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UNIT 1
EMPLOYMENT
SECTION A : HOW TO WRITE A CURRICULUM VITAE
A CV TUTORIAL

One of the most important things a CV has to contain is your qualifications. In general it is better not to translate these, as an exact equivalent rarely exists. On the other hand it is often helpful if you can briefly describe your qualifications or give a rough translation of them in brackets afterwards.
EQUIVALENTS OF SOME QUALIFICATIONS: 1. LICENTA IN ARTE/STIINTE = BA (Bachelor of Arts)/ BSc (Bachelor of Science)/ BBA ( Bachelor of Business Administration) 2. BACALAUREAT = A- level 3. DIPLOMA DE ABSOLVIRE A UNUI COLEGIU (2ani) = 2-years University Diploma 4. DIPLOMA DE STUDII APROFUNDATE = MA LICENTA IN CONDUCEREA INTREPRINDERII = MBA

A CV should begin by saying the name of the person typed prominently. There should be a brief section on personal details: address, telephone number, nationality and civil status. When you are applying for a position with a company in another country, or for a job that requires travel or the use of one or more foreign languages, you should add your proficiency ( proficient = expert ) in those languages:
-

FLUENT if you speak a language well CONVERSATIONAL if your level is intermediate

If you have any nationally or internationally recognized examination demonstrating your proficiency; it is a good idea to mention that here too ( Ex: for English the Cambridge First Certificate or the London Chamber of Commerce level 2 or 3 etc.). This should be followed by a section on qualifications and training, beginning with the most recent and moving back, so that one can see what you have been up to since your initial training. It is also important to state where and when you got a qualification. The next section is the one on work history ( experience). Again this should be in order of the most recent first, so that one can see what you are doing at present and have been doing recently. For those who are applying for their first job, it is useful to mention any periods of occupational training you may have undertaken in a company or companies, or any relevant summer jobs you may have had. In this section, state briefly, in almost note form, your main responsibilities and successes. Finally ( in Britain ) something about the candidates life outside work, so a short final section on your outside interests is always helpful. For those who are applying for a first job this can be a crucial section.

Example:

CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL DETAILES :
NAME : ADDRESS: JESSICA MARTIN1 10 Holiday Street - Dublin Worcestershire WO4 2LZ TELEPHONE: DATE OF BIRTH: NATIONALITY : LANGUAGE : COMPUTER LITERACY: EDUCATION : 1982 1989 O levels: (0256) 456 798 15 March 19712 British Fluent English, Conversational German3 Word perfect, Lotus 1-2-3 Dublin Community High School, Dublin English Language Mathematics History, English Literature, Biology, French , Chemistry, 4 Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology University of London BSc(Hons) in Biological Sciences 2 (ii) LONDON CHEMICAL SERVICES Assistant Irish Pub, Dublin - waitress OPEN TENNIS TOURNAMENT, London Waitress Entertainments Officer > Accountable for a budget of L 10,000 > Required to prepare accounts/reports5 Greenpeace volunteer Aerobics, cinema, reading Available on request

A levels: 1989 1992 DEGREE: WORK HISTORY: July 1992 Oct. 1993 Summer 1991: Summer 1990: COLLEGE POSITION:

Summer 1989: INTERESTS : REFERENCES:

1 2

Bold used selectively. Your name is obviously important, so you must make sure it stands out. You dont have to mention your age too. If you have mentioned your date of birth, your age will be obvious to the recipient. 3 Conversational and fluent are the only words to use about languages. 4 Education and qualification listed together. Keep strictly chronological. 5 Position expansion on achievement. Its vital to highlight student activities.

SECTION B: HOW TO WRITE A LETTER OF APPLICATION

TASK SHEET 1 - Details needed for a letter of application.
These are things a would-be employer expects to find out about an applicant for a certain position within their company. How quickly can you put together the headings and the question which explain them? Work in pairs. Would you add any other headings and questions?

Present position Qualifications/Education Work history ( experience )

What work experience do you have? Do you speak any foreign languages? Where did you work before? Have you got any other skills apart from the basic requirements for the job? What do you do at present? Have you worked in this field before?

Interests Additional skills

Have you got a job or have you completed your studies? Have you got any hobbies or preferred ways of spending your free time? What qualifications do you have? Have you got a post graduate degree?

COVER LETTER TUTORIAL

General Tips Emphasize the 2 or 3 strongest reasons why you are the best candidate. Do not restate your resume. Draw parallels with previous work experience. Demonstrate interest or knowledge about the firm or industry. Paragraph Construction Never begin a paragraph with I. Use proper English and avoid slang or abbreviations. Use the active voice whenever possible. Before you begin writing Answer the question Why should I hire you? Respond to the need of the company and the person who is hiring for the position. Answer the following questions: - How do I get my message across? - What do I want to communicate to the reader? Be honest and factual. Writing the Cover Letter Include name, address, and phone number. Work number, fax or e-mail are optional.

Example:
Chris Smith 178 Green Street New York, NY 09998 Date The date should appear two lines below and to the right of your header. Do not abbreviate the date.

Example: March 4, 1995 The Addressee Confirm the spelling of the persons name and company to whom you are addressing the letter. List addressee two lines beneath the date on the left-hand side of the letter. Be sure to include full name starting with Ms. or Mr. Then write in the persons title, company name and address.

Example: Ms. Joan Jones Vice-President of Marketing Norville Software, Inc. 335 Winding Block Road Suite 500 New York, NY 09998 Salutation Should be typed two lines beneath the companys address. Use a colon instead of a comma at the end of the salutation. Always use Dear Mr. or Dear Ms. unless the individual is a friend or relative.

Example: Dear Ms. Jones: First Paragraph State your interest and purpose for writing to the company. State why you feel you are the best candidate for the position. Reference the name of the publication if you are responding to a classified ad. Example: Seeking a new challenge, I was pleased to notice your advertisement for a Senior Product Manager in the May 17 th New York Times. Over the last four years, I have consistently delivered new and innovative products to market. Second Paragraph Use accomplishment statements and link them to the employers needs. Detail how you can contribute to this company. Demonstrate your qualifications. Use terms that the employer uses in the advertisement or that are industry specific.

Example:
As a product manager for Allied Software, I managed three product launches within 12 months. This included organizing and implementing a direct mail campaign, a product tour, and trade show presentations before industry analysts. As a result of these marketing efforts, revenues exceeded goals by 35%. Third Paragraph Focus on the company. Show your interests in their products or services. Display enthusiasm for the industry.

Example: Your company recently announced plans to move into networking software linking desktop personal computers to mainframe computers. With my success in bringing this type of software to market, I am confident that I can help Norville become a market leader in this fast growing (about 65% annually) market. Final Paragraph Go for the close by stating your intent to call for an appointment. You may take the initiative and state when you will follow up this letter with a phone call. If you are responding to an advertisement which asks for salary requirements, give a range instead of a specific number. Closing A number of closing salutations are possible at the end of a letter, but they are used in different situations:

Yours faithfully is used when the name of the person you are addressing is unknown ( So your letter probably began : Dear Sir/ Sirs / Madam or Gentlemen) Yours sincerely (or Sincerely [yours] in mainly US usage) is used when you do know the name of the person to whom you are witting, but you wish to remain on fairly formal terms ( so your letter probably began: Dear Mr. Jones / Mr. Wilson). Yours truly is used principally in the US, as an alternative to Yours sincerely. Best / Kind Regards borrowed from telexes, is becoming more frequent in friendly business. Cordially or Best Wishes are used when you know the name of the person to whom you are writing, and probably the person, too, as it indicates a less formal, more friendly relationship ( so your letter probably began : Dear George / Jenny) Four lines underneath the salutation, type out your full name. Sign your name in black ink . Be sure to type Enc: resume as your enclosure line. Editing Tips When printing copies, check print quality for bleed, jagged or crooked edges and overall readability. After running a spell checker, visually edit the cover letter.

TASK SHEET 2

This is a letter of application that contains certain mistakes. In groups of three, find them and rewrite the letter where possible. 14 Newton Street Desford Worcestershire WO 4 2LZ martie 30, 2001 Dear Sir ; I am interested in working as a Senior Programmer for your organization. As you probably know Im an expert programmer with over 10 years of experience to offer you. I enclose my resume as a first step in exploring the possibilities of employment with Costoso, Ltd. As a Senior Programmer with your organization, I would bring a focus on quality and ease of use to your system development. Furthermore, I work well with others, and I am experienced in project management. My most recent experience was designing an automated billing system for a trade magazine publisher. I was responsible for the overall product design, including the user interface. In addition, I developed the first draft of the operator's guide. I would appreciate your keeping this inquiry confidential. I will call you in a few days to arrange an interview at a convenient time for you. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, MONICA CARLSON TASK SHEET 3 Mr. Patrick Johnson, The Personnel Manager of a small publishing house advertised several positions in The Guardian newspaper. Soon, the first letters arrived together with the enclosed CVs. The letters stressed the relevant points in the applicants education and experience that related strongly to the job being applied for. Below is one of the letters she received. 10 Holiday Street Dublin, Worcestershire WO4 2LZ Mr. Patrick Johnson Personal Manager LIB Publishing Ltd. 45 Book Street April 6, 2001

London W1B 4BK Dear Mr. Patrick Johnson: Ref. Editorial Assistant vacancy (1) I am writing to apply for the position of Editorial Assistant that you advertised in The Guardian on 10 May, as I believe it offers the career challenge which I am seeking. (2) As you will see from my enclosed Curriculum Vitae, I graduated (3) from the University of London last year and since then I have had a successful year (4) working in a scientific environment with a local chemical services firm. I would like to highlight the following skills which I believe would add value to your organization. Organizational skills developed (5) in my current job with London Chemical Services. Accounting skills developed in my role as University Entertainment Officer where I prepared annual reports and accounts and (6) was responsible for a budget of L15.000 per annum. Interpersonal skills developed through working in a team environment in my current role and through a number of holiday vacation positions. I have a keen interest in scientific publishing and would appreciate the opportunity (7) of an interview to discuss why I believe I am a good match for your requirements. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely (8) (9) Jessica Martin

Now read the letter again and try to answer the following questions. Work individually first, then check your answer with a colleague. (1). Why did Jessica write this heading? Is it a good heading? (2). Could you write I seek? ( Explain your reasoning.) (3). Could you write graduated the University..? (4). Could you write I had a successful year? (Explain your reasoning.) (5). Which words have been deliberately left out? (6). Angela has omitted a pronoun before was? Why she omitted it? (7). Suggest either ways of writing this, with the meaning staying the same. (8). In what situations would you end a letter in this way?

(9). What is the purpose of a blank space? TASK SHEET 4 Suppose you are writing a letter of application to apply for a job. Pick five adjectives that best describe you. Then write five sentences that describe your qualities. (Do not include the five adjectives in your sentences.) e.g. I always think of other peoples opinions before making decisions (considerate) determined enthusiastic organized tidy energetic considerate confident flexible convincing intuitive persuasive tactful responsive self assertive

competitive

reliable

TASK SHEET 5
Look at the following advertisements for jobs. Choose the most appropriate advert (i.e. according to your qualifications, work experience etc.) and write a letter to cover your CV applying for the vacancy.

1. Office Assistant ( part-time 20 hrs per week)

Required to give general office support and assist at events promoted by spnm. the awardwinning new music organization. Salary L13.500 pro rata. For full job specs and an application pack call spnm. on 020 7407 1640 or email spnm@spnm.org.uk

2. Secretary / Office Manager Communications Department Starting salary in the region of L13,000 pa.
Essential to the smooth running of the busy Communications Office, we are looking for someone enthusiastic, efficient and energetic to play a vital role in support of our newly strengthened team. The main focus will be on the Press section of the Communications Department. You should enjoy working on your own initiative, be able to assess workload priorities and complete projects efficiently to deadlines. You will oversee and maintain filing, stationery and office systems, and help organize press events and film crews. You must have good and accurate secretarial and word processing skills and a pleasant telephone manner under pressure when dealing with esquires from press, suppliers and the public. You should be computer literate, familiar with Internet use and you will be required to operate Microsoft Word at an advanced level. Knowledge of Microsoft Access would be an advantage, as would shorthand. A degree in the History of Art or related subject is desirable. This demanding post would suit candidates wishing to gain experience in the area of arts, press, PR and marketing.

For further details and an application form please write to, or telephone Miss C. Hall, The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN. Tel. 020 7747 2812.

