image credit: the at sign
DUE DATE: Week 16
25 pts. | see Google Classroom for additional information, resources, & official due dates
This assignment marks the capstone of our course focus this semester: using writing and rhetoric intentionally and persuasively, with one's audience in mind, for some form of action and/or consequence.
While your generation might not use email with the same frequency as my generation does, it remains an incredibly important genre where writing, action, and consequence merge. An email -- composed & sent by you -- will quite likely be your first step towards securing an ideal internship or a full-time job following graduation. This writing assignment is an opportunity to practice your skills in this area, while also preparing your resume for the job market.
(1) You must seek out a pertinent job opening online or elsewhere (see assignment resources below);
(2) Then, you must craft a resume designed to appeal to that job opening & employer;
(3) Then, you must compose a cover letter (aka a professional email) which indicates your interest in the opening, and your proficiencies for it;
(4) Then, you must apply for that position, providing proof of your application;
(4) Finally, a short explanatory essay which describes the rhetorical choices you made in parts 1-4.
While this assignment is by far the shortest one you’ll write this semester, it might also be the most challenging. Your email/cover letter should adhere to the conventions of the genre. It should be informative yet concise, no more than 2-3 paragraphs, and written in a clear and respectful tone. The content of the email/letter should accomplish a variety of functions: (1) it should state the purpose of your message (that you are interested in applying for a job that you have found listed online or elsewhere); (2) it should highlight some of the skills that you may bring to the position; (3) it should show that you’ve done some research on your company, and you know a little about their ethos; (4) finally, it should indicate some form of expected action as a result of your inquiry (i.e., you are interested in the position and would like to learn more about it). Your resume should be cleanly and professionally designed, noting all of the skills, attributes, and work/volunteer experience which would lend themselves towards the job opening in question.
The genre of the professional email/cover letter is quite standardized; there is not a lot of room for creativity here. Generally, the purpose of a professional email is to inform or request; your job is to do some of both. The email should have ~3 parts/paragraphs: (1) a salutation followed by an acknowledgement of your purpose, (2) a brief but persuasive summary of your skillsets, and (3) some language which articulates what you know about the company/institution you are applying to, and also some indication of what should happen next (i.e., you would like an interview), followed by a valediction. In sum, the language of this email/letter should be clear and free of any grammatical errors (remember, this genre is meant to be very short, so grammar and/or spelling errors stand out much more so than in many other writing situations).
While I will be reading your email, your audience is ultimately the individual (or company) that you have been asked to identify (in part 1) above. The trick here is to sound courteous and curious, yet also already somewhat informed about them and their background. You ultimately want a reply from them, so consider: how can you persuade them to reply to you for an interview or a phone screen? What skills and experiences do you possess that can be highlighted to showcase what you could bring to the position?
Copies of your resume, cover letter, and reflection essay should be submitted via Google Classroom. In your essay, I expect you to provide a copy (or URL) of the job listing, with notable details about that position. In essence, your essay should be used to articulate what rhetorical choices you made throughout the process of crafting your cover letter and resume.
"The 10 Best Job Search Websites of 2022" (The Balance)
"Best Job Boards for 2022" (Betterteam)
College of DuPage: https://cod.csod.com/ux/ats/careersite/5/home?c=cod
DuPage County: https://www.dupagecounty.gov/jobs/
check your local park district websites for openings near your residence! (i.e.: https://www.applitrack.com/gepark/onlineapp/default.aspx?all=1)
Indeed: https://www.indeed.com || Indeed.com is the #1 job site in the world with over 300M unique visitors every month. Indeed strives to put job seekers first, giving them free access to search for jobs, post resumes, and research companies. Every day, we connect millions of people to new opportunities [source].
Monster: https://www.monster.com/ || Monster is a global leader in connecting people and jobs. Every day, Monster aims to make every workplace happier and more productive by transforming the way employers and candidates find the right fit. For 25 years, Monster has worked to transform the recruiting industry.
Glassdoor https://www.glassdoor.com/ || Glassdoor is the worldwide leader on insights about jobs and companies. Built on the foundation of increasing workplace transparency, Glassdoor offers insights into the employee experience powered by millions of company ratings and reviews, CEO approval ratings, salary reports, interview reviews and questions, benefits reviews, office photos and more, combined with the latest jobs.
ZipRecruiter: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/ || ZipRecruiter was founded to make meaningful connections between job seekers and employers. What started as a way to help small businesses find great candidates has grown into a leading online employment marketplace that connects millions of job seekers with companies of all sizes.
Starbucks: https://www.starbucks.com/careers/
Home Depot: https://careers.homedepot.com/
...there are *so* many more; these are just examples based on large, local corporations that many COD students tend to work at, and they usually have openings (seasonal or otherwise) that would fit with a college student's busy schedule.
"10 Resume Writing Tips To Help You Land a Position" (Indeed.com)
"11 Examples of Resume Mistakes (And How To Prevent Them)" (Indeed.com)
"Words To Avoid and Include on a Resume" (Indeed.com)
"Resume Samples and Examples To Inspire Your Next Application" (Indeed.com)
"Bad Resume Examples: The 9 Worst Resumes of 2022" (Resume Genius)
Evaluation Criteria:
for the RESUME:
Is your resume written in clear and coherent prose?
Does your resume showcase language that is proactive? In other words, do you show (as we discussed in class) an ability to understand and articulate how your role(s) in previous positions contribute to the larger agenda of the company or institution you worked for (or volunteered at)? And do those rhetorical choices lend themselves to the position you are applying to?
Is your resume designed -- using templates or otherwise -- to showcase modern, 21st-century digital design skillsets (i.e., format & layout, color coding, hyperlinks, etc.).
for the COVER LETTER/PROFESSIONAL EMAIL:
Do you observe the proper etiquette of a professional email? Is your language written in a clear and concise tone, and free of grammatical errors?
Is your tone and approach befitting of this particular person and the context under which you are writing them? Do you convey respect? Does your email indicate you know a little about the person (or company) to whom you are writing? Does your email afford the possibility of garnering a response? In other words, have you crafted a thought-provoking message -- highlighting your skills and experiences -- which should elicit an answer?
Do you provide evidence that you actually applied for the position? (provide screen shots or any other evidence (i.e., confirmation of receipt) of your submitted application).
for the REFLECTION ESSAY and other IN-CLASS activities:
Do you participate in the peer review? Does your resume and cover letter/email undergo appropriate revisions as a result?
Does your reflection/explanatory essay thoroughly showcase your rhetorical choices? Do you discuss terms and concepts we have discussed all semester (i.e., audience, ethos, exigency, etc.)?