Plan for Today
I know there’s “no class” today, but I wanted to have a page anyway in case you’re not in Myrtle Beach or out and about. This is just to keep you focused and mimics May 21st’s page.
Don’t forget to read the Revising Prose supplement I have for you. We’ll be getting into prose revisions this week.
Finish Résumé Stuff
Let’s head over to last class’s discussion on résumé duties and then move on to discussing cover letters. Remember, you might have a résumé and cover letter that you used for a job (that you got), another class (that you got an ‘A’ on), or the career center. I will comment on your résumés and cover letters based on how effective you are about SHOWING that you’re the ideal candidate for a job. It’s not enough to just consider formatting concerns. You must also think critically about how you’re communicating your qualifications.
Head back to the discussion on workplace culture–May 21st’s page–if you need more guidance.
Also, even though this is supposed to be somewhat amusing, Peter Profit’s cover letter, while absurd, is formatted well and shows why he’s an ideal candidate. Notice that he doesn’t use phrases like “team player,” “goal oriented,” “punctual,” etc. He shows his experience and describes the tools he uses. That is showing and not telling. Show that you’re the ideal candidate in your cover letter.
Lessons on Plain Language Coming Up
Next class we’ll be talking about more sentence-level, prose concerns. The goal of the lessons will be on understanding what is meant by “efficient prose” and “plain language.” In order to get us going, please have the Revising Prose document read. This reading is also on Canvas.
Keeping Up
Read Chapters 4 and 7 in Tebeaux & Dragga for tomorrow.
Your Cover Letters and Résumés, which are portfolio assignments, are due tomorrow (5/26). Turn them in on Canvas before 11:00 pm.