For this assignment, you will be demonstrating that you know (1) how to read the rhetorical situation of applying for a position, and (2) how to write to that situation by presenting yourself through the standard documents of the job search: the cover letter and the resume. This assignment consists of three parts, as described below. Please write all three documents on separate pages in the same Word Document, and just save and submit one document.

 Your first step to this exercise is to find a job to apply for. You do not need to actually apply for this job, but you do need to locate a real job or internship that you might be qualified for (either now, or at the end of your studies). Save the job description so you can copy and paste it into the memo report that you will submit with this assignment.

 

1.    Cover Letter

 Author: You

Audience: A prospective employer

Genre: Solicited Letter, Block Format (see page 204-5 and Cover Letter Lecture for examples)

Information: Write a cover letter targeted for the job ad you found, following the formatting discussed in the readings and notes, meeting the purposes of the document as we have established them (stating the position you're applying for, summarizing your qualifications for this position, providing accurate contact information, etc). Format and tone are crucial here: don't let poor document design or word choice ruin your chances of interviewing for this position. Don't use a template to build this document. This cover letter is the only chance that this company or organization will have to hear your voice—to get a sense of your personality. How do you think you should present yourself?  This should be no longer than a page (and probably a bit shorter). See the lecture notes, especially, for advice about what should go in a good cover letter.

 

2.    Resume

Author: You

Audience: A prospective employer

Genre: Resume, Chronological or Skill-Based (see Resume Lecture Notes and pages 214-15, 217-21, 224-27 for examples)

Information: Now that you know your company and you have presented yourself in a cover letter, put together a great resume—one that presents your skills in the best light. Think about all your options: categories (work experience, special skills, etc.), decisions of formatting (active verbs, heading, bullets, etc.) and create a one-page document that mounts so impressive a summary of your qualifications that you will surely be a candidate for future contact. Consult the Resume Lecture for advice, as well as the Business and Professional Writing textbook (Chapter 11). DO NOT use the Microsoft Word resume templates to design your resume; rather, use good document design skills (see textbook Chapter 5 and Resume Lecture Notes) to choose the best formatting and presentation for your resume. Remember, your resume is basically a document that sells your skills and work ethic to an employer—make it the best document you can.

 

3.    Memo Report about Research and Rhetorical Choices

Author: You

Audience: Your professor, Julieta Woleslagle

Genre: Memo (see pages 137-40 for examples and formatting)

Information: The most important piece of information contained in this memo should be the description of the actual job you wrote these documents for - you can include a web link, a scan of a newspaper clipping, or just retype the job ad.

 This memo report should describe the research and decisions you made while composing the cover letter and resume. In short, this memo demonstrates to me that you know how to find information about a position in order to help you write a more rhetorically effective cover letter and resume. Use resources such as the internet (homepages of various companies and organizations) and periodical database searches (articles in business databases detailing recent developments and important issues within companies and organizations) to answer these kinds of questions: What does your audience seem to value? What have been their successes and challenges? What exactly is expected of the person holding this particular position?

In a memo report to me of 300 words (not counting the job ad), explain to me how this information led you to make specific choices about how you wrote and formatted your cover letter and resume. 

For example:  "Based on my research into the company's website and mission, I felt that creativity was almost as important to this employer as education.  For that reason, I discuss projects that demonstrate my creative potential in my cover letter's second paragraph, immediately following my description of how my education meets their stated requirements."

Answer rating: 100% (QA)

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