Al P's Resume Writing Tips

Your resume is one of the most important tools when trying to obtain employment; it's a document that contains all of your educational background, career experience, and skills and achievements. You never want to wait till the last minute when putting a resume together, it should be built over time and change with every career or educational accomplishment you make. The reason you should build overtime is because you may forget about past employers and leave out valuable information that may have slipped your mind at the time. It will also give you time to perfect it, leaving no grammatical or professional errors. Believe it or not, but employers strongly frown upon resumes that have even the slightest grammatical errors, it may even lessen your chance of obtaining that dream job. Cramming a resume together at the last minute can be stressful, but when built over time you will be confident that it will project the exact information that you want it to.


This is what happens when you wait till the last minute to write your resume, you forget valuable names and achievements, and have no idea what your going to do.

This is what happens when your resume is built over time, contains all valuable information, and is as close to perfect as possible. You will be confident in your resume and yourself.



When you are putting your resume together you want to keep it targeted towards the type of employment that you are trying to obtain. You shouldn't just send out a generic resume, but instead research the company your applying to and tailor your resume for that specific company.
You should also keep in mind that there are a few different ways to compose your resume. According to Technical communication in the 21st Century, there are chronological, skills, and entry-level resumes.

• Chronological- You must summarize your experience and training in the order in which it occurred(beginning with the most recent). This type of resume highlights facts, degrees, job titles, and dates(Dorbin).

• Skills- This type of resume emphasizes the experience and skills that qualify the applicant for the position, rather than specific degrees, titles, and dates(Dorbin).

• Entry-Level- These resumes are used when you have little to no related experience in the position you are applying for. This type of resume follows the same format as the other two, but instead of focusing on credentials you should focus on who you are as a person. You should include details that show you are trustworthy, smart, reliable, and interesting(Dorbin).
  

There are five main sections that should be included in every resume;

• Contact information
• career objective
• education
• experience
• skills and achievements

If you take these five basic components and place them into one of the formats above, you will have a great resume which will be a great asset when trying to score an interview for that dream job.

References:

Dorbin, Sidney I., Christopher J. Keller and Christian R. Weisser. Technical Communication: In the Twenty-First Century. Upper Sadle,NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.

Brian G's Fascinating Letter Writing Guide

In my career so far I have had to write many letters to people. Being a trainer for Walgreens means that I have to communicate with people that I have only met a few times. This makes learning the parts of a letter extremely important. At first I did not follow the correct process and that made me letters far less effective. The different parts of a letter include the heading, date, recipient’s address, greeting, introduction, body, conclusion, a closing phrase, and a signature.

The heading is important because that allows the reader to see who the letter is from. For me having the Walgreens name and address at the top of the letter made sure that people knew that it was an important document. Even if it is just a simple letter to any business or employee, you need to be sure to add the address so they know who sent the letter to them.

The date should be included so that the person knows when the letter was written. This is very beneficial because it allows the person to understand how long the letter has been sitting there. In my experience the date being included allows my bosses the ability to see when I wrote the letter and to also have a timeline for communication. This works really well for ongoing projects.

The recipient’s address is vital because it allows you to address the letter to a specific person or place. By making sure that there is a destination on the letter it allows the person to see who is supposed to receive the information. In a large corporation, like Walgreens, this can be important because letters are being sent in between departments all the time. If you do not address the letter properly the person may not receive the letter in time, or it will be delayed.

The greeting is important because it addresses the specific person that the letter is addressed to. I have made mistakes with my greeting before. If you do not write to the correct person the letter will be misplaced and the information will go unnoticed.

The introduction is where you will put what the letter is about. This is important because it is very common that the reader will only read the first few sentences of the letter before they decide if they should keep reading. I have learned that in my profession you need to lead with your big guns. If you try to just give a taste of the letter it will not be as effective. You need to go ahead and put your most persuasive information out front.

The body is where you will put the bulk of your information. This is where you can include the information that you are trying to present as well as include your background information. For me this is where I put people’s progress reports.

The closing paragraph is where you will conclude your thoughts in the letter. This is where you reiterate the information that you have presented in both the introduction and body of the letter. For me, this is where I would give them their grade or tell them how they could improve their quality of work.

The closing phrase is where you would put sincerely, or respectfully. This is something that you put before your signature to close out your letter. I usually put sincerely yours. I have found that this works best for me, but it may be different depending on the work that you are doing.

The last thing that a letter should include is your signature. This is the final piece to the letter. You will normally type out your name under your signature so that they know who sent the letter. You can also put your title under your name. This is what I do.

These are the basics for a professional letter. I hope that my tips help you in the future and that you have learned something about writing a letter. Keep in mind that these are the basics to a letter and you can always add more information to the letter.

Dobrin, Sidney I, Christopher J. Keller, and Christian R. Weisser. "Organizing and Drafting Documents" Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) (MyTechCommLab Series). Alexandria, VA: Prentice Hall, 2009. 366-389. Print.

Anthony 5 C's

When writing any kind of professional document one should always remember the 5 C’s. These include being clear, concise, complete, correct and courteous. You may think that the 5 C’s aren’t such a big deal but they may make the difference in whether or not you receive the job you are going for. The 5 C's are so important that they could turn a paper worthy of a C or B into an A paper. I have experienced this personally with my resume. I had it reviewed by my uncle who owns his own business and I asked him if he would hire me with my resume? The resume I gave him did not include the 5 C's. He said "no" so I went and received a little help. When I took it back to him this time the resume was complete, correct, clear, concise, and courteous. He said he would hire a person with a resume like my corrected one. My uncle didn't say this because we are related. I know this because it was the same resume I turned in and received a 48/50 in this class.

To give you a better understanding I have provided a brief definition below for each word.
• Clear: easily understood; without ambiguity: clear, concise answers.
• Concise: expressing or covering information in few words; brief in form but comprehensive in scope; succinct.
• Complete: finished; ended; concluded, containing all that is needed.
• Correct: to set or make true, accurate, or right; remove the errors or faults.
• Courteous: having or showing good manners; polite.


