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Business Communication: Building Critical Skills
Kitty O. Locker, Ohio State University
Steven Kyo Kaczmarek, Columbus State Community College
Kathryn Braun, Sheridan College
Job Searching

E-Learning Session

  1. What do I need to know about myself to job hunt? Your knowledge, skills, abilities, interests, and values.
    1. Personality and aptitude tests can tell you what your strengths are, but they won't tell you exactly what to do.
    2. Answer the specific questions to determine what jobs are appropriate for you. TRANSPARENCY MASTER
    3. Once you know what is most important to you, analyze the job market to see where you could find what you want.
  2. What do I need to know about companies that might hire me? Yes! As much as you can!
    1. To adapt job applications to a specific organization and to shine in an interview, know:
      • What the job itself involves.
      • The name and address of the person who should receive the letter.
      • What the organization does and at least four or five facts about it. TRANSPARENCY MASTER
      • Seek out information using available sources. POWERPOINT SLIDE
          1. CONCEPT CHECK True or False: Very little information about companies exists to help you research them. CONCEPT CHECK
  3. Should I do informative interviews? They'll help any job hunter. They're crucial if you're not sure what you want to do.
    1. In an information interview, you talk to someone who works in the area you hope to enter to find out: TRANSPARENCY MASTER
      • What the day-to-day work involves
      • How you can best prepare to enter that field.
          1. CONCEPT CHECK True or False: The best information interviews are with people in fields you're only marginally interested in. CONCEPT CHECK
  4. What is the "hidden job market"? How do I tap into it? The "hidden market" is composed of jobs that are never advertised. Referral interviews and prospecting letters can help you find it.
    1. A good many jobs are never advertised; over 60% of all new jobs come not from responding to an ad but from networking with personal contacts.
    2. Unadvertised jobs are part of the hidden job market. POWERPOINT SLIDE
      • Referral interviews can help you find out more about the hidden job market.
          1. CONCEPT CHECK True or False: Be sure to ask for a job during a referral interview; after all, you might as well make the trip worthwhile. CONCEPT CHECK
  5. What's the best way to present non-traditional experience? Address the employer's fears, calmly and positively.
    1. Each of the following presents potential challenges for job-seekers:
      • "All of my experience is in my family's business."
      • "I've been out of the job market for a while."
      • "I want to change fields."
      • "I was fired."
      • "I don't have any experience."
      • "I'm a lot older than they want."
      • CONCEPT CHECK True or False: Don't even bother to apply for a job if you have a major weakness-few people in the workplace are likely to give you a chance. CONCEPT CHECK
  6. Go to the Self-Quizzes section if you would like to test your understanding of this module.




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