3. Public Relation Officer One of Britains leading and most popular universities is seeking to appoint a public relations officer for its press office. A varied brief will include interviewing academics, drafting press releases, commissioning photographs and dealing with local and national media. Your main responsibility will be writing and producing the Universitys newsletter using DTP. You will need to demonstrate excellent written skills, an eye for detail, good organization. Journalism / PR qualifications, press office or DTP experience would be useful, but not essential. For further details are available from http:// www.leeds.ac.jobbox.net. 4. Marketing Executive Required to become involved in all aspects o marketing our books and journals. Good communication, copy-writing and computer skills essential, and a knowledge of DTP useful. Candidates should be well organized with the ability to work accurately to tight deadlines as part of a team. EXERCISE 1 Match the Romanian expressions to their corresponding English terms:
1. va rugam sa confirmati in scris 2. daca nu ne veti informa contrariul 3. astept cu nerabdare raspunsul dvs. 4. confirmam primirea 5. am luat nota de 6. v-as ramane recunoscator daca ati binevoi 7. in termen de 14 zile 8. in viitorul apropiat 9. in plic separat 10. problema ramane in atentia noastra 11. vom lua masurile necesare a) we shall take the necessary action b) I have duly noted c) kindly / please confirm in writing d) within a fortnight e) under separate cover f) unless we hear from you to the contrary

g) we are holding the matter pending h) in the near future i) j) I would be grateful if you would kindly I look forward to hearing from you

k) I / Acknowledge receipt of

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EXERCISE 2: Match the Romanian expressions to their corresponding English terms:

A. in viitorul apropiat B. facem tot posibilul C. a acorda un rabat D. va rog sa primiti scuzele noastre E. suntem incantati F. voi avea grija personal sa G. masuri legale H. in numele dvs. I. daca va hotariti J. se intelege de la sine 1. to grant a discount 2. needless to say 3. should you decide 4. in the near future 5. I shall see to it personally that 6. on your behalf 7. we are doing everything in our power 8. legal action 9. we are pleased to 10. please apologies accept our sincere

DONT FORGET!
Before you send a letter, make sure it contains: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. the senders address the recipients address the date salutation opening paragraph body of the letter closing paragraph ending make sure your ending matches your salutation signature name and position (in printed form)

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SECTION C: HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE JOB INTERVIEW

TASK SHEET 1
Comment upon the following statement: The quality of the paper used, typestyle, and appearance of your resume are very important, just as the way you dress for an interview. First impression about your professionalism and sincerity comprise a measure by which your qualifications will be considered. If you flunk the firsts impression test, it wont matter how good your qualifications are. TIPS FOR A SUCCESFUL PRESENTATION

A presentation can be one of the most ineffective way of giving information for almost everything you tell will be forgotten within an hour if you do not prepare for your presentation. Designing an effective presentation means:

Finding a good subject and message; Have clear objectives ( to inform, to amuse, to train) A clear structure which means a central theme - start and end strong - write notes and key words - a clear conclusion A limited number of carefully designed visual aids; Strategies for involving the audience; Designing strategies and signposts to help the audience to follow and to understand the speaker. Speak at the right speed and right volume; Adjust language to different presentation types; Maintain eye contact with the audience (at least 30 % of the time); Try to appear confident and positive; Anticipate questions from the audience and practice answering them;

TASK SHEET 2 : In groups of two or three make a list of possible presentation subjects: What should you include in your presentation? How should you organize it? What is the most important information you should convey during a job interview?

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TASK SHEET 3
Mock Job interviews: What would you say in an Interview?

What would you say in each of the situations below. Choose a, b or c. Explain your reasoning. 1. You are coming into the office and you meet Jack Smith, the interviewer. a) Good morning, Mr. Smith b) Hello, my name is .. c) Hi, its good to meet you. 2. The interviewer invites you to sit down: a) Thats great. b) No thanks. Id rather stand. c) Thank you. 3. You want the interviewer to stop talking and clear up a point. a) Wait a minute, I dont quite understand. b) Now, let Me ask you something. c) Right I see. Sorry, could you tell me.Im not sure Ive got it. 4. You are asked what sort of books you read: a) Historical novels and thriller! b) Oh, anything! c) I read historical novels and thrillers and I also write poems when I feel lonely.

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GRAMMAR SECTION
THE PAST TENSE SIMPLE vs. THE PRESENT PERFECT AND CONTINUOUS The Past Tense Simple: Use The Past Simple is used to express an action: - in the past - at a specific time - which is now finished Look at the time expressions which are used with this tense. I did it: - yesterday - last week - at 9.00 this morning - in 1983. The Past Tense Continuous: Use The Past Simple Continuous is used to describe a situation in the past. As with all continuous tenses there is an idea of duration and activity, and the activity is seen in progress. When I arrived, she was making some coffee. Translate: When I arrived she was making some coffee. When I arrived, she made some coffee.

