Employment Documents

The purpose of any education or training is further employment. Finding employment takes hard work in itself; so does finding a better position once employed. A wide variety of skills is required for almost! any job, anything from taking instructions to giving them, from being supervised to supervising. Often what makes a prospective applicant stand out is the attitude that comes through in the cover letter.

A cover letter/ letter of application is necessary in the following situations: (a) when answering a specific ad from the newspaper, (b) when writing to a specific person whose name you got from someone else, and (c) when writing to a specific company that you feel is a good place for you to get a job. The letter has one main objective: to interest the employer in your qualifications so you will get an interview. It should accompany either a CV/ resume or a completed application form.

A letter of application should be prepared very carefully. It can decide whether an employer will pass it to the personnel department with the note, "This looks worth a follow-up," or will quietly drop it into thej nearest wastebasket. Employers receive many letters and cannot pad attention to all of them; if you want yours to "set you apart," or to attract attention, observe the following rules.

1. Whenever possible, address your letter by name to the appropriate person in the company.

2. Use standard-size, good-quality white bond paper.

3. Type the letter or have it typed. Make sure there are no errors!

4. Be very careful with spelling and punctuation.

5. Be brief — your letter should take up no more than a page. Businesslike letters will receive more attention. Three paragraphs is an ideal length.

6. In your first paragraph, mention the job you are applying for and where you saw it advertised. If you are not applying for a specific job, identify yourself, mention who referred you, if anyone, and why you are applying to this company.

7. In the second paragraph, state (a) why you think you are qualified for this job; (b) what contribution you can make to this company;

and (c) any related work experience. If in the past you worked for a good company, it is important to mention that. Tell how many years of experience you have and add that you are enclosing a resume. Mention your most outstanding qualification as stated on the enclosed resume.

8. The closing paragraph should ask for an interview and say where and when you can be reached. You may suggest that you will phone for an interview. Make sure you telephone the company within a week after mailing the letter.

9. Keep a copy of every letter you sent.

The purpose of mailing any letter of application and resume is being granted an interview. If you are lucky, remember the following things. What we do is often more important that what we say. The way we dress, the way we walk, the way we sit and where we sit, the way we look or don't look at other people, how early or late we are — these things, which are all elements of nonverbal communication, are responsible for over 60 percent of the impression we make on other people. Keep in mind that the employer is not only considering the way you speak, but is looking at you as a whole. Don't underestimate the importance of qualities other than job skills, which you can bring to the job: maturity and life experience, responsibility, willingness to learn new things, willingness to work hard, ability to adapt to difficult situations, initiative, pride in your work, dependability, creativity, or the ability to work in an organized way. These are qualities to emphasize.

When you leave an interview, thank the interviewer for his or her time and consideration. Ask when you will be notified of the company's decision. Most companies will inform you within two weeks. If you have not received an answer after a reasonable amount of time, follow up with a letter or telephone call.

Of course, you may decide on the basis of your interview that you do not want the job. If you are offered the job, ask for a day or two to consider the offer and then inform the interviewer what you have decided. Never accept a job and then fail to show up. Keep in mind that employers in the same field often know each other. Unprofessional behavior with one employer could cause you trouble with another employer.

II. Ответьте на вопросы.

1. Why is it difficult to find a good job?

2. What qualities are of value among employers?

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3. How should cover letters be prepared?

4. In what cases does one write these letters?

5. Why should one prepare for an interview?

6. What personal qualities should one emphasize during the interview?

7. How will you behave after the interview?