Preparing for job search

Searching for Your Career

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 The Importance of Knowing
Yourself
• “What kind of job will I enjoy?”
• Identify your general likes and
dislikes.
• Assemble your accomplishments.
• List your interpersonal skills.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 The Importance of Knowing
Yourself
• “What kind of job will I
enjoy?”
• List your technical skills.
• Rate your job values.
• Match your attributes with
functional roles.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 Consider an Internship
• Provides real-world
experience.
• Allows you to try out your
skills, abilities, and knowledge.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Knowing Your Career Possibilities

• Learn about specific

companies.
• Network and do
informational interviews.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 Reasons for Not Hiring an
Applicant
• Poor work environment.
• Inadequate reading and writing skills.
• No work experience.
• Deficient calculation and verbal skills.
• Positive drug test.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 Seeking a Job

• Be positive and focused.

• Put your goals in writing.
• Get organized.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 Informational Interviewing
• Do your homework.
• Make an appointment.
• Prepare a list of pertinent questions.
• Arrive early and dress professionally.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Informational Interviewing (con't.)
• Show your appreciation upfront.
• Ask follow-up questions.
• Send a thank-you letter immediately.
• Keep a record of your meeting.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 Developing Your Job Search Plan

• Statement of Your Career Objective

• Statement of the Value You Will Bring
• Statement of Your Target Industry

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 Developing Your Job Search Plan

• Specific plan stating how you will

communicate with the target companies.
• A measurement system that gauges your
productivity.
• Plan for interviewing and soliciting job offers.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
Characteristics of a Career Search
Site
• Be user friendly.
• Be updated regularly.
• Contain a large database of positions.
• Sort job leads by geographical location.
• Allow job seeker to update and change
personal information within a specified
time.
Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.
 What Employers Demand
• Think critically.
• Solve problems.
• Communicate effectively in writing and
speaking.
• Work well in teams.
• Interact well with all kinds of people.

Roebuck: Improving Business Communication, 4th edition. (c) 2006, Pearson Education, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458. All Rights Reserved.