Halloween Fun!

Period 3 -

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Period 4 -

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The direct code is:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/vS3mPnknRHdeyVcL

Period 5 -

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The direct code is:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/GOlKLLAdk9M3RD4m

Period 6 -

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The direct code is:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/vItwmKnZIpmXn1xC

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

The direct code is:
http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/LiOFCaDGZsndDdNu


You can make your own at sendables.jibjab.com!

Creating Effective Cover Letters & Resumes

Now that we have done a good bit of career research, each student should have a lot of information about the career they delved into. As part of the research students where asked to find and copy two actual job postings.Our task at hand now is to learn how to write an effective business letter.

Know: Well written communications, such as a business letter, can increase your chances of getting your foot in the door in an industry that you are interested in.

Understand: The people who will hopefully be reading your letter(s) get many similar letters each day. You need to write an error-free letter that is concise, communicative and effective.

Do: We will review the parts of a business letter. We will gain an understanding of how a written (hard) copy is different from an email. We will also look at how you tailor your letter depending on where the job information came from. Finally, we will use make sure the letter is error free.

Let's begin by looking at what is in a cover letter by examining the following links:

Articles that offer good advice about how to write a business letter:
How To Write a Cover Letter
Maximize Your Cover Letter's Power

How to Write a Business Letter that Gets Results

Articles that have sample letters:
Business Letter Writing: Writing a Cover Letter when Applying for a Job
Business Letter Writing: Writing a Cover Letter when Applying for a Job (posted in an advertisement)
Business Letter Writing: Writing a Cover Letter when Applying for a Job (in response to an opening)

Great Samples and Tips:
Cover letters: types and samples

Articles about Avoiding Errors:
Five Common Cover Letter Mistakes

Your Assignment: How to Write a Cover Letter

Now that you have researched a career I want you to select two of your job postings and write covers letter for them. One will be written as if it was a hard copy. The other will be a soft/electronic copy. Use the notes we took in class to help you remember how the formats are different. If you missed those notes, use the links above to find out how they differ. Label each letter as "hard copy" and "soft copy" before you turn them in.

In order for this to work well you will need to pretend that you already have a college degree and a little bit of work experience.

Your assignment is to create a cover letter that is properly formatted and written. You can access information about formatting from the presentation I did in class. You can also access formatting information by following the appropriate links on the website for this class. Here’s what is in the paper:

Research the company you are applying to.
Visit their website and check them out. Consider finding out the following kinds of information:

• What is the employer’s mission?
o How are they different from their competitors?

• What kind of person is their customer/ target audience

• What do they value? (Good Service, Cutting Edge Technology, Diversity, Predictability, flexibility?)

• What kind of news is featured on their website?

• What do you know about the company’s history?

• Any other information you can learn from their website that might be useful?

The more you know about the company, the better your letter and interview will be. Doing this research will help you discover whether the company might be a good fit for you.

Analyze the Job Posting Carefully:
• What skills are they looking for?

• What kind of education/license/certificate are they looking for?

• What kind of experience are they looking for?
•
Find out who the manager or Human Resources office will be reading your letter. (A personalized letter is more likely to be read than one addressed to “To Whom It May Concern” or “Dear Sir or Madam”. It may also show that you do not care enough about getting the job to call the company and ask for the name of the hiring officer.)

• Make a list of the qualifications you have that match up with those listed in the job posting. (For the purpose of this activity you can pretend that you have a reasonable set of qualifications and work experience.)

Write the first paragraph.

• Find a powerful way to start your letter.

• Tell the reader specifically why you are writing to them.
o This may include what specific job you are interested in or how you came to find their job posting.

• If you found the job posting on a website, make sure you mention which one. Many of them also assign a job ID number. Include that if you have it.


Write the second paragraph.
Take a second look at the job posting specifics and your personal qualifications list. The goal of the second paragraph is to persuade the reader that you are the best person for the job.
• Be sure to address as many points from the job posting as possible;
• Explain how you meet or exceed the job qualifications;
(Avoid telling them what you needs are at this point.)
• Explain why the company would benefit from having you as an employee.
(How can you help them meet their goal(s), solve a problem or attract a new kind of customer?)
• Highlight some of your specific accomplishments in relation to the job descriptions, the company’s focus, goals, etc.

