Chapter 8: Introduction to Employment Communication

If you devote a portion of your life to training for a career, nothing is more important at the end of that program than getting a job where you can apply your training. The job application process requires advanced communication skills typically not taught in your core program courses, and the competition for the best jobs is fierce.

Hiring competitions involve two components comparable to a written and oral exam. You must pass the written component (the cover letter and résumé) before you move on to the oral (the interview), and you must out-perform the competition in the written component to get the interview, and in the oral component to get the job. Representing you in your physical absence, your cover letter and résumé mainly assure employers that you have the experience and skills required to be successful in the job. They also prove whether you are literate and conscientious enough to represent the company respectably when writing on their behalf to customers and other stakeholders. The oral component proves that you can carry a sophisticated conversation, represent the company successfully in face-to-face interactions with customers, and communicate clearly and in a personable manner with managers and co-workers while conducting day-to-day operations.

This chapter covers both components of the hiring process. We begin with the research work you should do in order to prepare effective cover letters and résumés. The advice given here represents a fairly broad consensus of employer expectations, but it can’t apply to all because each employer is unique. Doing research and networking are great ways of identifying the company and position that is right for you and increasing your chances of being hired. After examining strategies for job hunting, we’ll cover the résumé and cover letter-writing process with the goal of producing job application materials that will considerably increase your chances of getting an interview. Next, we will discuss interview expectations and strategies.