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A.

Work: Practices and Attitudes


1. Cross-Cultural Implications of the Job Search
Job hunting in the United States is a challenging experiences for
Americans, but it is especially do for people from other countries. A personal
contact, such as a friend or relative, can be of help in informing someone of a
job opening and possibly helping the job applicant obtain an interview.
However, this kind of connection (i.e. friend or family member) does not
usually affect hiring decision. Sometimes, immigrants in the US put too much
hope into what they think are good job connections, and they do not fully
realize how much they will have to rely on themselves to find a job. One
biggest shock some immigrants have upon arriving in the United States is the
discovery that the government, schools, and even job placement centers do not
hand people a job on silver platters.
2. Steps to Finding a Job in US
Job search consists of a minimum of four steps:
a) Preparation: Locating all possible sources for learning about job
availability and the companies or agencies to which one is applying for
work.
b) Networking: Meet people who have similar professional interests and to
widen ones circle of acquaintances for the purpose of learning about job
opportunities. Having the contacts, however, is only the first step, and
does not guarantee getting a job.
c) Resume Development: In US, resume is one of the most important ways
to sell oneself to a prospective employer. Resumes occasionally include
a little information about personal interests and hobbies.
d) The Interview: The best interview is one in which there is two-way
communication between the employer and the job applicant. Often there
is some small-talk at the beginning of the interview. This is very
important, because the applicants answers may indicate how easily the
person can converse.

First impression is very important. Applicants can make good impressions


if they have neatly trimmed hair and beard, clean fingernails, polished shoes,
clean and ironed dress or suit and tie, fresh breath, an absence of body odors,
an absence of strong-smelling perfume, and only a modest amount of
jewelry.
In interviewing, it is important to watch the employers face or nonverbal
cues as to whether enough has been said. There are some common questions
for interviewing a job applicant in United States.
a. Tell me (or us) about yourself.
b. What do you know about this company (organization, etc.)?
c. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
d. In which areas do you need more experience?
e. Why did you leave your last job?
f. What are your interests outside of work?
g. How does your education and work experience relate to this job?
h. What are your career plans?
i. What do you expect to be doing in five years?
3. Employer-Employee Relationships
One of the first things that foreign-born individuals notice in American
companies and organizations is the casual nature of the employer-employee
relationship. Among employees of different status, foreigner often observes a
great deal of informal interaction like chatting and joking.
Subordinates often call their superiors by first name. Many foreign
professionals find it difficult to become accustomed to this practice, and some
add Miss or Mr. to the first name, for example, Mr. Michael for Michael
Blackwood. However, this usage is very unfamiliar to Americans. Similarly,
most American supervisors do not like to be called Sir or Maam.
Some supervisors and managers have an open-door office policy whereby
employees may enter without appointments. The American value of
egalitarianism manifests itself in casual and informal behavior among people
of different status.
4. On-the-Job Communication Skills
Americans employers sometimes confused about the reason of employees
behavior of saying they are understand the command but in fact they are not

understand. If American does not understand and the command is unclear, he


or she will say that he/she does not understand and ask more explanation.
Americans may want to know others opinions or reaction. In meetings, coworkers (or bosses) may ask each other, What do you think of? People
from other cultures, such as Japanese, may tend to hesitate or give an answer
that Americans consider to be indirect or noncommittal. They may use more
silence than Americans and say something like, Its difficult to say, which
means, I do not wish to respond now. Some Japanese people may feel that it
is inappropriate to offer an opinion if a person of a higher person is present. In
contrast, many Americans like to discuss their preliminary reactions and
opinions even before having all the facts.
In American business meetings, people are expected to participate verbally,
or else others may think that they are uninterested in the meeting. If an
employee appears to be passive in meetings, the Americans may feel that the
person is not contributing to the meeting.
5. Time Considerations in the Work World
Promptness and punctuality are major expectations in the American
workplace. People who keep appointments are considered to be dependable,
and those who do not are seen unreliable. Arriving ten minutes late to
scheduled business appointment without having called ahead of time is
considered rude and conveys a lack of organization. This American cultural
concern with every minute contrasts with other culture views about time. For
American, time is money.
The American workday usually begins at 8.00 AM, 8.30 AM, or 9.00 AM,
not 8.10, 8.40, or 9.10. In many countries, employees feel that they can stop
working if the boss is not around. This may happens in US but Americans feel
that they are not using their time well if they are not productive during most of
the day.
People from outside of the US find the pace of life in the American
business world to be hectic and stressful. American time has been
characterized as river flowing quickly away from people. In contrast, in other

