Beginning the Job Search:

Locating & Analyzing Job Ads

DR. WILLIAM C. KURLINKUS
TECHNICAL WRITING
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

Professional Emails
Its always better to be more formal than informal.
Make sure you address the person by their formal title, Dr., Professor, etc.
Start and end politely. Dear x, and Sincerely, x
Include specific timesif you are requesting a meeting, its your job to

request 2-3 times when you might meet (this is only if you already have a
relationship with the recipient).
Make sure there is a specific request in your email and that the request is not
buried.
Use the scannability rules weve read about: bullet points, numbers, etc.
break up paragraphs that are about different topics/requests.
Enter the email address of the recipient right before you send it.
Dont assume I know who you are.
Use an informative subject line.
Emails are legal recordsif you want privacy, want to complain, etc., call on
the phone or do so in person.

Professional Emails
Dr. Smarty-Pants,
Im very interested in your
work and would like to talk
with you to discuss a paper
I am writing.
Sincerely,

Hello Dr. Smarty-Pants,

I am interested in your seminar Wonderful
Research Topics. I am a second year student
in your department, and came across your
syllabus from last fall on the department
website. I am currently writing a paper on this
topic and wish to discuss some ideas for
additional resources and the direction of my
paper if I wish to publish it. Are you available
to meet with me for about 20 minutes next
Tuesday after 3 PM or Wednesday anytime
between 10 AM and 1 PM?
Thank you and I look forward to our meeting.

Excited Student

Sincerely,
Excited Student

Assignment 1
INTRODUCTION TO THE PARTS

Restricting Your Job Search

What specialty within your chosen career appeals to

you most?

Nurses, for instance, might work at a large teaching hospital,

for a hospice agency, or in a physicians office.

What type of working conditions most appeal to

you?

Small groups, traveling, telecommunicating, living overseas,

near family?

Which specific companies or organizations have the

best track record for promoting individuals in your

field? For doing the most innovative work?

Enhancing Your Professional Image

Student organizations in your area
Large national organizations
Internships and training programs
Going to trade shows and professional conferences
Finding a mentor
Talking to your advisor or a favorite professor

regularly
Volunteer work
Job shadowing

Online Job Sites

Indeed: www.indeed.com
Career Builder: www.careerbuilder.com
Monster: www.moster.com
After College: www.aftercollege.com
College Recruiter: www.collegerecruiter.com
College Grad: www.collegegrad.com
Monster College: www.college.moster.com

Social Networking
Twitter: Actually a strong job search engine. Search:

x,y, z [your career] needed.

LinkedIn
1.

2.

3.

Allows you to perform a job search (by field, job title, company,
or zip code)
Lets you research a companys core values, mission statement,
etc., which can be used in cover letters
Expand contacts: current and former instructors; former
bosses, managers, co-workers; other professional association
members; community leaders; businesses you frequent; alumni

Keep information up-to-date

Letters of Recommendation
Make sure you know and talk to the person you are requesting a letter

from: previous employers, teachers, other people you worked/volunteered

below.
In your request for a letter of recommendation, give the writer a list of
things you did together that they might write about. Be specific. Think
about tailoring these examples to your job ads hard and soft skills.
Bonus points if you can get a letter of recommendation from someone with
ties to the company you are applying for.
The example in the book is rather vagueyou should provide info about the
jobor at least type of jobyou are applying to, that way the writer can
tailor the letter to your job.
Flatter the recommendation writer.
Give them at least a month to write itremind them a week before it is due.
Give them a resume.

Analyzing a Job Ad
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Find a job ad
Determine the possibility of you getting this job
Determine what the problem this company is trying to solve by
hiring
Catalogue hard skills required
Catalogue soft skills required
Look for other buzzwords/keywords/search terms
Research the company: recent projects; ethos; pathos
Begin a list of how your prior experiences might be spun
towards the required skills and buzzwords
Locate the name and title of the person who you are applying to

Find a Job Ad: 10 minutes

Homework
DO THE READINGS
2. F I N D A N D A N A L Y Z E 1 J O B A D
3. B E G I N Y O U R C V
4. B R I N G I N Y O U R G R A M M A R H O M E W O R K
1.