The Present Perfect

The Present Perfect relates past actions and states to the present. It is used:
1.

to express unfinished past: Ex: Ive been in my present job for six years. Ive lived here all my life.
The action began in the past and continues to the present past present

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2.

to express experience: Ex: Have you ever been to Australia? Ive never had two crashes in my career as a racing driver.

The action happened in the past, but we dont know when or were not interested in when ? past 1960? 1974? ? present 1980?

s ome t im e in your li fe .

3. to express the present result of a past event: Ex: Ive lost my wallet. Have you seen it? Shes broken her leg, so she cant play tennis.
The action happened in the past, usually the recent past. with results in the present past present

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EXERCISE 1 Compare the use of tenses in the following pairs of sentences. Say which tense is used and why.
a. She lived in New York for two years. She has lived in New York for two years. b. What have you been doing since I last saw you? What have you done to your eye? c. Ive written a novel. Ive been writing a novel. d. My husband always bought me flowers on my birthday. My husband has always bought me flowers on my birthday, e. How long have you been smoking? How many cigarettes have you had today? f. Have you ever met anyone famous? Did you meet anyone interesting at the party?

EXERCISE 2 In the following pairs of sentences one of the tenses is wrong. Say which one, and why.
a. President Kennedy has been assassinated in Dallas. President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. b. Ive been writing all morning. Ive been writing four letters. c. He has been to most countries in the world. He has been to Venezuela last year. d. My first job was in a factory. I did it for three months. My first job was in a factory. Ive done it for three months. e. Whos been eating my sandwich? It was here a minute ago. Whos eaten my sandwich? It was here a minute ago. f. Hes broken his leg. Hes been breaking his leg.

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EXERCISE 3 Choose the most appropriate tense underlined.

a)

I cant believe it, inspector. You mean that Smith stole/has stolen/has been stealing money from the till all this time! You three boys look very guilty! What did you do/have you done/have you been doing since I left/have left the room? Why on earth didnt you tell/havent you told me about that loose floorboard? I tripped/have tripped over it just now and hurt myself. Its a long time since I saw/have seen/have been seeing your brother Paul. What did he do/has done/has been doing lately? I cant believe that you ate/have eaten/have been eating three pizzas already! I only brought/have only brought them in fifteen minutes ago! Dont forget that you didnt see/havent seen Mrs. Dawson. She has waited/has been waiting outside since 10:30. What did you think/have you thought of Brighton? Did you stay/Have you stayed there long? I feel really tired. I weeded/have weeded/ have been weeding the garden for the last three hours and I didnt rest/havent rested for a single moment. Im heaving problems with David. He has called/has been calling me up in the middle of the night and told/telling me his trouble. How long did you have/have you had/ have you been having driving lessons? And did you take/have you been taking your test yet?

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

h)

i)

j)

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EXERCISE 4 Put the verbs in brackets in the Present Perfect or the Past Tense. 1. My brother (not to start) work yet. Hes still at the University. How long he (to be) at the University? He (to be) there for three years; before that he (to spend) four years at school. 2. You ever (to eat) snails? No, I never (to eat) snails and, if I (to be) you, I should not eat them either. 3. This car (to be) in our family for more than eleven years. Father (to drive) it for the first six years, my sister (to use) it for the next two years, and I (to have) it for the last three years. 4. I hear that your secretary (to leave). Yes, she (to leave) two weeks ago. Anybody (to be) appointed to take her place? I think several women (to apply) to the job, but so far nothing (to be) decided. 5. Harold (to book) the hotel room yet? Well, he (to write) to the hotel ten days ago, but they (not to answer) him yet. 6. At 6 oclock p.m. Mr. Brown (to ring) me up and (to say): Is Hob with you?. Hob is his son and he (to come) to my place almost every day last week. I (not to see) him today. I (to answer) him. But my sons (to go) to the cinema this afternoon and they (not to come) back yet. Perhaps Hob (to go) with them. 7. Peter (to meet) Robert at school yesterday morning and (to tell) him: I (not to see) you at the bus stop this morning. You (to miss) the bus for months. But this morning my neighbor (to give) me a lift. 8. Mr. Williams, Peggys employer, (to dictate) four letters and (to tell) Peggy to type them quickly. About an hour later he (to ring) Peggys office. He (to say): You ( to finish) all the letters? I (to type) the letters to the Oil Company and to Mr. White. Now Im typing the letter to Mr. Sullivan, but I (not to begin) the one to Mr. Jackson yet. 9. How long Peter (to work ) in that office? He (to work) there for two years. He (to enjoy) working there? No he (not to enjoy) it at all. That is why he (to come) to our factory where he (to work) for more than a year now.
10.