Write the Third Paragraph: Be Bold & Brave.
• The third paragraph is where you take the action into your hands and ask for what you want.

• Be sure to thank the reader for taking time to consider your letter;

• Tell the reader what you want them to do. Be sure to do it in a polite way;

• You may want to indicate when you will call or email next.

• If you have included a resume or any other item with the letter make sure to refer to it. This could improve the chance that it will be actually looked at.

• Be sure to include your contact information, such as email address, cell phone number and a website, if you have one.

Creating an Effective Resume

English 12 :Writing a Great Resume:

A resume is not a statement of facts. It’s a declaration of intent.
- Rands in Repose

If I could give only one bit of advice for writing a resume, it would be that most employers read a resume for 15 seconds (or at least make a decision within 15 seconds). This is a resume's job--to advocate you as a strong candidate during those 15 seconds. It's not about how much information your resume has on it--it's about how well it conveys important information.
- Robert Peterson, author of Landingthejob.blogspot.com

Know: People are going to judge you based on your written communication. They will expect your resume to look a certain way and contain specific types of information. My goal is to help inform you about what is expected so that you can create a wonderful resume that will get you an interview and a chance to land the job.

Understand: A well written and designed resume can give you the edge to getting the job you want. When an employer posts a job opening many people usually reply. A significant number of applicants will get cut out the competition due to not having all of the requested materials or submitting materials (cover letter, resume) that are error ridden.

Do: We will be reading a few articles on resumes, answering a few questions, gathering personal data and creating resumes. I suggest that you save your resume on a thumb drive/zip drive/memory stick so that you can simply update it for each job you apply for. This can save you a lot of time in the long run.

Let's begin by looking at why a resume is important.
Here's an article that explains why it is important to have a well designed and updated resume, "A Glimpse and a Hook." I think it gives you a realistic look into the mind of a person who does a good bit of hiring. You will find that he contridicts some of what I have said. That is okay with me. I still think that I am giving you good advice that is worth following.

In order to help you focus on what he is saying, please filling the following information from the chart below:


A Glimpse and a Hook
From RandsinRepose.com


Let’s look at this section by section:

The First Pass:
List the four things he looks at and explain why he focuses on them –

1.

2.

3.

4.

Now, explain why he skips the following sections of a person’s resume –

Professional Objective –
Skills –

Summary of Qualifications –

The Second Pass:
Look at the “In-Depth Job History” section and summarize what creates warning flags.

Now, look at the “Schools and Degrees” segment. What is important to know?

Differentiate, Don’t Annoy:
How can you make your resume stand out from the others? (Hint: The answers will come from two different sections of the reading.)

Explain how formatting can help your resume stand out –

Explain how you should use buzzwords and your ability to talk about them at length –

What is the importance of buzz words and mumbo jumbo?

Why does he want you to tell him a story?

Finally, write a short paragraph about what he means by “a glimps and a hook”.

Now, gather your personal information together before you begin writing your resume. Robert Peterson suggests, "A good exercise is to list 10 things you definitely want someone to know about you within those 15 seconds. For example, this may include that you worked for company A, that you had leadership role B, that you stand out from other students because of C, and the like."

***Now, stop and make your own list of the 10 top things you want people to notice when they look at your resume. For the purpose of this assignment you can pretend that you have graduated from college with a Bachelor's degree and you have worked for two years. Make sure your information is realistic for you. (For example, it is unlikely that you would be promoted to CEO in your first year with the firm.) Then, as you are designing your resume, work these in so that they are easy to find in 15 seconds. ***

This is a time of transition in your life. You'll need to provide a prospective employer with information they can use to contact you now or later. Also, remember that many potential employers are web 2.0 savvy and they may look you up. They might run a Google search on your name or they may check out MySpace or Facebook to see who you REALLY are. You'll also want to create a professional email address that you check on a daily basis.