Notice the C+ grade in the left margin of the above paper. Had the writer of this essay made sure the 5 C's where included in their essay instead of receiving a C+ they might could have received an B or even an A.

The 5 C's are not just for writing, they can also be used in giving speeches. For example when preparing to give a speech a lot of speakers practice their speech multiple times. This is done to make sure the speech is clear so the listeners will know what's being said. It is also to make sure the speech does not just run on and instead is consice so the listener will not be bored. Hopefully it will even help engage the listening audience. This also helps the speaker make sure the speech is correct and free from all errors, the speech should also be courteous. A courteous speech is a speech that is respectful to ones audience. It is used to get the point across but to do so in a way where no one is being offended. When you have a courteous speech it creates a courteous audience and will help get ones point across. Lastly it helps the speaker make sure the speech is complete. A complete speech is one that utilizes the first four C's and that has the proper formate along with enough information.


Going back to a personal experience, my first year in college I was put into a public speaking class. My first speech in that class didn't go well. I thought, "how hard can it be to just talk?" After that first speech I was terrified of the fact that we still had to give five more speeches. On my second speech I tried something different. I first wrote out my speech and went over it twice a day for a week. When it was time for me to present I received a perfect score. The teacher of my public speaking class told me that I "delivered one of the best speakers in the class." This is proof that by applying the 5' C's you can really make a big difference in your work.

The 5 c's by anthonybanks64 | Make Your Own At www.toondoo.com

For a background on my toondoo please see the following movie

Jason Kaufman's Importance of Visuals

What is the importance of a visual? A visual could be important with anything from an idea for a client to invest in a building by showing pictures of a floor plan, to enhancing a presentation to a prospective buyer interested in property by showing pictures of the surrounding scenery. Regardless the purpose for using visuals, if used correctly and appropriately in relation to the purpose, a visual can add credibility, clarity and professionalism.

The first two pictures were taken on the back porch of my own North Carolina house. They are perfect examples of how a visual can be used in describing the scenery of a property. You can see some of the wood porch I was standing on when I took the picture, I don’t think it effects the integrity of the visual, in fact I think it actually makes it more authentic because you get an Idea of where I was when I took the picture. The first picture was taking on the lower balcony and the second picture was taken on the second balcony. The last visual is a floor plan of our very own FGCU everglades building.

How do you know which visual to use? First, according to Technical Communication in the Twenty First Century, You must first decide whether you need a photograph, an illustration, a diagram, or some other type of visual(pg.144). Next, you’re going to want to consider what you are trying to accomplish with the use of the visual. After these two questions are answered, it should narrow down the search to find the best visual. Finally, you will want to come up with the appropriate search term. When searching for a visual, I have found it very useful to use the most specific term or terms if possible. After this step, you should be able to distinguish from others the best visual for you.

Some visuals are free, although the most professional visuals with better quality tend to require a fee. So consider the importance of the visual, If you are trying to put together a presentation for multi-millionaire investors. I would pay for a exclusive high resolution colored photographs, depending on your funds. On the other hand, if you were creating a short memo for your peers, I would not feel by any means necessary to pay for visuals.

Where to get a visual? I usually just go to google images and search, I have found this to be very effective in the past. This is an example of a Free web resource. Although there are many different sources(electronic) to find the right visual like a:

· Licensed database(databases most universities and some businesses subscribe to, good quality)
· Free web resources(visuals that can be found for free online, usually low quality)
· Commercial database(professional high quality visuals you must pay for, most images are watermarked until paid for)(pg.145)

Whatever your sources are, after you have found the best visual, it is important to incorporate that visual into the appropriate location in your document or presentation.

Reference:

Dobrin, S.I., Keller C.J., & Weisser C.R. (2002).. Technical Communications in the Twenty First Century Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing. pg. 144-145

Alexis B's How to Resign From a Job

It is inevitable, at some point in your professional career you will most likely have a job that you will want to leave, quit and/or resign from. Whether it is for a better job opportunity, to move to a different location, or because you completely despise everything about that current position you will be put in the position to resign from your job.

The normal time for putting in your notice of resignation is two weeks. If you have already accepted a new job, you should correlate your resignation with your new start date. This will allow you to have a smooth transition from your old to new job.

You should give your resignation in person. According to Radin Associates, on a Friday you should ask your direct supervisor if you can speak with him privately. When you announce your intention to resign, you should also hand your supervisor a letter which states your last date of employment with the company.

Just like the process of firing an employee, when resigning you must stress that your decision is final. You should NOT say anything negative about the employer or company when resigning. There is always a possibility that word will get out to your new employer, or you change your mind and will want to return to your job. You need to be as professional as possible and leave a good final impression.



According to the you tube video above, whether or not you resign in person it should also be accompanied by a formal resignation letter. Keep the letter short and simple. Thank the employer, inform of resignation, and give a date.

Radin Associates. “The Proper Way to Resign.” Retrieved on November 30, 2009, from

Brian G's Writing an Effective Memo

Writing a memo is very important within businesses. I work at Walgreens Pharmacy and we use memos to communicate between the different departments. Understanding how to write a memo is crucial for my success. If I do not follow the proper procedure and keep the reader’s attention for a given time, my memo will not be read and the information will not be given to the proper people.

There are many different types of memos and they each depend on your audience to be effective. Some of the memos that you may write include status memos, field reports, response memos, and minutes of a meeting. The majority of memos that I have written are status or progress memos. Within the Pharmacy I need to write memos to different stores to make sure that the reports or projects are being completed in a timely manner.

There are some basic elements of memos that you need to include if you are going to write an effective memo. The first part of the memo that needs to be included is the identification of information. This can vary from one memo to the next, but it should include the information and subject of the memo. This includes the date of the memo, who the memo is addressed to, who is sending the memo, and the subject. This identification information is very important in making sure that your memo gets to the proper area. When I first began writing memos for Walgreens I was not stating who the memo was to go to. I found out quickly that my memos were not getting read so I found out why and fixed my mistakes.

