BUS 2303, Professionalism in the Workplace 1
Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VII
Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to:
7. Prepare a résumé package.
7.1 Illustrate a cover letter that is tailored toward a specific job.
7.2 Prepare a résumé that highlights professional skills and strengths.
7.3 Outline a professional strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis.
Course/Unit
Learning Outcomes
Learning Activity
7.1
Unit Lesson
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Unit VII Assignment
7.2
Unit Lesson
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Unit VII Assignment
7.3
Unit Lesson
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Unit VII Assignment
Required Unit Resources
Chapter 13: Job Search Skills
Chapter 14: Résumé Package
Unit Lesson
Imagine you are about to graduate from Columbia Southern University and are eager to seek your new
employment after spending roughly five years of your life learning a skill that will help land you that dream job.
This is both an exciting and scary part of the process. You are looking forward to the new opportunities that
await you, and you feel ready to show off your new skills, but where do you begin? How do you go about
finding this new job? How do you show off your skills to potential employers?
This unit is vital to your representation, inevitable career changes, and current and future professionalism in
the workplace. The lesson details proper job search and career selection techniques and constructing the
proper résumé package to land that dream job.
Job Search Skills
When the time comes for the start of a career or career change, being prepared and planning are essential in
today’s ever-changing business environment. Career starts and changes are common and expected, or
sometimes an unplanned norm. A welcome attitude toward change provides not only opportunity for
advancement but also personal growth. Some common career changes happen due to self-advancements
such as completing a degree, a specialized certification, or skill training. Career changes can also occur in
two different ways: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary changes are typically retirement or a resignation due
to another job offer. Regardless, be careful not to burn any bridges upon exiting. An involuntary termination is
UNIT VII STUDY GUIDE
Prepare a Résumé Package
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when one loses a job due to being fired or laid-off due to restructuring or furloughs. With today’s competitive
environment, restructuring is common because of ever-changing strategies and resource reorganization.
The Job Search
There are many ways you can search for employment, and many people find online search engines helpful.
For example, USAJobs.gov is a good search engine to use if you are looking for a federal job. Not all search
engines are the same. Take Linkedin.com, for instance. It is considered more like a professional social media
networking tool. You may have more luck searching for and applying for jobs using webpages such as
Indeed.com. Additionally, there are niche Web pages for specific jobs. You are encouraged to research the
best webpages for your specific career field. To
the right is a list of popular job searching
resources.
When searching the many job search engines, you
want to search for jobs for which you have the
knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to be
successful. Many of the job search engines allow
you to fill out a résumé in their format or upload
one you have prepared. When uploading your
résumé, you want to make sure you have
proofread it so that there are no mistakes and it
caters to your job needs.
KSAs are attributes that employers are looking for. Many companies are looking for knowledge for the job
being offered. Knowledge can come from many areas. A good example is a young individual coming out of
college with knowledge that is new to the industry. With the advancement in technology, this would benefit the
employer. When it comes to skills, employers are looking for individuals that bring skill sets that fit the job
being offered. That is why it is important to list and have proof of those skills. Abilities are defined as the
means to do something. Do you have the abilities to accomplish a job that is offered? Many jobs require
different abilities. That is why it is important to read the job description.
Choosing the Right Career
Becoming an entrepreneur is another example of a career change, and it is becoming increasingly popular
among professionals. Being a business owner comes with many risks, but the rewards can be far more
valuable. Entrepreneurial methods come in many forms such as starting a business, buying a franchise, or
purchasing an existing business. It all begins with a dream and a passion. The dream begins with identifying
an opportunity, exploring the potential, creating a plan of action through a business and market plan, finding
the right investors, and surrounding yourself with a well-balanced team of specialists who are creative and
supportive of your career transition. If you are interested, the Small Business Administration has a wealth of
free information to assist you in making a smooth career transition into entrepreneurship. Here is a link to the
website: www.sba.gov.
Job Search Portfolio
A job search portfolio is an assembly of correspondence used to keep you orderly and prepared while
searching for a job (Anderson & Bolt, 2016). To manage your job search portfolio, the most efficient way is to
have a binder or folder that can be labeled. It is best to keep your originals and at a minimum of two copies
available at all times (Anderson & Bolt, 2016). This will allow you to transfer them to your interview portfolio
when needed.
As a rule of thumb, your original documents should not be deleted from your job search portfolio. If at all
possible, place your original documents in document protectors. As we advance in technology, many
organizations use an electronic job search engine to announce job openings. In some cases, you can apply
for the position directly from the webpage. That is why it is recommended that you create an electronic job
search portfolio. It works the same way as a job search portfolio. The only difference is that you will submit
them electronically.
Popular Job Searching Sites
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Résumé Package
You will learn why it is important to have an accurate, appealing, and effective
résumé to land you that interview. We will cover the items that will catch the eye
of the interviewer to show your KSAs. Anderson and Bolt (2018) recommend
five steps to create a résumé: gathering your information, using the appropriate
format, drafting a skill summary and profile, outlining experience and
accomplishments, and reviewing your final draft.