Here's what you need to gather first:
Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address
All your contact information should go at the top of your resume.
• Avoid nicknames.
• Use a permanent address. Use your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after graduation.
• Use a permanent telephone number and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral greeting.
• Add your e-mail address. Many employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an e-mail address that sounds professional. I recommend using gmail.com.If you use an email address like hotchick@abc.com you will sound like a kid and may be treated as such.)
• Include your web site address only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.


Here are links for articles that provide you with tips and hints on how to write a great resume:
The Secret “So What?” Method To Resume Writing Success
How to Write a Masterpiece of a Resume: Part 1 Write a Resume that Generates Results (This has an extensive, impressive set of sublinks)

Step by Step instructions on how to tackle writing a resume can be found at:
How to Construct a Killer Resume, From Start to Finish
Purdue University step-by-step instructions
Prudue University Resume' powerpoint presentation
A Prudue University link about how scannable/electronic resumes differ from traditional resumes.
Now that you have the format and information figured out, you might want to tweak it so that you use the perfect verbiage. Here's some help with that:
60 Resume Achievement Writing Ideas and Expressions
25 words that hurt your resume
Using Resume Keywords

Resume Design Recommendations are found in:
Give your résumé a face lift
The 7 deadly sins of résumé design

Want to see some samples? Look here:
You can view sample resumes from several types of career fields by looking them up on the Resume Resource website.
Or you can check out BlueSky Resumes - Get Creative to see how a simple, plain resume can be energized with formatting.
Innovative and a bit designer resumes are found in 36 Beautiful Resume Ideas That Work For really artsy, graphic art style check out The 20 most creative resumes I’ve seen in a long time. Pure inspiration
Landing the Job is a great blog that offers straight forward answer to aspects related to getting a career.

Let's get started writing your resume. There is an excellent worksheet and article on resume writing for teens at QuintCareers.com, Teen Resume Writing Worksheet.
Please upload a printable copy of the worksheet (just look for the link on the site) and complete the questions. You will need this when we type up our resumes in class.


Action Words:
• achieved
• acquired
• adapted
• addressed
• administered
• analyzed
• anticipated
• assembled
• assisted
• audited
• budgeted
• calculated
• centralized
• changed
• collaborated
• composed
• condensed
• conducted
• constructed
• contracted
• converted
• coordinated
• created
• cultivated
• demonstrated
• designed
• developed
• devised
• discovered
• doubled • drafted
• edited
• eliminated
• enforced
• established
• evaluated
• expanded
• explained
• forecasted
• formed
• founded
• generated
• guided
• hired
• implemented
• improved
• informed
• insured
• interpreted
• interviewed
• launched
• maintained
• managed
• marketed
• minimized
• motivated
• negotiated
• obtained
• operated
• organized • originated
• oversaw
• performed
• planned
• prevented
• produced
• programmed
• promoted
• provided
• publicized
• published
• recruited
• reorganized
• reported
• researched
• resolved
• reviewed
• selected
• separated
• set up
• simplified
• solved
• surveyed
• staffed
• supervise
• taught
• tested
• trained
• used

Kseniya Simonova's Sand Art Video - A Small Bit to Appreciate

Every once in a while something small will touch the lives of many. Here's the piece I showed about the woman from the Ukraine's Got Talent show. I hope you enjoy her representation of her sand art interpretation of what Germany's invasion during World War II did to her people.

Career Research Paper & Presentation

Career Research Paper & Presentation

Know:
A student who researches the nature of a job, its working conditions, employment facts, the education and training requirements, along with the future job potential and earnings will be wiser and more knowledgeable when determining a career path to choose.

Understand:
Doing the research for yourself will allow you to follow pathways of knowledge that can open more doors and introduce new areas that could become of interest.

Do:
You will complete the research and create an engaging presentation about that career.