The bulk of a memo is the content that you are conveying. The best way to have a flowing memo is to begin with your main point and then back it up with your information. If you do not begin with your main point your information may not get read. Most businesses only read the first part of a memo to see if they need to continue reading. If your main points are not leading it will not be read by everyone. You should make sure that you allow a space in between all of the paragraphs. This will allow the memo to look very organized and clean. All of the body paragraphs, which contain the “central idea, usually found in the topic sentence.” (Dobrin 351) After you are done with all the body paragraphs you should have a concluding paragraph that does not have a closing statement, but gives a plan for action that the reader should follow. I have found that guiding the reader to their action plan helps make the memo more effective. If you do not back up your central idea the reader does not follow as well. I have written many memos that have gone unknown because the reader did not believe in my credibility, or I did not have a strong enough central idea. These are vital to an effective memo.

Hopefully, the information that I have presented will help you better understand how to write a memo effectively. My experience has taught me some tricks of the trade. Every business is different when it comes to how to format a memo. Make sure that you check before you go writing a business memo. The biggest thing that I can say about memos is that you have a clear central idea that you can provide strong persuasive information about. This will build ethos with the readers and make your memo more effective.

Dobrin, Sidney I, Christopher J. Keller, and Christian R. Weisser. "Organizing and Drafting Documents" Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) (MyTechCommLab Series). Alexandria, VA: Prentice Hall, 2009. 170-191. Print.

Revision is one of the most important steps in the writing process. Every writer does some sort of revision on their work before releasing it to their audience. However, revision goes much farther than simply hitting the spell check button. A good revision can make or break your work, which in the professional writing world, may cost you that big promotion you've been working so hard for your whole career. Therefore it pays to learn good revising habits and make it second nature to practice this on all of your work.

First, you want to start basic revision which handles checking your grammar, correcting your misspelled words, and making sure your facts are valid and up to date. Having typos or misused grammar can instantly dismantle any credibility you have gained from your reader. Also a more difficult task is making sure your facts are bona fide and are current. This is so difficult because what could be true today may not be true tomorrow. For example, if I write a paper today saying that Obama is our president it would be true, however ten years from now, this would be false.

As Barry Gilmore mentions in this video, revision goes much farther than that. A good revision improves the paper's readability. Readability is very important aspect to your work. It will make it easier for the audience to extract information from your work and assist in keeping the reader's attention. A few good ways to do this are as follows:

• Eliminate distracting visuals
• Make sure you do not repeat information unless its completely necessary.
• Try to combine smaller sentences into larger, more complex sentences, which is a more efficient way to provide information to your audience
• Try to condense run-on sentences that ramble on endlessly. This can confuse your reader and loose their attention
• If you are writing to one of your colleagues, try to use jargon to help condense these run-on sentences. Jargon is "specialized or techincal language used within a particular group, organization or field." For example, for students this could be "dropping a class."

As if all that is not enough, be careful not to change the context in what you are trying to say. Often, when changing sentences around and replacing words, you can completely shift the meaning of your paper. This can confuse the reader, causing decreased readability.

If you follow these tips carefully, you should see a drastic improvement in your writing ability.

Sean H.

Reference:

Technical Communication in the Twentieth Century

Al P's Job Interview Tips

When it comes to interviews most people are nervous/ anxious before, during, and after the interview takes place. They ask themselves all sorts of questions such as:

· I wonder who will be interviewing me?
· What will they ask?
· What should I ask them?
· How should I respond?
· How much money should I ask for?
· I wonder if I’m what they are looking for?

It’s not bad to ask yourself questions, but you want to make sure that you don’t overwhelm yourself with them. Before you even step foot into your interviewers’ office you need to make sure that you are calm, cool, and most importantly confident in yourself. In order to get yourself into the right frame of mind you should be well prepared, here are a few steps that you should take in order to prepare yourself for the big interview:

· Gather information: gather as much info as possible about the company and the interviewers (Dorbin).

· Anticipate Questions: Try and think about the types of questions that will be asked, and come up with answers for them. Rehearse how you will answer questions about education, resume content, and previous employment. Come up with a few questions that you would like to ask the interviewer (Dorbin).

· Conduct Mock Interviews: Practice answering questions that may come up in the interview. Conduct the mock interview with somebody who has knowledge on the position you're applying for. Video tape the interview so you can review and improve (Dorbin).

· Prepare Physically: Make copies of your resume and cover letter, and place them in a professional folder or briefcase. Dress to impress, and have your clothing ready the day before the interview takes place. Clear your schedule a few hours before the interview so you don’t feel pressured or distracted. Take a short walk and clear your mind before the interview, it will help your overall focus (Dorbin).

Now that you have taken the time to prepare yourself for the big interview here is what to expect while you are participating:

• Beginning: This is when you and the interviewer can break the ice. He/She may share some info about the company and the surrounding areas. This is when you may be asked some informal questions, but that doesn't mean they aren't important. This is where the interviewer will begin to form a positive or negative impression of you.
• Middle: This may last from ten minutes to as long as an hour. This is when the interviewer will begin to ask important question pertaining to your skills, qualificatons, and previous duties. Be sure to answer in detail and not with a general answers. You can also ask questions during this time, but only after you have answered the question asked. Answer all questions, no matter how unfair they may seem.
• Conclusion: This part of the interview is short, but this is when you want to ask questions that show you are interested in the position. The interviewer will also provide you with the hiring process and how soon they are looking to fill the position. Be sure to thank the interviewer for their time and the possible opportunity(Dorbin).

References:

Dorbin, Sidney I., Christopher J. Keller and Christian R. Weisser. Technical Communication: In the Twenty-First Century. Upper Sadle,NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.

Jason Kaufman Formal or Informal reports

Which one to write? It's not determined by preference, but more by the purpose for which the writing is taking place. According to Technical Communication in the Twenty First Century(pg.621),The differences between the two are that formal reports tend to be longer than informal, more thorough and detailed, formatted in distinct ways, and often composed for multiple audiences.

Although Informal reports tend to be shorter, it doesn't make them any less important. Informal reports are used everyday in businesses' and very important. They also have identifiable sections, such as an introduction, body, and a conclusion. Informal reports can take on the layout and design elements of formal reports, and can also be composed in different genre types, such as:

• Letters


• E-mails


• Memos


• Presentations

Informal reports can be made for purposes such as to inform, analyze, explain, recommend or even to persuade a party. A party or audience:

• Internally(coworker, supervisors. or executives)


• Externally(clients, customers, or outside agencies)

Regardless whether your report is formal or informal, a writer must always consider the needs and backgrounds of the audience. To get an idea of the needs and backgrounds of the audience, most people do some research, and though this may be time consuming, it is very important and must be done. Determining who the audience is correlated to the workplace situation. Different situations, different reports, different audience. The various types of informal reports are:

• Progress reports


• Lab reports


• Directives
  
• Incident reports

The main types of Formal reports are:

• Recommendation reports(offers options and best suggestion)


• Evaluation reports(an educated opinion on someone or something)


• Feasibility reports(determines whether a plan is possible and will solve the problem)

Another difference between formal and informal reports focus on the kind of problems that need to be solved and different audience expectations. Formal reports will typically usually solve bigger. more complex problems and therefore usually taking more time than informal reports. If you have more questions about about the difference between formal and informal writing, I would take a look at more videos from this youtube user(username): ExpertVillage

reference:

Dobrin, S.I., Keller C.J., & Weisser C.R. (2002).. Technical Communications in the Twenty First Century Upper Saddle River , NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing. pg. 621

Alexis B's How to Fire Someone

The reality TV world has scared every employee that they are going to hear those inevitable words, in the most uncompassionate way… “YOU’RE FIRED!”

However, this is not the correct way to fire an employee, or a better way to say it, let someone go. As an employer, you want to fire someone in as polite of a way as possible. This is for a couple of reasons. One, you do not want a terrible reputation as a ‘heartless’ boss and two; it is not an appropriate way to fire someone regardless of the reasoning behind it.

There are few steps you can take that are outlined in the video above to help you get through the process of ‘letting someone go’.

Prior to firing an employee, you should document all of the actions leading up to the dismissal. This will not only give you a complete list of all of the misconduct or mistakes that the employee has made, it will also allow you to give direct answers to the employee when asked why he/she is being let go.

It is courteous to fire the employee in the beginning of the week. This is because of a couple of reasons. One, this allows them to file for unemployment immediately, begin their job search, and not have to wait all weekend. Two, this way they aren’t sitting all weekend thinking about how much they despise you.

Make sure you fire them in person, and not through a e-mail or phone call. Be very direct, make it as short and simple as possible. It is not open for a debate. If you are not too direct, the person may say, “I can change” which can lead to a long drawn out conversation. It is not needed, you have already made your decision, so keep it brief! Also, let them know right away all of the questions they could possibly ask. If the reason of the termination is not because of bad performance, make sure you offer to be a reference for the employee when applying for other jobs. Why? Your documentation comes in here. When? Let them know when they need to have all of their stuff packed up and when they will receive their final pay.

As soon as you have delivered the bad news and addressed all other issues, ask the person to leave immediately after their affairs are settled. If the person seems extremely angry and might retaliate, consider an escort for them out of the building/office. Also, write down a detailed account of everything that happens in case your professionalism is called into question.

Entrepreneur. (2009) The Right Way to Fire Someone. Retrieved on November 16, 2009 from

Anthony Banks memo

What is the basic element of a memo? Now that technology has improved and we have Email, Instant messaging, Text messaging, and other forms of communication one may wonder why is there a need for memos? Memos are used becaused they are a better choices for more detailed communication and correspondence in which formatting is important. Althought there is no perfect way to format a memo some ways will be more effective then others (Dobrin, et al).




When starting your memo you should always start off with the identifying information. This information should include to whom you are writing and who the memo is from. "The from" is the name of the person who is preparing the memo, follow by the subject which will give the reader the opportunity to skim and see if they should read the body of the memo. Lastly you should date the memo so the memo can be traced and the subject, issue,problem,or idea can filed.

Example of the identifying information:




There are diffrent types of memos. There are directive memos, progress or status memos,and response memos.

Directive memos: these memos provide information about policies or about tasks the readers should perform.
Progress or status memos: these memos supply information about the status of a project or assignment.
Response memos: provide the audiences with information they have requested,(Dobrin, et al).

Al P.’s Advice on Writing Correctly(grammar, spelling, etc.)

Writing is and has been one of the most important forms of communication, but when done incorrectly it can cause misinterpretation and miscommunication. It doesn’t matter if you are writing a resume for an employer or an e-mail to a co-worker, your writing should always be correct and concise. If you want to improve your writing you must start with the basics; Grammar, word choice, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling. One misspelled word or misused comma can cause a sentence or saying to have a totally different meaning. And if it’s a mistake as big as the ones below it could harm your business or chances of landing that dream job. Incorrect spelling and grammar on your resume is major turn off for potential employers.

If you would like to improve your writing and begin to write correctly here are a few things you should take into account the next time you compose a document.

· Grammar- Try to avoid run-on and incomplete sentences.

Incorrect/Fragment: Writing for the team blog.
Correction: Al is sitting at his computer writing for the team blog.

Incorrect/run-on: The five friends were half way to the concert when they realized they had forgotten the tickets at home they were only an hour from the house so they decided to turn around and go get the tickets.

Correct/(divide the run-on into multiple, independent sentences): The five friends were half way to the concert when they realized they had forgotten the tickets at home. They were only an hour from the house so they decided to turn around and go get the tickets.

· Word Choice- Make sure that your content will be understood by your readers. Try to avoid the use slang or jargon words.

Example/Incorrect(intro for job inquiry):
Hey, what’s up Mr. Smith:

Saw your ad up on your website, figured I would shoot you over an e-mail to see if the job is still available. I’ll talk to you later bro.

Peace

Correct(intro for job inquiry):
Dear Mr. Smith:

I am interested in learning more about the position advertised on your website. I believe my qualifications and job experience would make me a perfect candidate for this position.
Sincerely,
John Doe

· Punctuation- Periods should end all complete sentences. When sentence ends with parentheses the period should go on the outside. Question marks indicate interrogatives. Make sure you don’t misuse or overuse commas (Dorbin).

· Capitalization- Capitals should be used on the first letter of the first word of sentences, salutations, and closings. Capitals should also be used on letters that are part of a name(Dorbin).

Incorrect: john decided to take his dog for a walk.
Correct. John decided to take his dog for a walk.

Incorrect: vitamin e will help cover up your scar.
Correct: Vitamin E will help cover up your scar.

· Spelling- Be sure to check your spelling on all documents that you compose. One misspelled word can misrepresent what you’re trying to get across to your reader

Incorrect: The restrooms are for costumers only.
Correct: The restrooms are for customers only.

References:Dorbin, Sidney I., Christopher J. Keller and Christian R. Weisser. Technical Communication: In the Twenty-First Century. Upper Sadle,NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.

Writing a Negative Letter

In the professional world we like to hope that every customer is satisfied with our goods and services that we offer, but sometimes that is just not the case. Occasionally, we may need to contact a customer when we cannot meet their needs and wants. One of the best ways to do this is by writing them a letter explaining the situation. According to the textbook, Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, there is a correct way to write these kinds of letters. Essentially, there are four parts to the negative letter that will set it apart.

1. Create a "buffer." A buffer is generally the first statement in your letter. It's purpose is to get the reader ready for the negative news that they are about to read. The most effective buffers will include something positive that will either help balance the bad news or thank them for something good that the reader has done.
2. State the negative in a concise, clear-cut manner. Avoid drawn out, vague sentences that may either confuse the reader, or may be skipped over. If you can, try to make it one sentence with a positive tone.
3. Present the reader with options. Tell them some alternatives or agreements that you as the company can come up with. This will show the reader that you are there for them, even though they may be furious about the news. Keep in mind, don't go into much detail about the alternatives, because if you promise something, and fail to deliver, the customer will be even more irate.
4. End letter with the intent on working with the customer again. Although this letter is passing on a negative message, make sure your last statement is beyond the problem, and looking forward to the future. The text book mentions that you can mention positive experiences from the past that you and the customer have shared, or tell them how you look forward to working with them in the future.

If you follow these steps, you will be able to send a negative message to a customer in the most effective way. This should help you keep clientele, and help you maximize your profits.

Sean H.

Brian G's Different Types of Organizational Strategies

There are many different approaches that you can take when you are talking about your organizational strategy. An organizational strategy is very important when you are trying to figure out how you will present your information. I have had experience in some of these organizational strategies and it has been very beneficial to me. I will give you some pointers on how to make the best of whichever organizational strategy you choose.

There are nine different approaches to organizational strategy. They are; sequential, chronological, order of importance, general/specific, division, classification, cause and effect, compare/contrast, and spatial. Each of these nine approaches is beneficial for whatever information you need to present.

“Sequential organization places information in the order that it progresses or should progress.” (Dobrin 175) You are probably wondering where you would see this type of organization. This is seen in all instruction manuals and other documents that require you to go through in a specific order. This is one that I typically don’t follow because it is easier to try and figure it out on your own.

Chronological organizational strategy resembles the sequential strategy. The major difference is that with chronological the events flow through time. They are written as they occur. An example of this that I have written many times is a lab report. You need to write down everything as it happens and then have it flow through the report. I did not realize at the time I was using a chronological organization strategy.

With the “order of importance strategy it is commonly used because it permit’s the writers to present the information in either an increasing or decreasing order.” (Dobrin 177) An example of this strategy would be a memo, or a speech. Both of these use the order of importance, but they use it differently. With a memo you want to put your biggest issue out in the beginning. On the other hand, with a speech you want to save the best for last and go out with a bang.

General/specific strategy is basically going from either general information to specific information or vice versa. This strategy can be beneficial because it allows you to either start out with a very narrow topic and become increasingly broader, or you can start out broad and narrow the topic down. I have used this strategy in formal reports because it allows me to start out with a base amount of background information and then flow into my specific topic.

Division is a strategy “based on the idea that some things can best be understood by treating them as a series of smaller parts.” (Dobrin 179) An example of this strategy would be when you are trying to present information that is part of a large policy. Many politicians will try to divide up a broad topic to allow them to piece it together and make it seem different than it actually is.

Another organizational strategy is classification. This strategy groups similar information together. Some examples could include Dell listing the different types of computers that they offer, or it could be a sports team that is listing it’s players in order. You see this strategy a lot when you look at different products that companies make. It allows you to see all the styles in one simple paper.

“Cause and effect is frequently used to explain the relationships between events or the reasons that something has happened.” (Dobrin 180) We see this everyday when we look at scientific studies. If you look at any over the counter drug bottle it will have the proper directions for taking the medication, but it will also have a list of reasons with what might happen if you misuse the product. This is a cause and effect that many people see everyday and do not even realize it.

Comparison and contrast is a strategy that allows people to see information about two things and decide what each has to offer and what they lack. A personal example for me would be when you are trying to find a job. You want to make sure the company that you work for is a good company and that your values fit in with theirs. You can look at each companies values and mission statement to see which is the best fit for you.

The last organizational strategy is spatial. “Spatial strategy helps readers navigate information pertaining to physical space or objects.” (Dobrin 184) The best example of spatial organizational strategy is when you look at a map. It allows you to see where you are and how you are going to get where you want to go. Most spatial organizational strategies have pictures, but that is not a requirement. The pictures allow us to get a better visual of what the information is saying.

These all the different types of organizational strategy. Hopefully, you have learned a bit about when to use each strategy and that we use most of these strategies in our everyday lives.