parts of the world (e.g. India), time is seen more as pool of water that does not
go anywhere.
6. Workaholic
In American English, the word workaholic describes people who are as
addicted to their works as an alcoholic is to liquor. There are conflicting points
of view about workaholic. From some points of view, they are seen as
valuable members of society because they are extremely productive and
embody the values of achievement and efficiency. Some people are
workaholics in their twenties and thirties, but in mid-life may change their
priorities.
7. The Work Ethic and Materialism
Attitudes toward work in the US were greatly influenced by the work
ethic, which motivated people to work hard become successful. This ethic,
which originated with Puritan colonists from England, was an outcome of
their religious belief that material success was a sign of Gods favor.
Today, the work ethic is the main motivation for work. There is, rather, an
achievement motivation that drives people on productiveness; people who
admired work in the work world are those who can produce something
tangible. This achievement orientation (or the tendency to do and make)
results in part from American materialism, which is an outcome of the work
ethic. The harder one works, the more successful one will be.
8. Reactions to Work
Peoples attitudes toward their jobs are related to the nature of their work
and the reward they receive. In the US, ones job is all important facet of
personal identity. What do you do? is synonymous with What are you? or
Who are you? In American English, asking a child, What do you want to
be when you grow up? really means, What kind of work do you want to
do? Since American society places a stronger emphasis on doing than on
being, work is one of the most important activities in an individuals life. In
addition, what someone does helps to determine that persons prestige.
9. Resumes

There are some specific Dos and Donts to keep in mind when we
write resume to find a job in US:
DO

DONT

Make sure that your resume has been Exaggerate


proofread by someone else.
Have

your

resume

or

lies

about

your

experiences.
printed Underestimate the importance of your

professionally.

experiences.

Write succinctly.

Include information about salary.

Limit your resume to one page, if Use

personal

pronouns

or

possible.

abbreviations.

Make your resume visually attractive.

Explain why you left your previous


job

Use good-quality white, off-white, or Put personal information (e.g. height,


gray paper.

weight, or marital status).

Sample formats for two types of resume: a chronological resume and a skill
resumeappear on appendix.
10. Cover Letter
The cover letter that one submits with a resume can be as important as the
resume itself. Sample of cover letter and its explanation can be found on
appendix.

B. Understanding United States and Canadian Attitudes Toward Work


Work is very important to most Americans and Canadians. A job not only
provides them with a paycheck, but also gives them sense of identity.
American people usually keep busy even when they are not on the job. If
you ask an american What did you do over the weekend? he or she may
answer, oh, nothing. However, this might not mean that he or she truly did
nothing. This person may have done the shopping, worked in the yard, written
some letters, washed the car, gone jogging, called a few friends, and seen a
movie. But the answer, nothing, means nothing special, nothing unusual.
Most americans feel they need to be busy in order to be happy. They do not
like to sit around and do nothing. Even their methods of relaxation
sometimes involve a lot of activity. An american might relax by
participating in a sport, for example.
Work is a high priority for most Americans and Canadians; that is, it is
something that they believe need to come first, before almost anything else.
They might not enjoy it, but they do believe that work comes before play, or
bussiness comes before pleasure. American students usually have this
attitude toward school, too.
An American does not expect a friend to make a change in his or her work
schedule to get together for a visit-either planned or accidental. Friends plan
times to see each other when neither one is working. It is impolite for people
to expect a friend to be late for work or class-or to miss a day of work-in order
ro spend time togenter. This is, perhaps, especially true in the business world,
where it is essential for people to show that they are responsible.

