Quick
 
Learning Guide Chapter 13
Business Communication Essentials, 6th Edition Building Careers and
Writing Résumés
 

SUMMARY
  OF LEARNING OBJECTIVES KEY TERMS

1 List eight key steps to finding the ideal opportunity in today’s job market. The
eight steps discussed in the chapter are (1) writing the story of you, which involves
chronological résumé The most common
résumé format; it emphasizes work
describing where you have been in your career so far and where you would like to go experience, with past jobs shown in
in the future; (2) learning to think like an employer so you can present yourself as a reverse chronological order
quality hire; (3) researching industries and companies of interest to identify
combination résumé Format that
promising opportunities and to learn the language of the hiring managers; (4)
includes the best features of the
translating your general potential into a specific solution for each employer so that
chronological and functional approaches
you look like a good fit for each opening; (5) taking the initiative to approach
interesting companies even if they haven’t yet posted any job openings; (6) building functional résumé Format that
your network so you and your connections can help each other in the job search emphasizes your skills and capabilities
process; (7) seeking career counseling if appropriate; and (8) avoiding the easily while identifying employers and academic
avoidable mistakes that can ruin your chances of getting a job. experience in subordinate sections; many
recruiters view this format with suspicion
2 Explain the process of planning your résumé, including how to choose the best
résumé organization. Planning a résumé starts with recognizing what it is: a networking The process of making
persuasive message designed to get you job interviews. Gathering the necessary informal connections with mutually
information involves learning about target industries, professions, companies, and beneficial business contacts
specific positions, as well as gathering information about yourself. Choosing the best
résumé organization depends on your background and your goals. A chronological
résumé helps employers easily locate necessary information, highlights your
professional growth and career progress, and emphasizes continuity and stability. If
you can use the chronological format, you should because it is the approach
employers tend to prefer. A functional résumé helps employers easily see what you Action Verbs to Strengthen
can do for them, allows you to emphasize earlier job experience, and lets you Your Résumé
downplay any lengthy periods of unemployment or a lack of career progress. accomplished maintained
However, many employers are suspicious of functional résumés for this very reason. achieved managed
The combination approach uses the best features of the other two and is often the administered motivated
best choice for recent graduates. approved operated
arranged organized

3 Describe the tasks involved in writing your résumé, and list the sections to
consider including in your résumé. Adapting to the audience is crucial, because
assisted
assumed
oversaw
participated
readers are looking to see how well you understand their businesses and can present budgeted performed
a solution to their talent needs. The major sections of a traditional résumé are (1) chaired planned
changed presented
your name and contact information; (2) an introductory statement, which can be a
compiled proposed
career objective, a qualifications summary, or a career summary; (3) your education; completed raised
(4) your work experience; and (5) activities and achievements that are professionally coordinated recommended
relevant. Most résumés do not need to include any personal data. created reduced
demonstrated reorganized
4 Characterize the completing step for résumés, including the six most common
formats in which you can produce a résumé. Quality is paramount with résumés,
developed
directed
resolved
saved
so the tasks of revising and proofing are particularly important. The six common established served
résumé formats are traditional printed résumé, scannable résumé, electronic plain- explored set up
text file, Microsoft Word file, PDF, and online résumé (which might be called a forecasted simplified
generated sparked
personal webpage, an e-portfolio, or a social media résumé).
identified streamlined

      implemented strengthened
improved succeeded
initiated supervised
installed systematized
introduced targeted
investigated trained
joined transformed
launched upgraded

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  CHAPTER OUTLINE
Finding the Ideal Opportunity in Today’s
Job Market
Writing the Story of You
Learning to Think Like an Employer
Researching Industries and Companies
of Interest
Translating Your General Potential into a
Specific Solution for Each Employer
Taking the Initiative to Find Opportunities
Building Your Network
Seeking Career Counseling
Avoiding Mistakes
Planning Your Résumé
Analyzing Your Purpose and Audience
Gathering Pertinent Information
Selecting the Best Medium
Organizing Your Résumé Around Your
Strengths
Addressing Areas of Concern
Writing Your Résumé
Keeping Your Résumé Honest
Adapting Your Résumé to Your Audience
Composing Your Résumé
Completing Your Résumé
Revising Your Résumé
Producing Your Résumé
Proofreading Your Résumé
Distributing Your Résumé

Writing an Effective Résumé

A. Plan your résumé.
 Analyze your purpose and audience
carefully to make sure your message meets
employers’ needs.
 Gather pertinent information about your
target companies.
 Select the best medium by researching the
preferences of each employer.
 Organize your résumé around your
strengths, choosing the chronological,
functional, or combination structure. (Be
careful about using the functional structure.)
B. Write your résumé.
 Keep your résumé honest.
 Adapt your résumé to your audience to
highlight the qualifications each employer is
looking for.
Figure 13.2 (page 360)   Use powerful language to convey your
Three‐Step Writing Process for Résumés 
name and contact information, career
Following the three‐step writing process will help you create a successful résumé in a short time. Remember to pay 
particular attention to the “you” attitude and presentation quality; your résumé will probably get tossed aside if it  objective or summary of qualifications,
doesn’t speak to audience needs or if it contains mistakes.  education, work experience, skills, work or
school accomplishments, and personal
activities and achievements.
C. Complete your résumé.
 Revise your résumé until it is clear, concise,
and compelling.
 Produce your résumé in all the formats you
might need: traditional printed résumé,
scannable, plaintext file, Microsoft Word file,
HTML format, or PDF.
 Proofread your résumé to make sure it is
absolutely perfect.
 Distribute your résumé using the means that
each employer prefers.