How long Lucy (to be) in her present job? I think she (to be) there for two years. And what she (to do) before that? She (to work) in a shoe factory, I suppose.

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BASIC VOCABULARY
a casual worker muncitor cu ziua a self-employed worker un liber profesionist a blue collar worker un muncitor a dead-end job o slub fr viitor a job centre o agenie de plasare a forei de munc a job loss pierderea unui serviciu a job seekers allowance o alocaie acordat unei persoane n cutarea unui loc de munc a job seeking, a job hunting cutarea unui loc de munc a low paid job o slujb prost pltit a pay packet, a paypacket (US) un stat de plat a pay-off o indemnizaie de concediere a school leaver un tnr abia ieit de pe bncile colii a vacancy un post liber, o ofert de serviciu a white collar worker un funcionar an order book un carnet de comenzi income support alocaie suplimentar job security sigurana locului de munc labour mn de lucru moonlighting munc la negru natural wastage pierderea angajailor prin pensionri sau prin plecri voluntare on-the job training pregtire profesional permanent out of work, jobless fr loc de munc overmanning suprapersonal, personal angajat inutil overtime ore suplimentare part-time working lucru cu jumtate de norm/cu norm redus pay plat, salariu performance-related pay plata n funcie de rezultate reduncancy payment o indemnizaie de concediere retire (to) - a iei la pensie retirement - pensie, pensionare retraining - reciclare profesional retrieve (to) - a recupera salary salariu lunar self-employment activitate pe cont propriu short-time working omaj parial temporary employment angajare temporar the labour force, the workforce, the staff for de munc, personal the labour market piaa forei de munc the working population populaia activ to axe/shed (jobs) a reduce, desfiina (locuri de munc) to give notice to somebody a da preaviz cuiva umployment benefit ajutor de omaj unemploymed, on the dole omer, n omaj unskilled - necalificat vocational training - pregtire profesional voluntary redundancies plecri voluntare wages salariu sptmnal

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FURTHER READINGS
NINE NEW RULES FOR JOB HUNTING During a recent job interview, Tricia Schultz became flustered when the prospective employer presented her with this hypothetical crisis: Your boss calls in sick and asks you to cancel all his morning and afternoon appointments, but his desk-calendar doesnt list the names of people hes scheduled to meet, only their firms. Plus, there are five urgent messages on his voice mail. How would you handle this? I thought shed ask about my strengths, weaknesses, and goals, recalls the twenty-four-year-old applicant for a position as assistant public-relations coordinator. Her make-believe scenario and question about how Id react under pressure really caught me off guard. She winces at the memory. If, like Tricia, youre currently job-hunting, you should know that everything writing rsums, making connections, even dressing for success has changed. To find employment these days, the following new get-hired-quick rules could help.
1.

Old rule: Have your resume professionally printed on expensive, linen stock, with embossed lettering. New rule: Print your own resume using a laser-quality printer, on plain white bond paper, in a simple typeface.

Your CV should not only list impeccable credentials, it must also be meticulously neat and legible, since many employers now routinely use optical scanning devices to enter resumes into databases. To ensure their computers wont mangle your words in the process, stick to standard fonts and clean, whit, untextured paper. Avoid staples or folded pages (mail flat, in a nine-by-eleven-inch envelope) and use industry jargon; some firms electronically search for the perfect candidate by seeking out key words and phrases. Summarize you background in an introductory paragraph. Put dates of employment on the right side of the page; describe duties of each job using power verbs such as increased, created, reduced; add a second page only if youve logged at least five years in the workforce and your experience is extensive. Be sure to emphasize important points with boldface type, italics, and underlining.
2.

Old rule: Write all-purpose cover letter New rule: Customize cover letters.

If your cover letter screams mass mailing, you wont merit serious consideration. Capture the recipients attention by tailoring correspondence to a particular person, company, and position. Always prove youve done your homework by studying annual reports and reading up on current industry trends and controversies. Use this five-paragraph format: generate interest in the first paragraph, highlight you strengths in the second, summarize accomplishments in the third, stress why youre uniquely qualified in the fourth, and say precisely when youll be following up with a phone call in the fifth.

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3.

Old rule: Answer help-wanted ads and send your resume to personnel. New rule: Bypass personnel and go directly to the boss.

The change of landing a job from a newspaper ad is woefully remote-only about 10 percent of job hunters get hired this way. Ditto for contracting human-resources directors. To gain an advantage it is recommended to target a department head who has the authority to hire. If your credentials are outstanding but currently theres no opening, she may file your resume until a suitable position comes along. If there is an appropriate slot for you, shell know about it long before human resources, call you in for an interview, and if she decides youre the one, send you paperwork to personnel, as a formality.
4.

Old rule: Network with people you know. New rule: Mingle with influential strangers in cyberspace.

Seventy-five percent of all jobs are still found through networking, so schmooze with everyonefriends, relatives, college classmates, neighbors, former colleagues and cruisers on the Internet. Job-hunting without access to this worldwide network is like riding a bicycle when everyone else is speeding around in sports cars. Online chat groups enable people around the globe to share job leads and offer advice about changing fields, coping with corporate downsizing, jump-starting stalled careers. Electronic classified ads career counseling company profiles are available on the Internet and commercial online services. Plus, by registering your resume in an electronic data bank, employers and recruiters worldwide are able to find you.
5.

Old rule: Pursue job openings. New rule: Create your own opportunities.

Waiting for right position to materialize is a colossal mistake. Be proactive: identify you chief assets and figure out how to apply them at a specific company, either as a permanent staff member or a freelance consultant. If an employer is hesitant to hire you on a full-time basis-maybe because she has doubts about your experience or doesnt have the budget offer to do the job as an independent contractor. This shows initiative, and later on, the freelance position could develop into a permanent job.
6.

Old rule: Dress in a dark, conservative suit. New rule: Wear some thing professional but feminine.

Forget stuffy, drab, mannish business suits. Instead, choose an outfit thats flattering, comfortable, and shows off your personal style-even if that means wearing a miniskirt and blazer, accented with a zebra-print scarf. Its ok to be feminine, as long as you stay within professional boundaries. In other words, express your individuality, but eschew jangly jewelry, neon hues, or spiked heels that turn walking into a delicate balancing act.

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7.

Old rule: Think of interviews as casual chats. New rule: Consider interviews cross- examinations.

Today, interviewers tend to sound a bit like psychologists as they ask such probing question as Do you prefer to work alone or in a group and What does success mean to you? They may also be curious about your behavior in past sticky situations (Describe the last disagreement you had with your boss) and your problem-solving skills (How would you deal with a client who repeatedly changes projects requirements without warning?) These techniques are good predictors of future performance-and candidates are forced to think under pressure. To ace such sessions, prepare an anecdote to illustrate each of your achievements and personal assets. If you say, I have strong leadership skills, be ready for follow-up questions like Describe a situation in which you used those skills. Also, rehearse solutions to typical job problems-irate customers crashing computer systems, personality conflicts with colleagues.
8.

Old rule: Disclose salary history and expectations. New rule: Delay discussions of money as long as possible.

Reveal a salary thats too high, and youll be excluded for being overqualified. Reveal one thats too low and youll be perceived as under qualified. Thats why delaying the money talk until youve dazzled an interviewer is essential. One stalling strategy is to say youll share salary expectations when you know the scope of the job pays, then say that its within your range.
9.

Old rule: Mail a thank-you note. New rule: Rush an influence note.

Writing, It was a pleasure meeting you is not enough anymore. Why? Such a pat line doesnt remind employers why perfect for the job. In a brief letter, which you should fax, e-mail, or send by an overnight delivery service or snail-mail within twenty-four hours of your interview, repeat the jobs requirements and that your backgrounds is an ideal match. Above all, act confident even when youre feeling anything but. At the end of her grueling interview, Tricia Schultz turned to the director of public relations and said: I really want to work for your company. I want this job? Guess what? She was hired!