Unit 1: Job Hunting Skills

Welcome back to NUE 2121 English and Communication 2! For this post, it will focus on Unit 1 which is Job Hunting Skills. There are many ways to find a job as nowadays we have the Internet where we can easily find the job through a website for examples such as Jobstreet, LinkedIn and many more. In order to find a job, according to Investopedia, we can find a job through:

• Networking
• Referrals
• Job Boards and Career Websites
• Job Fairs
• Company Websites
• Cold Calling
• Recruitment Agencies
• Internships

Cover Letter

The next one will be on how to write a cover letter. A cover letter is a letter that you include with your job application. Usually, you should include a cover letter unless the job advertisement clearly says it is not needed. There are several things you should do according to Youth Central:

1. Introduce yourself
2. Mention the job you're applying for
3. Show that your skills and experience match the skills and experience needed to do the job
4. Encourage the reader to read your resume
5. Finish with a call to action (asking for an interview or a meeting)

Always keep your cover letter short because it is a summary of your resume, don't write more than one page. Other than that, these 3 ways below will make your cover letter as specific as possible.

• Find out who to address it to

Find out the name of the person that will read your application form. It is easy, you just need to call the company and find out people that are in charge of recruitment and don't forget to take their email because you will send it through e-mail. Use Mr/Mrs in the letter as the starter of the letter.

• Find out more about the job

When you try to find the email that you are about to send your application, you can also try to ask questions. By asking questions, it can help you to match your cover letter and also resume to the job.

These are the questions:

1. Does the job require to work in a group?
2. Who should I be reporting to if I got the job
3. Can you tell me more about the kind of person you're looking for?
4. Is there a job description that I can look at? (Only ask if the job advertisement doesn't mention a job description)

Write down the answers to the questions as they can be used in your cover letter.

• Find out more about the company

Other than that, find out more about the company so you can match your cover letter for the job. Below are some tips:

1. If you know the name of the company, look for the information on the Internet.
2. If that company has a website, visit their website and click on 'About Us' or 'Company Profile'
3. If the company name isn't in the advertisement, contact the recruitment agency or advertiser and ask who the employer is.

What to put in your cover letter?

1) Name and contact details

Put your name and contact details at the top of your cover letter. Do include your name. address and also not to forget email and phone number in order for the company to contact you back after the interview. Make sure that your email is professional, it means that you must use your full name (first name and last name) without putting any nonsense name to your email.

2) Their name and contact details

Under your own name and address, you should include:

• the name of the person you're writing to (in case you didn't know the person-in-charge, just put the company's name and their address)
• their position (include this when you already know about the person-in-charge)

However, if you are not sure and having trouble to find the information above, you can always call the company to ask who should you address your applications to.

3) The name of the job you're going to apply

You need to state the position of the job that you are applying for. Write this in one line for example (Applying for Manager in Mechanical Engineering).

4) A list of your relevant skills

Do a short and specific summary of your skills and experiences that match the job description. State out your relevant skills that match with your job that you are about to apply. This will be a great startup for them to identify that you might be selected for the job. In this section, you also can share your technical skills ( list some of your skills but not all of it)

5) Summary why you are suitable/fit for the job?

Explain the reasons why you are suited for the job and if you have an example in working experience, including your working experience would be great in this section.

6) Ask them to contact you

Before finishing your cover letter, you should ask the employer to read your resume. Besides that, ask them to contact you about an interview for the job. For example: "I have attached a copy of my resume. I look forward to hearing from you about this job'.

Writing Resume

According to Christian Eilers, a resume is a record of work experience, professional achievements, educations, skills, certifications and other details that make the case for the job. There is a lot of resume format that you can find on the Internet. Try to find a format that is simple and not too colorful (it actually depends on what kind of job you are looking for). In resume you should have these details which are:

• Contact Information and Personal Details (First name, last name), Phone Number (Personal cell phone), Email Address and  Photo.
• Resume Objective (based on your experience, related skills and qualifications)
• List relevant work experience and key achievements
• List your education background (from latest to oldest)
• Put Relevant skills that suitable to the advertisement (Hard skills - Photoshop, Microsoft Office, Soft skills- self-developed, life-learned attributes, social skills, adaptability)
• Put Additional Information ( Hobbies and interests, volunteer work, certifications and awards, languages, projects)

Before you print out your resume, make sure to double check if there is any typo in the resume.

Job Interview Tips, Questions and Answers

Attending job interviews can be scary and exciting for some people. Each interview is different because it involves different people from different background of education and company. It is better for you to be prepared in advance to reduce the nervousness during the interview session. By doing a little research about the company, it may add bonus points to you during the interview session. Below are 7 tips for an interview that can help you get hired.

1. Practice and Prepare (review all job interview that you can find on the Internet)
2. Develop a connection with the interviewer (jot down the interviewer's name)
3. Do some research about the company (company's background)
4. Be prepared (choose a suitable outfit and style your hair)
5. Be punctual (come early, 30mins before the interview)
6. Stay calm
7. Follow-up after the interview