Here’s and outline of what information needs to be included. Feel free to add more than what is asked for:

General Classification: (example: Engineer)

Specializations within the Given Field: (Example: Mechanical Engineer)

I. Nature of the work
1. Major duties
2. Technological influences
1. Advancements
2. Emerging specialties
3. Geographic Concerns/Requirements/Limits/Opportunities
4. Philosophical Issues

II. Working conditions
1. Typical hours worked
2. Workplace environment
3. Physical activities
4. Susceptibility to injury
5. Special equipment
6. Extent of travel required
7. Extent of “On Call” or out of office expectations/responsibilities

III. Employment facts
1. Estimated number of jobs
2. Key industries for jobs
3. Significant geographic distribution

IV. Education and training qualifications
A. Personal characteristics/Skills
1. Read, write, and speak well
2. Compute accurately
3. Think logically
4. Learn quickly
5. Get along with others
6. Demonstrate dependability
7. Computer/Web 2.0 Savvy

B. Preference by employers
1. High school
2. On-the-job training
3. Special Certification or License
4. Formal training (including apprenticeships)
1. Paid Apprenticeships
a. How Long?
b. What is the expected pay?
2. Volunteer Practicum
5. Armed Forces
6. College or postgraduate degrees
7. Previous work experience

C. Typical length of training
D. Advancement possibilities
1. Additional education required for promotion/advancement?

V. Future job outlook
A. Growth or decline potential
1. Number of job openings expected in coming years
B. Turnover rate
C. Susceptibility to layoffs
D. Is this career location specific or very transferable to other locations/professions
E. Local Opportunities
F. National Opportunities
G. Global Opportunities

VI. Earnings
A. Compensation
1. Starting Salary
2. Average Annual Earnings
3. Top Salaries in the career

B. Benefits
1. Medical
2. Insurance
3. Others of Monetary Significance ( Stocks, Partnership, etc.)

VII. Job Postings
A. Find two actual job postings for the career you are researching.


This form was adapted from the one found at:
http://alex.state.al.us/uploads/5680/Career%20Research%20Paper%20Outline.doc
Research Sites:
Below you will find a list of sites that will aid in your research. Please understand that this is not an exhaustive list, just a starting point.

Database Research Link:

AHS Website> Library>Research Databases> Click on the first link under “Do You Have Your Jefferson County Public Library Card? This will get you to the database listing. Some of them will require your Jeffco Lib. Card number. Others will list the login and password that you need to access the material. The databases are listed in alphabetical order. Here are a few of the ones that might be useful, depending on what your career topic is:
Careers – Internet Gale Databases Health Source
Learning Express Nursing & Allied Health
Online Magazines & Newspapers

Local Newspapers: Website> Library>Online Newspaper Access

Career Index & Information - http://www.wetfeet.com/Careers---Industries.aspx

Online Occupational Information - http://online.onetcenter.org/

Career Research Checklist and Good Informational Links Site:
http://www.quintcareers.com/career_research_checklist.html
Career Descriptions:
http://diplomaguide.com/article_directory/Job_Titles_and_Careers_List.html

Bureau of Labor Statistics: www.bls.gov

Specifics for Your Research:

The Grading Rubric for Career Research Paper & Presentation clearly states the expectations for this project. Here are a few reminders:

Please create a presentation (using PowerPoint or some other electronic source) that highlights what you have learned about the career you researched.

The presentation needs to include the information from the outline included in this assignment.

Be sure to create a professional looking presentation.

The research you’ve done should be documented in MLA styles. Here are two sites that will help you learn how to cite your findings correctly.
http://www.thewritesource.com/mla.htm
.
Son of Citation Machine - MLA

(You will save your work in your network folder. You will use the SmartBoard to show your presentation.
Please be sure to hand in a copy of handout slides from your presentation. If you do not know how to do this, see me. I will show you how.)

Grading Rubric for Career Research Paper & Presentation (The information below represents an "A" presentation. To see the entire grading rubric see me in class.)


ContentProject contains detailed and pertinent information from all categories of the research project.

PreparednessStudent is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed. Presentation flows smoothly.

MLA Format
All information is cited properly using MLA format. MLA citation contains no errors.

Appearance
PowerPoint is well organized and is clear and easy to read.

Posture and Eye Contact
Shows a full understanding of the topic. Stands up straight, looks relaxed and confident. Establishes eye contact with everyone in the room during the presentation.

Volume
Volume is loud enough to be heard by all audience members throughout the presentation.

Speaks Clearly
Speaks clearly and distinctly all (100-95%) the time, and mispronounces no words.