job apps – Technical Writing

Working on Your Job Apps

Tue, 13 Oct 2015 04:03:36 +0000

This is the post for the week of October 13, 2015.

Readings for the week of October 13

I’ve gathered some resources that will help you with whatever you proposed. Read the information that pertains to what you have proposed.

Tips for Job-App Materials slide presentation (applies to nearly everyone)
Common resume mistakes (applies to nearly everyone, not just resumes)
For LinkedIn:
For a resume:
- Resume Objectives (from VT Career Services)
- Resumes and vitae guide (from VT Career Services)
- Resumes 101: Swap a Stale Objective for a Fresh Branding Statement
- Resume Tips (from VT HR)
- Avoid the Top 10 Resume Mistakes
If you are writing both a resume and a LinkedIn profile:

Work for the week of October 13

Since it’s break this weekend, I’m keeping the work light. Enjoy your long weekend!

Continue working on Project 3. Assume your proposal will be accepted.
Watch for a reply to your proposal by the end of the week. Be sure to check the comments. If you need to make any adjustments to your plans, I will tell you about it there.
Be ready to post a draft version of Project 3 for peer review by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, 10/20. If you do not submit your draft on time, you will not receive feedback. Peer review feedback is due by 11:59 PM on Thursday, 10/22. The final version of your project is due by 11:59 PM on Monday, 11/26.
If you have any questions about the assignments, post them in the Questions about Projects 3 Discussion in Canvas.

Last updated on Monday, October 12, 2015

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Project 3 Examples

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 04:03:55 +0000

Your work for Project 3 is described as “job application materials.” In reality, you do not have to create materials for applying for a job. You have many other options. Here are some of the options that students have done in the past for this assignment:

a job posting and the résumé and cover letter you would use to apply for the job
an internship announcement and the materials you would use to apply for the internship
a scholarship announcement and the materials you would use to apply for that scholarship
a before image (PDF) of your LinkedIn profile and a link to your revised LinkedIn profile
before images of several online profiles (e.g., Facebook, Twitter) and then links to your newly cleaned up profiles
the link to a website you have built as a portfolio, which provides info about yourself and your accomplishments
the link to your GitHub repository with descriptions and well-documented code for projects you have done
the link to your Academia.edu profile, which provides info on your education and projects you have done
the link to a YouTube video that gives a guided tour of some work that you have done or presentations you have given

Do whatever makes sense for your field and career goals. You can combine and rearrange things as well. For example, I had some students in the past who cleaned up their existing online profiles and then created a LinkedIn profile to build a professional online persona.

This project is your chance to work on documents that you can use now and in the future. I’ve had students, for instance, who told me that their in-major advisors or advisors at Career Services kept telling them they needed to set up profiles on LinkedIn, but they never had time. They used this project to get that work done.

Last updated on Monday, September 28, 2015

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Project 3 Evaluation Section

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 04:03:33 +0000

The evaluation section of Project 3 may feel a little challenging. You are used to teachers telling you what you have to do for a grade, and I’m asking you to do the opposite. You are setting goals for each level of work that you might complete in Project 3. I will review your proposal and let you know if it needs to be adjusted.

What Goes in Your Evaluation Section
Your proposal should outline the evaluation techniques (see p. 289 of Markel) for your project, giving me three levels:

Average Work ( a C project)
Above-Average Work (a B project)
Excellent Work (an A project)

Example 1

If I were going to work on my LinkedIn profile for Project 3, I might outline these expectations in the evaluation section of my proposal:

Average Work (a C project): clean up my Facebook and Twitter profiles and set up a LinkedIn profile with basic information.
Above-Average Work (a B project): complete the C project and fill out the LinkedIn profile completely.
Excellent work (an A project): complete the B project and add an attention-grabbing summary section to the LinkedIn profile as well as arrange the information on the profile so the most important information is in the first screen or two on the page.

Example 2

If I were going to work on my an online presence and portfolio as a communications major for Project 3, I might explain something like this:

Average work (a C project): create a short video portfolio that employers can use to view my on-camera anchor talent.
Above-average work (a B project): complete the C project and create a website on which to host the video. Use design elements to organize the website.
Excellent work (an A project): complete the B project and add a resume to the website. Update the resume so that it is current and accurate.

Last updated on Monday, September 28, 2015

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Project 3: Job Application Resources

Mon, 28 Sep 2015 04:03:14 +0000

Use your free access to Lynda.com videos to find additional resources that can help as you decide what to propose. If you were interested in doing something that the textbook doesn’t cover, these videos may be just what you’re looking for. Here are some examples that could be useful, depending upon your career goals:

Last updated on Monday, September 28, 2015

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