A good résumé should be able to help you sell yourself. In some instances, a
carefully crafted résumé can secure a job without a formal interview. That is
why these five steps will help you get that interview or job offer. Do not
sugarcoat your résumé as it will catch up to you when you least expect it.
Step One: Gathering Information
Gathering information is an important step to help you build your résumé. Some
important information you want to gather are items like education, skills,
employment history, any foreign languages, honors and awards, and
professional or community involvement. Also, in this step, you want to be sure
not to use your personal data, such as your social security number or birthday.
On page 207 in your textbook, you can find more on each of these steps.
Step Two: Creating an Information Heading and Utilizing Proper Layout
In step two, you will need to create an information heading. This contains relevant contact information such as
your name, mailing address, contact phone, and email address. An example is provided below.
YOUR NAME (16 point, bold)
Your Address (12 or 14 point, bold) ■ City, State, Zip
Phone Number (Give only one number and include area code)
Email Address (Remove hyperlink)
There are two types of layouts you need to consider when you start creating your résumé. The first type is the
functional résumé layout. This layout is used when you are just starting your career with less work
experience, and it focuses on your skills and education. Many college students just graduating with limited job
experience would use this résumé layout. The advanced skill set layout is used when you have job-specific
experience and accomplishments to communicate with potential employers.
Step Three: Writing a Skills Summary or Personal Profile
An individual who has little or no experience will use a skills summary as their introductory statement on a
functional résumé. Individuals who have professional experience that aligns with career goals will use a
personal profile for their introductory statement. Whichever you are using, the skills summary will be listed on
your résumé following the information heading. On page 209 of your textbook, you will find more information
about skills summaries and personal profile examples.
Step Four: Insert Skills, Accomplishments, and Experience
This step is important when you want to catch the eye of the employer. Many employers are looking for top
quality individuals who have the skills and experience necessary to do the job. For this reason, it is important
to list your skills in two ways. The first way is by listing job-specific skills. These skills are primarily related to a
specific job. The second way is by highlighting transferable skills, or skills from previous roles that can be
applied to newer positions. That is why it is so important to read the job description that you are applying for.
There is a lot of information about the job so that you can tailor your résumé to that job. Also, keep in mind
that embellishing or using false information can lead to your termination or not getting hired.
Steps to creating a résumé
(Adapted from Anderson & Bolt,
2016)
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Step Five: Review the Completed Résumé
The last step is your final review of your completed résumé. It is important that you have individuals you can
count on to check for any errors. Many times, individuals do not get the interview because their résumés
lacked clarity.
Cover Letters
Not all companies require a cover letter. However, when you need to have one, make sure you tailor your
cover letter to the company and position that you are applying for. In your cover letter, you should include
three paragraphs.
Start out with a purpose, and explain why you are applying for the position.
Next, you want to follow up with areas such as skills that make you qualified for the position.
Lastly, you want to request an interview (Anderson & Bolt, 2016).
By utilizing this format, you will have a cover letter that explains your purpose for application, the skill set you
can offer to the position, and a formal request for the opportunity to interview.
Conclusion
By following all of the topics covered in this lesson, you should be able to construct a résumé along with a
cover letter. There are so many ways to put together a résumé. One of the main points to remember is to
tailor your résumé to the job being offered. Looking back at what was covered, you should feel confident in
putting all of your material together to prepare a positive cover letter that supports your comprehensive
résumé package.
Reference
Anderson, L. E., & Bolt, S. B. (2016). Professionalism: Skills for workplace success (4th ed.). Boston, MA:
Pearson.
U.S. Small Business Administration. (n.d.). Small Business Administration. Retrieved from
https://www.sba.gov
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Suggested Unit Resources
In order to access the following resources, click the links below.
The Accomplishment Statements resource offers tips for creating effective descriptions that highlight your
skills and qualifications for résumé writing.
The Understanding Transferrable Skills resource explains transferrable skills and ways to highlight them in
your résumé.
The below video segment gives suggestions on résumé writing that may be helpful as you complete your
assignment:
Cambridge Educational. (2008). Resume: Necessary Tool for Employment (Segment 4 of 7) [Video file].
Retrieved from
https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?auth=CAS&url=https://fod.infobase.com/PortalPl
aylists.aspx?wID=273866&xtid=39021&loid=54662
The transcript for this video can be found by clicking the “Transcript” tab to the right of the video in the Films
on Demand database.
Learning Activities (Nongraded)
Nongraded Learning Activities are provided to aid students in their course of study. You do not have to submit
them. If you have questions, contact your instructor for further guidance and information.
For this nongraded activity, consider researching job posts in your career field. Identify the skills employers
are looking for and how you can tailor your résumé to highlight those skills.
