of Business & Information Technology
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation
The written job application process consists of the following two phases;
Phase 1 : Pre job application
Step 1 - Self Assessment
Step 2 - Market Assessment
Step 3 - Preparing a Resume
Step 4 - Drafting a job application letter/cover letter to a resumé.
Phase 2 : Post job application
Step 5 - Getting oneself prepared for an interview
Step 6 - Chronology of the interview
Step 7 - Positive and negative behavior (The DOs and DONTs)
Step 8 - Interview follow-ups
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 1
Step 1 : Self Assessment - Identify your skills, interests and personal values
It is important to know which direction fits you before you look for a job.
After you've assessed yourself , you will be able to ;
make better career decisions.
present yourself better to employers.
show employers how your interests, skills, and personal values fit the job you
are applying for.
save time and money in your job search.
perform better at a job that interests you.
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 1
Step 1 : Self Assessment – Keep a record of your accomplishments
No matter how young or old you are, you have already accomplished something.
It is essential to exhibit a list of your accomplishments on your resume.
What may be unimportant to you might prove to be significant to the recruiter.
An ideal way of showcasing your accomplishments on your resume is through
the PEP approach i.e. Profitability, Efficiency, and Productivity.
How did you contribute to profitability, such as through sales increase.
How did you contribute to efficiency, such as through cost reduction.
How did you contribute to productivity, such as through successfully motivating
your team.
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 1
Step 2 : Market Assessment
Market assessment is a combination of job search through various job portals,
maintaining a strong network with people already attached to the commercial
industry and an exhaustive comparative analysis between the selected
organizations. This may be achieved as under
Browsing through written sources of career and job information such as
newspapers, magazines, libraries, internet, etc.
Developing and maintaining a network with people who are already part of the
industry. Linked In is one ideal way of growing your network and successfully
landing a job.
A comparative analysis between the selected companies in terms of
company’s reputation, career growth, job security, remuneration, perks, etc.
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 1
Step 3 – Preparing a Resume – The Shotgun approach
Being able to prepare a good resume increases your chances of landing a job as
this is the first step which allows you to better sell your product – yourself.
Composition of this document varies from person to person. However, a standard
format, accepted by organizations and keeping the recruiter engaged, is
as under
Name, address and contact details
Objective (A general or job specific career goal)
Professional experience (in chronological order starting with the latest)
Academic qualification (in chronological order starting with the latest)
Achievements and Awards (educational and job related achievements
Personal Data (Optional)
Skills/Strengths
References
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 1
Step 4 – Drafting a Cover Letter to Resume – The Rifle approach
Also called the cold contact letter or job application letter, the resume cover letter
has one purpose : to attract the interest of the prospective employer /recruiter to
give you a job interview. A cover letter should be a one page composition made
up of three paragraphs, briefed as under
Opening Para – Stating the complete reference of the job advertisement
Middle Paragraph – should contain the following order
•Introduction
• Latest qualification and institution attended
• Current employment and organization
• Main job responsibility
• Achievement and skills
• Contribution
Last Paragraph – An assertive request for an interview call with positive closing
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 2
Step 5 – Interview Preparation
You have received an interview call from the employer who is quite impressed with
your credentials in your cover letter and resume. Now is the time to get yourself well
prepared for the physical appearance and the real test – the interview.
Know yourself
Be conversant with your resume
Know some major facts and figures about the company
Know the position and job description you have applied for
Think up of possible questions and answers during the interview
Well groomed non verbal appearance and non-hesitant oral delivery
Must be familiar with meeting place to arrive well before the allocated interview
time and get yourself composed.
Know some basic salary ranges.
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 2
Step 6 - Chronology of the Interview
Introduction (2-5 Minutes)
Interviewer seeks to put you at ease through introduction, casual talk
and personal information on the resume
Company Information (5-10 Minutes)
You must demonstrate a high degree of interest in the position
applied for. If rehearsed well, the facts, figures about the company
and job description will come in handy.
Candidate Assessment (10-20 Minutes)
The interviewer assesses your qualification, strengths and
weaknesses followed by a question and answer session
Conclusion (1-2 Minutes)
Interviewer suggests ending the interview and indicates when the
result will be forthcoming.
You reaffirm your interest in the company, position and express
appreciation for the interview.
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 2
Step 7 - The DOs and DONTs during an interview
Positive Behavior
Show enthusiasm, vitality, interest
Be honest
Listen attentively, concentrate
Keep answers brief
Show your interest in the company
Show analytical skills
Negative Behavior
Discourtesy
Avoid using Jargon (technical terms/abbreviations/informal language)
Overaggressive / cynical attitude
Avoid unfavorable comments about your previous company and people
Avoid disregard for optimism
The Job Application Process
The Written Job Presentation – Phase 2
Step 8 – Interview Follow-ups
The recruiter/employer probably has interviewed several candidates
including
you. The key is to keep yourself out of sight but NOT out of mind.
Regardless of how the interview went, it is courteous and in your interest to
write
the interviewer a note of thanks via post or email. The note may be
composed in
the following manner
First Para – Express appreciation for having been granted the interview.
Second Para – State any vital points that you missed out during the
interview.
