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Project 1: Job Application Materials Find a job you want Begin your project by searching for a job or internship ad. Look for a real advertisement for a job that you might want and for which you might be qualified, now or after you have completed your degree. You may use an expired job ad if you like—it does not have to be currently open.

Résumé Write a functional (skills) résumé or a hybrid functional/chronological résumé for the purpose of applying for this job or internship. Your résumé should be one or two pages long and use attractive and balanced document design. You may disguise your personal information if you like. You may list your college degree with an expected graduation date, but do not claim to hold any degree or qualifications that you do not possess.

Professional Profile Do not include an objective statement on your résumé. While objective statements were once common, and even considered essential, trends in many fields have replaced the vague and generic objective statement with the more descriptive and dynamic Professional Profile. You can title this section “Professional Profile,” another relevant section title like “Skills and Achievements,” or you can give it a personal headline like “English Language Arts Teacher.” In addition to the examples in the textbook, a simple Google search of “professional profile resume” will return many examples you may find useful.

Tip: A good professional profile can not only enhance your résumé but also build up your professional identity on social media. Once you have written your profile and received feedback, consider adding it to your LinkedIn or job board profile.

Cover Letter Write a cover letter addressed to the hiring manager or decision maker for the job you have chosen. Highlight the attributes that make you a good candidate for the job and offer useful details beyond what is listed on your résumé. Your letter should be one page long.

Job Application Grading Criteria The specific rubric for evaluating this project is on page 2 of this document. Use it as a checklist for evaluating your own work before you submit it to be graded.

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Category & Points Possible

Criteria

Professional Profile

10 points

• Concisely highlights relevant skills and qualifications • Incorporates keywords from job ad

Cover Letter

35 points

• Uses business letter format • Expands on information in resume (not merely repeating it) • First paragraph identifies position and source of job ad and

forecasts rest of the letter • Each paragraph expresses a unified idea introduced by a

clear topic sentence • Final paragraph refers to resume, expresses desire for

interview, and invites future contact • Is one page long

Resume Content

35 points

• Includes identifying information • Emphasizes education and job experience in reverse

chronological order • Describes transferable skills using active verbs • Contains no irrelevant or negative information

Resume Design

10 points

• Uses attractive and professional design that is easily readable

• Uses margins, indentations, and white space effectively • Uses section headings that clearly indicate organization of

document • Uses appropriate typeface and type size • Is one or two pages long

Grammar and Mechanics

10 points

• Clear and correct sentence structure Free of errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation