Writing a job application with confidence and sending it to the destination is a skill to be developed by every graduate. This writing skill of a job application should be achieved in the beginning of the graduate programme, or at least before the completion of the programme, irrespective of the attention given to main subject/s or optional subject/s.
Here is an attempt of teaching the lesson ‘Job Application’ in face-to-face mode in the classroom or in distance-mode, using the following process.
Following are the objectives of the two classes of one hour each.
a) The students get confidence to write job application.
b) They understand the need of a format/template to prepare job application.
c) They understand the need of a cover letter and attain the skill to write it.
First class (one hour)
Job application is the term we like to use in this discussion.
We see three other terms also, especially with job advertisements.
Resume’
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Bio-data, are the terms the employers or recruiters use.
Though slightly different in the literal meaning, the purpose of all the four concepts is one and the same.
That is, to apply for the employment. (5 mts)
Anyhow, for convenience, shall we use the term resume’?
Resume’ has two parts, the first part is cover letter, and the second part is the summary of details of the applicant.
Writing cover letter is an action done only after the completion of writing of the summary of details of the applicant.
So that, shall we consider the summary of details, i.e. resume’ first?
Another point that we have to think at this juncture is the objective of resume’.
To get the intended job is the objective.
But the question is, why do the applicant writes the summary of details and the cover letter to an employer?
Together there are three purposes behind every cover letter and summary of details.
Before I say the purposes from my part, can you guess the purposes?
(Students scribble the purposes in their note books)
Random presentation of two or three students.
Teacher presents the three objectives of resume’ writing:
a) To introduce the applicant to the employer/recruiter.
b) To ‘sell’ the applicant to the employer.
c) To impress the employer.
Through the resume’ the applicant is introducing herself to the employer.
Selling here means, the applicant show-cases own quality.
The applicant is like a vendor, who utters the qualities of the product presented for sale.
Impress the employer, means, the applicant shows certain claims about own abilities.
It is to fulfil these purposes, the applicant is writing the resume’.
Now it is clear about the components of a resume’.
What are they? (15 mts)
Means, what are the details to be written: a) to introduce, b) to sell and, c) to impress?
Can you imagine, what all components are to be presented one by one?
Can you imagine the sub-heads in the summary of details?
What are the sub-heads?
(The students imagine the sub-heads)
They enlist the sub-heads.
(Random presentation by two or three students)
After the presentation of the students, teacher presents her own list.
a) Personal details (Name, address, email ID, date of birth, gender, …)
b) Areas of interest and achievements
c) Reference
d) Educational qualification
e) Experience
f) Languages known
Suppose, the above are the components.
But now they are not in a suitable order.
Enlist in the order of importance that you feel.
(They make the list into a new order) (15 mts)
Teacher asks following questions for discussion?
What is meant by reference, here?
Yes, it is for collecting more details about the applicant.
Whose name and address would you give here?
Now there is one more point to be discussed here.
How will you write the details against each sub-head?
Is it in tables or as running matter?
Details can be presented in tables or as paragraphs.
Both styles have convenience and inconvenience.
It is better you go through certain templates available on-line.
One more point is also to be noted.
There is no hard and fast rule for the format and contend for resume’.
Use the most simple format and style to sell you, introduce you or impress the employer properly to get the job.
Format and style change according to the requirement of the job applied for.
For example, if the job requires details about the presentation skill and creativity, try to add three more sub-heads, like:
a) Seminar presentations
b) Articles published
c) Research/dissertations/projects (20 mts)
Now shall I give you a task of writing your own resume’?
For that you take any advertisement from the newspaper or on-line.
Take a copy of the advertisement.
Write the resume’ showing the summary of details under 7 or 8 sub-heads.
Don’t write the cover letter now.
Write the summary of details under sub-heads.
Do it as a home-task. (5 mts)
Second class (one hour)
Did you do the home task?
I have asked you to collect an advertisement of a job and to write the resume’ for it.
Random presentation of any two students. (10 mts)
So, this is the procedure of writing the job application.
But, we want a cover letter also.
When the employer opens the mail or e-mail, cover letter appears first and then the job application and copies of certificates.
Before writing a cover letter, shall we think of the objective of the cover letter?
Means, why do the applicant writes the cover letter?
Let the students write maximum reasons for writing the cover letter.
After the presentation of two or three students, teacher presents the following points on the screen and explains: (10 mts)
a) As the term shows, cover letter covers the resume’. Resume’ is the content of job application. With a cover letter, you are putting a label for the content of the resume’.
b) Cover letter gives an identification of the applicant: her name and address.
c) Cover letter shows the source of the advertisement, against which the applicant writes the resume’.
d) Cover letter shows applicant’s interest to get the position and her aspirations in the career/cadre.
e) In some countries, with certain organisations, there is a practice that the applicant writes her expectations about remuneration/salary. If so, cover letter is the appropriate space to show that also.
f) To show evidence, the applicant may attach copies of certificates/credentials. If so, cover letter is the appropriate place to show the details of files attached.
g) If applicant’s photograph is necessary, it can be pasted on the cover letter.
(15 mts)
As the cover letter is that much important, now you yourself can plan a cover letter.
Let the body of the letter be in a paragraph or two paragraphs.
The students make an attempt to write the cover letter for the resume’ that they wrote day before.
After writing the cover letter, let them attach it to the resume’. (20 mts)
As the conclusion, teacher reminds the need of an ever expanding resume’ for further use/uses.
a) Keep a basic format to which the job seeker is updating qualification, experience etc. as and when she acquires anything new.
b) Watch on various sites for any other trends with regard to the format and content of resume’. (5 mts)