Dobrin, Sidney I, Christopher J. Keller, and Christian R. Weisser. "Organizing and Drafting Documents" Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) (MyTechCommLab Series). Alexandria, VA: Prentice Hall, 2009. 170-191. Print.

Jason Kaufman Resume Tips

When to start? The average person writes one up a couple days before a job interview. But on the contrary, you should begin a working resume way before. For anyone looking for employment in the future, the time to start writing your resume is now. Even if you’re not sending it out for several months or years, It’s never too early to start writing down past employment related names, addresses, dates, experiences, and qualifications. After you’ve started one, remember it is important to constantly update it. According to Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century, it is important to start today because:

· It will help you recall precise/specific details required on more formal resumes

· Seeing the information written down shows gaps in your training or experience that you need to fill in(pg.401)

· If you need a letter of recommendation, you have all the contact information for your past bosses

Although the origin is unknown, one could assume a resume has been around ever since there’s been a need (by an employer) for a competent and qualified worker. Today, all employers require these kinds of dedicated employees (competent and qualified), and the question is how do you obtain these above-average productive workers? You begin by accept applications along with resumes. Then, Interview those candidates who have the most impressive resumes interested in the job.

Essentially a resume helps an employer in determining which possible candidate would be the most qualified, productive and profitable for the company. A decision like this could be made by looking at a resume, it allows an employer to gain insight on a candidates’ past. Information such as their:

· Education

· Employment history

· Experience

· Summary of relevant skills

· Honors and activities/achievements

· Career objectives

· References

These are the basic elements of a resume, along with the writers contact information (at the top).

Due to people having different preferences, not every resume contains the same elements. Regardless, every resumes should include some if not all the elements. Although, there is no exact right way to write a resume, one can very easily be messed up. Making mistakes such as:

· Grammar errors

· Inaccurate information

· Unnecessary information

· Bad structure and organization

Could cost a candidate his opportunity of the job. Even the smallest error in your resume could suggest to your readers that you are not detail oriented or concerned with quality(pg.409). Even the highest qualified candidates may be eliminated if their resumes or cover letters contain errors. My overall advice when writing a resume would be to assume you cannot afford to make mistakes. Then regardless whether you are the highest qualified, you will have a good shot at landing the job.

Reference:

Dobrin, S. I., Keller, C. J., & Weisser, C. R. (2002). .TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION: in the Twenty-First Century Upper Saddle River , NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing. Pg.401-409

Anthony Banks Cover letter/ letter of application

When searching for a job it is important that you send a Cover letter with your resume. The cover letter addresses the specific job for which the applicant is applying for and emphasizes the most important qualities that should make you attractive to the employer. You should also use the cover letter to provide interesting, useful details about yourself. Take the three or four most important points of your resume and include them in your cover letter.(Dobrin, et al)

When writing your resume you should keep in mind that employers read thousands of resumes, and cover letter on a daily basis. The information that you include in your cover letter should be relevant and easy to find. So unnecessary information should be avoided.

Your cover letter should be one page. The only reason it should exceed onto a second page is if you have extensive expereience or if your employer request more information that can't fit on one page. Your cover letter should include an introductory paragraph which begins by identifying the specific job you are applying for, then there is the body paragraph this is where you futher detail your qualifications for the position, and then you end with the concluding paragraph which refers to the the documents included.

Example of a correct cover letter:

1355 FGCU Campus Housing
Fort Myers, FL 33463
(239) 826-2679

October 9, 2009

Mr. David Balza
FGCU
Fort Myers, FL 33463

Dear Mr. Balza:

I am writing to apply for next year’s basketball camp as a camp Counselor at FGCU’s man basketball camp. I saw your job posting was advertised on the FGCU athletic webpage. I have worked at this camp last year, and also at other basketball camps. I am confident that my basketball experience will make me a great candidate for the position as a camp counselor.

I have played basketball at congress middle, santaluces high school, and now at FGCU. I have also been a participate in multiple basketball camps so I can connect with the kids on a level a lot of people may not be able to. Finally I have studied basketball in an acidemic setting and received an A in my basketball class. As such the information I tell the kids will be accurate.

Along with my basketball experience I have also been volunteers at after school camps working with under privileged kids. Because of my experience I’m really good with kids who might have low self-esteems. These experiences could serve me well as a camp counselor here at FGCU men’s basketball camp.

I have enclosed a copy of my resume with this letter, and I have also completed the student services form. I will be hear all year long and would appreciate an opportunity to discuss my qualifications in more detail. I will stay in contact with you about the position. Thank you for taking time to read this.

Sincerely,

Anthony Banks

Encl: Resume



Works Cited:

Dobrin, Sidney I, Christopher J. Keller, and Christian R. Weisser. "finding and obtaining employment." Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century (2nd Edition) (MyTechCommLab Series). Alexandria, VA: Prentice Hall, 2009. 397-428. Print.

Alexis B's Tips On Searching For Jobs

You have graduated from college, now what? Where do you start to look for possible jobs? Here are 10 steps to lead you through your job search:

1. Focus Your Job Search

• Pick keywords that have to do with your job title and possible locations to help get an idea of what positions are out there and available.

2."Build Your Brand"

• Create profiles on websites such as FaceBook, Myspace, LinkedIn, VisualCV, and JobFox. Make sure these profiles are done professionally because they are used to attract potential employers.
  

3. Connect With Your Contacts

• Contact friends, family and any other people you known through your profiles. You never know who will know of a possible job, or know of someone to put you in touch with.

4. Update Yourself

• There are other little things that you may need to do before contacting potential employers such as creating a new e-mail address and/or re-recording your voicemail. You don’t want to be using your e-mail address that is ‘StarAngel’ or ‘SuperJock’. These are far from professional.

5. Create A List of Companies

• Put together a list of companies that you would like to work for. This allows you to have target companies when applying.

6. Find Job Listings

• There are numerous job search engines that employers are constantly posting potential job opportunities on. Some of these search engines include Indeed.com, LinkUp.com, SimplyHired.com, Jobster, RiseSmart, Craigslist and many more (About.com).
  