John Donaldson
8 Sue Circle
Smithtown, CA 08067
909-555-5555
john.donaldson@emailexample.com
Date
George Gilhooley
XYZ Company
87 Delaware Road
Hatfield, CA 08065
Dear Mr. Gilhooley,
I am writing to apply for the programmer position advertised in the Times Union. As
requested, I am enclosing a completed job application, my certification, my resume, and three
references.
The opportunity presented in this listing is very interesting, and I believe that my strong
technical experience and education will make me a very competitive candidate for this
position. The key strengths that I possess for success in this position include:

I have successfully designed, developed, and supported live use applications


I strive for continued excellence

I provide exceptional contributions to customer service for all customers

With a BS degree in Computer Programming, I have a full understanding of the full lifecycle
of a software development project. I also have experience in learning and excelling at new
technologies as needed.
Please see my resume for additional information on my experience.
I can be reached anytime via email at john.donaldson@emailexample.com or my cell phone,
909-555-5555.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to speaking with you about this
employment opportunity.
Sincerely,

The example of Chronological Resume


Gomez Addams
1313 Mockingbird Lane
Mantua, NJ 08028
856-856-9876
adda9973@rowan.edu

OBJECTIVE
An entry-level position in public relations or marketing.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations
Concentration: Leadership Studies

May 201x

Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ


GPA 3.6, Deans List, Cum Laude honors anticipated
COMPUTER SKILLS
PageMaker

PowerPoint

WordPerfect

Microsoft Photo Editor

Microsoft Publisher

Excel

Harvard Graphics

Access

Microsoft Word

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
13th Congressional District Intern

Spring 201x

Congressman Charles Sheen, Washington, DC

Responsibilities included researching legislation, drafting recommendations and


briefs.
Responded to constituent correspondence and inquiries, as well as aiding in office
administration.

Correspondent
Rolling Stone Magazine, Pitman, NJ

Fall 200x

Covered local music and political events under commission for monthly
publication.
Maintained valuable media contacts.

Marketing Intern

Spring 200x

Glassboro Convention Center, Glassboro, NJ

Developed and implemented marketing program for the convention center.


Coordinated on-site conference registration.
Assisted presenters during multimedia presentations.
Prepared and disseminated over 6,000 registration packets.
ACTIVITIES

Vice President, Public Relations Society, Rowan University Chapter


Secretary, American Marketing Association, Rowan University Student Chapter
Volunteer, Glassboro Soup Kitchen
REFERENCES
Available upon request.

The example of Functional Resume


Abigail B. Gettingajob

225 Salary Survey Lane


Medford, NJ 08092
609-779-0987
Gett9485@rowan.edu

OBJECTIVE:

To obtain an entry-level business management position.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration


Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Specialization: Management
GPA: 3.5, Deans List, Cum Laude

COURSE

Organizational Behavior, Integrated Software for Business,


Management

HIGHLIGHTS:

Information Systems, Operations Management, Management


of Human Resources, Legal Environment of Business,
Organizational Behavior

May 201x

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Management/Supervision
Exercised total supervisory responsibility for specialty retail merchandiser.
Maintained time sheets.
Managed and coordinated special promotions.
Implemented employee disciplinary and termination procedures.
Maintained loss prevention reports.
Supervised merchandise displays.

Human Resources Administration


Coordinated trip reduction survey results.
Conducted staffing interviews.

Managed accident reports.


Assisted in devising personnel policies.
Assisted in the implementation of employee orientation.
Contributing reporter for company newsletter.
Maintained employee benefits database.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Management Intern

Tyco Toys, Marlton, NJ

201x - Present

Assistant Manager

The GAP, Marlton, NJ

200x 201x

COMPUTER

Microsoft Office, Internet, Excel, DOS.

SKILLS:

PROFESSIONAL

Society of Human Resource Management, Rowan


University Student

ASSOCIATIONS:

Chapter, Vice President; Career Fair Chairperson; TriState Human Resource Management Association,
Member.

ACTIVITIES:

Pi Sigma Alpha, Secretary;


American Red Cross, Volunteer.

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