7. Resume and Cover Letter

• Highlight qualities about yourself in your resume/cover letter that each job position is looking for.
  

8. The Interview

• Dress appropriately, practice answering basic interview questions, think of questions you would like answered and be confident. You need to create the best first impression as possible.

9. Follow Up

• Send a Thank You and remind the company/interviewer of why they should hire you!
  

10. The Offer

• Evaluate the position and make the appropriate decision, if you decide to decline, make sure to do so in an appropriate and polite way.

Following these steps should help you FIND and GET the perfect job!

About.com. (2009) Ten Steps To Find a New Job. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://jobsearch.about.com/od/findajob/tp/tensteps.htm>.

About.com. (2009) Job Search Engines – Best Job Search Engine Sites. Retrieved November 9, 2009, from http://jobsearch.about.com/od/jobsearchengines/a/jobsearchengine.htm>.

NhLink.net. Things to do before and during the interview. Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.nhlink.net/employme/inter.htm>.

Brian G's What is the Problem Solving Approach

The problem solving approach is a detailed plan that allows professional writers to take their communication and write it through this five step approach. The main reason that someone would use the problem solving approach is to, “address the entire process of solving workplace problems through communication, from understanding the problem to releasing the document.” (Dobrin 14) The five main parts to the PSA are plan, research, draft, review, and distribute.
The first step in the PSA is to plan out what you are going to be writing. Some of the questions that you will be asking are:
“Establish a purpose for writing
Define the real problem or reason for writing
Consider the delivery of the information
Identify what information you have and what you will need” (Dobrin 14)
This is the very beginning of the problem solving approach. You are gathering base information to prepare to write your paper.

Research is the most important part to the PSA. It is where you will gather the bulk of the information that will be presented in the paper. Some of the things that you will do in the research phase are:
“Determine the information and how to get it
Organize the information that you gathered
Evaluate the information and see if you need more” (Dobrin 14)
At the end of this phase you will have the majority of your information and be able to begin the draft phase of the problem solving approach.

A draft is important because it allows you to see how the paper is coming together. It is the most common part of the PSA that is not done consistently. Most people do not write a draft before they begin to produce the final copy. The draft allows you to:
“Confirm your goals and purposes, document format, and delivery method
Draft the document
Arrange the document
Add information that might help present you information” (Dobrin 15)

After the draft you will begin the review phase of the PSA. This is the last check of how you are solving the problem and how the information is coming. This is where you will be getting feedback from people who have read the paper. You will also revise the paper based on the feedback that you are given. The most important part of the review is to “edit the document to ensure correctness.” (Dobrin 15)

The last part of the problem solving approach is the distribution of the information. This is when you present the information to the audience and get feedback from them on the effectiveness of the paper. You will need to follow up with the audience and make sure that they received the document. This is when you will find out if there is other information that needs to be presented in a later document.

The problem solving approach is an important tool when trying to solve a problem in the workplace. If you follow the PSA you will have a good set of tools that will allow you to provide the desired audience with a well written paper that solves the workplace problem.

References:
Dobrin, Sidney; Keller, Christopher; Weisser, Christian. “Technical Communication in the Twenty-First Century” Second Edition. Published by Pearson Prentice Hall 2008

Al P. Writing effective e-mails

E-mail is one of today’s most important and frequently used means of communication. When writing an e-mail you must make sure that you are writing an effective e-mail and not a long over written message that loses focus and loses your readers interest. Most people today have plenty of e-mail experience in their personal lives, but when it comes to e-mail in the work place it’s a totally different story. The type of e-mail your writing should be represented by your “writer’s voice”, or in other words tone, choosing the right voice is extremely important if you want to compose a clear and concise message for your readers. According to an article written by Kathy Gentile, There are three types of voices that may be used when writing an e-mail:

· Casual Voice- This type of voice should be used in non-formal messages to friends or family members.
· Semi-Formal Voice- This type of writing style should be used in serious or less formal business e-mails. It can also be used between colleagues in work-related discussions. You should focus on the message you want to get across and keep the personal side out of it.
· Formal Voice- This is the strictest of the three voices. When using this voice; salutations, complete sentences, and correct grammar should all be taken into account. This style should be used on applications, e-mails to your superiors, and e-mails of introduction.

When writing an e-mail you need to keep it short and sweet, and get to the point as soon as possible. You should also always keep in mind what your reader may already know, there is no point in providing extra information if they already have it. You should also always remember to treat your e-mails as public documents. Here is the basic structure on how to write an e-mail, according to the book, Technical Communication in the twenty-first century.

· Subject line- keep it concise and specific
· Recipients- Make sure you choose your recipients wisely
· Salutations- start with dear, followed by recipients name or title
· Message Content- When writing a business e-mail it should only contain important information that pertains to the subject at hand.(All e-mails should start with background info, then important details, and lastly pertinent information.)
· Signature- Should include your name, and in formal situations, job title and phone number.
· Attachments- You can attach reports, proposals, and contracts to your e-mails.(reference attachments in your e-mails)

References:
Dorbin, Sidney I., Christopher J. Keller and Christian R. Weisser. Technical Communication: In the Twenty-First Century. Upper Sadle,NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2008.

Gentile, Kathy. "The Essentials of Writing Effective Emails ." 3 June 2005. Googobits.com. 8 November 2009.

Comma Usage

Comma's are one of the most basic, yet powerful tools when it comes to writing. Unfortunately they are also one of the most misplaced, misused and forgotten. As any writer will tell you, if you know how a properly use the comma, it can greatly improve your writing skills. However, this is easier said than done. Here are some basic rules to follow that could greatly improve your writing.

• Items in a series- a series is considered three or more items.

Example: My favorite flavors of ice cream are vanilla, chocolate chip cookie dough, and strawberry.

• Introductory elements- will join the first part of the sentence to the second

Example: After the Yankees won the World Series this year, I will never watch baseball again.

• Dates: essential for writing. misuse of commas here will greatly diminish a writers credibility

Example: Thanksgiving this year will be on November 26th, 2009.

• Creating compound sentences- be sure to use a conjunction along with the comma

Example: I would love to go out tonight, but I am currently blogging about comma usage.

• Parenthetical expressions- adding more information to the sentence

Example: Joe would like hotdogs, not hamburgers, at the barbeque tonight.

OR

Example: Ms. Bolduc-Simpson, our professor, is an amzaing teacher!

These are the basics of comma usage, and if you perfect these, you will be sure to see an improvement in your writing.

This is where I found most of my information.

http://iws.ccccd.edu/jmiller/a%20brief_%20no-nonsense%20guide%20to%20comma%20usage.htm

Jason K's Basic Elements of Letters

In the 21st century, communication methods have and still are drastically changing. Now with access to send emails, instant messages, and/or even text messages from a mobile device. People today are using easier and more convenient means of communicating, but it hasn’t always been this way. Before the creation of the internet and cell phones, people mainly communicated using what is still frequently used today, letters. According to the textbook, Technical Communication in the twenty-first century, letters can be written in various forms and include different stylistic and organizational features. The variations are often in relation to:

· Who is your audience

· The purpose for writing

· External problems a letter might address

· The rhetorical problems surrounding the writer

Due to variations, not every letter contains the same elements. Regardless, every letter should contain most if not all of the basic elements. You should begin a letter with a:

· Heading or Letterhead (usually appearing centered at the very top of the letter, and could include contact information from the writers such as the business’ name, address, and telephone number)

· Date (when the letter was sent, not made)

· Recipient’s Address (the name of the individual if possible, job title, and the recipient’s address)
· Salutation or Greeting (begins with Dear, followed by the recipient’s name ending with a colon)

Next, in a letter is the body. This is where any and all information that is written will go, It will reveal the overall purpose of the letter and ultimately what is trying to be accomplished by the writer. Elements in the body are:

· Introductory (provides the reader with any background information necessary to understand
the rest of the letter)

· Body (provides further details on the purpose/message for writing the letter)

· Concluding (provides information in which the letter sums up or reiterates the main point of the message)

· Closing Phrase (is basically a word or 2 words followed by a comma that appears right before the signature)

If you have followed the basics so far, you are very close to being done. The closing variations are:

· Signature (the writers signature going above the typed writers name and job title)

· Page Headers (If you have multiple pages then at the very top of the paper the writer includes information such as the date, the person receiving the letters name, and page number)

Reference:

Dobrin, S. I., Keller, C. J., & Weisser, C. R. (2002). .TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION: in the Tweny-First Century Upper Saddle River , NJ: Pearson Custom Publishing.

Anthony B Resume writing tips

One of the most important things to remember when writing a resume is to be truthful and accurate with your information. In order for your resume to be effective it must be clearly organized an filled with specific details. It also must be free from errors. Forfill the aforementioned requirements and you can prepare your resume in any way. The reason your resume should be error free is because it shows the reader that you are detailed oriented and that you are concerned with quality. Having an error on your resume is the most likely way to get yourself eleminated from a job oppertunity.





After you have completed an error free outline with truthful and accurate information you should try and decifer the information that is relivent to the job you are applying to. You should also consider who will be reading your resume.





There are alot of diffrent types of resumes one can write. You have Chronological, Skill, Entry-level, and online resumes.

• chronological resumes - are the most common types of resumes. This type summarizes your experience and training in the order in which it occured.




• skill resumes - emphasize the experience and skills that qualify the applicant for a position, rather than specific degrees, job titles, and dates.




• entry-level resumes - are used by people with no professional experience.




• online resumes- are the most broad catagory of resume. These resumes can be as simple as posting your existing resume to the web, or using word or wordperfect to create useful and intresting resumes. According to the book Technical communication in the twenty-first century "use caution when creating online resumes, if the job you are applying to requires the ability to code web pages don't create your online resume using Word." Online resumes give you the ability to use technology. You have the potential to use pictures, audio, and video to create an interactive document.

For a complete guide on how to write a resume one should refer back to Technical communication in the twenty-first century. One could also refer to google for a complete guide or could go to a career development center for personal assistance. Below I'm going to outline the basic elements of a resume. If you have any questions on formating, or the structure seek help from one of the above sources.

• Your resume should start with contact information. This includes name, phone number, address, and email.
• A career objective should follow your contact information. Keep the 5 C's in mind when writing this short paragraph. The following bullet points each get there own section and should come after the career objective.
• education
• experience
• honors and awards
• activities
• references

After your resume has been proof read it's now ready to get you a job.

References:

"Technical Communication in the twenty-first century"

Alexis B's Writing To Fit Your Audience

One of the most important steps in drafting your document or speech is identifying WHO you are writing to. Who is your audience?

According to writing.colostate.edu, there are three questions you can ask yourself to help analyze your audience.

• Who they are? (age, sex, education, economic status, political/social/religious beliefs);

• What level of knowledge do they have about the subject being discussed? (general reader, specialist or expert)

• In what context will they be reading the piece of writing or hearing the speech? (in a newspaper, textbook, popular magazine, on the Internet, etc.).

It is obvious that you would not speak to college students in the same manner that you would speak to a group of senior citizens. In the same way you do not want to offend your audience (or a group of your audience) by taking sides on touchy subjects such as politics and/or religious beliefs. Here it is important to Identify WHO you are speaking to.

The level of knowledge/information that your audience has is also a large factor in determining how you should compose your document. According to Michel Muraski from Colorado State University there are three types of audiences: lay, managerial, and expert.

• The “lay” audience has little or no knowledge on the addressed subject. Therefore it is essential to fill in all of the holes. They usually need background information and they expect more definitions and descriptions.

• The “managerial” audience has more knowledge than a lay audience, but not as much as an expert on the subject. They still need information to make a decision about the issue/subject.

• The "experts" may be the most demanding audience in terms of knowledge, presentation, and graphics or visuals.

References:

“Determining your Audience Type.” Colorado State University. Web. 2 November 2009. .