This assignment will require you to demonstrate an ability to successfully prepare an accurate and complete resume, cover letter, and thank you letter.
Make sure to download and attached files.
You will select an active job posting that you would want to apply for and prepare your resume and cover letter (also referred to as an application letter) for the position. You can find active positions on sites such as:
* www.indeed.com
* www.careerbuilder.com
* www.glassdoor.com
Make sure you share with me the URL of your job posting when uploading your files (20 points). You can copy and paste the URL into the “online text” option when uploading your files or you can save a Word document and attach it with your three written pieces here.
This assignment will require you to demonstrate an ability to successfully prepare an accurate and complete resume, cover letter, and follow-up employment correspondence needed to succeed in the workplace.
You will select an active job posting that you would want to apply for and prepare your resume and cover letter (also referred to as an application letter) for the position. The follow-up employment correspondence that you will prepare is a message to send to an employer after a job interview. For the purposes of the assignment, you will prepare your written message as if you have had a job interview. This can also be referred to as a “thank you” for the interview but shows the employer that you are interested in the position and wish to be considered further for the position.
Your final project will consist of three written pieces of communication plus your job posting URL:
1. Cover letter (160 points) – must use the provided template (if you do not use the template, the maximum you can get here is 100 points)
2. Resume (160 points) – must use the provided template (if you do not use the template, the maximum you can get here is 100 points)
3. Thank you message (160 points)
4. Share with me the URL of your job posting (20 points)
Make sure to follow the following TIPS and INSTRUCTIONS:
Heading:
We no longer encourage the disclosure of your full address because it is one more piece of information that can be stolen. You should have your name, city and state, email and phone number only.
Education:
List your degree correctly: For example, Associate Degree in Business Management. Then add bullet points – using action verbs – providing more information (e.g. GPA, relevant courses taken, etc)
Delete high school and add WCC to your education. After we start college, there is no need to state our high school experience. If you are a guest student at WCC, please provide the university/college you are originally attending (for example, Eastern Michigan University).
Add your graduation date to your education experience. If you haven’t graduated yet, add your expected graduation date. Differently from the work experience, we list only the graduation date (or expected graduation date). We do not recommend disclosing when you started your studies.
Summary/Objective:
Remove your summary/objective. They are no longer a necessary part of the resume. We suggest you keep that information written in your cover letter.
Verb tense:
Add bullet points for each relevant work and/or volunteer experience you have done so far. Make sure you use the right tense of the verb in your bullet points. If it is a job/education you did in the past and you are no longer doing it, use past tense for your action verbs. If it is a job/education that you are still doing, use the present tense for your action verbs. Download the Action Verb List.pdf verbs to help you with that.
Bullet points:
Instead of writing everything in only one paragraph, split them and add multiple bullet points for each relevant work and/or volunteer experience / education experience you have done so far.
Skills:
List your hard skills instead of just soft skills. For example, you can talk about computer skills, languages, etc. Leave the soft skills to be discussed in your cover letter or in an interview.
Add the level of proficiency to your computer skills: basic, intermediate or advance.
Overall layout:
Work on your layout in order to fit your information in either 1 full page or 2 full pages. Half pages are not recommended. The template provided only counts to 1 full page. If you have a lot of experience and need a second page, make sure to follow the format.
We don’t recommend underline the headings because people can think they are hyperlinks. Instead, capitalize and bold them.
Hobbies:
List only hobbies that are relevant to the position you want to apply
Bullet points – employment:
Don’t break down the bullet points in 2 different pages. Work on your layout in order to have all bullet points nearby the job you are describing.
References:
Do not write “references upon request”, rather have them ready in a separate sheet of paper when your employer requests them.
Also, there is no need to write your references in your resume, rather have them ready in a separate sheet of paper when your employer requests them. You do not need to submit a reference list for this assignment.
Chronology:
Make sure to list your education and work experience in chronological order – most recent first. Then you go backward from there.
Picture:
We do not recommend the disclosure of a picture in any resume. Employers need to judge applicants by their background, experience, and knowledge only.
Format:
Use the provided template.
Personal Pronouns:
Do not use personal pronouns in your resume. It means no “I”, “mine”, “mine”, “our”, “us”, etc. Leave that to your cover letter. Use bullet points using action verbs only.
________________________________________________________________________________________
The attached file (resume sample) is an example of what a student might use to apply for a position. You must use this as your template. It’s important to note that the education section for a soon-to-be graduate (or a recent one) will always be at the top of the resume upon graduation from the university. It will only move down below the experience heading when the candidate has been working for at least a year in a professional position.
You will also find here an Action Verb list that will help you formulate your own experiences. Remember, all bullet points in your resume will start with an action verb.
Finally, you will find useful tips on how to come up with a winning resume.
As for your cover letter, the attached file (cover letter example) is an example of a cover letter used to introduce a resume to a prospective employer. This can be sent electronically via email depending on the directions from the prospective employer. You can also use this to upload to an online applicant portal when applying for a position online.
The guidelines (guidelines for writing a cover letter) that are included show you how to write specifically by paragraph and include the correct information that an employer will want to see. You must use the file (cover letter example) as your template while following the guidelines for writing a cover letter.
As for your final written piece – the Thank you Letter – there is no template you need to follow (no files attached here) but you must use the concepts we learned throughout the semester. Consult the book to make sure you have a great written piece.
*THE TEMPLATES WILL BE ATTACHED*
*MY RESUME WILL BE ATTACHED FOR INFORMATION*
Category: Business Writing
The Audit Report response should be a thorough written reflection on your comparison of an actual business report (Audit Report) to the material covered in Chapter 13.
Read the Outline for an Audit Report and closely follow the provided instructions.
*I WILL HAVE THIS BELOW AND THE INTERVIEW WILL BE LINKED*
After listening to the Interview with Lori Herrick, include your response to the following questions in your audit report:
1. Is the Audit report a formal or informal proposal? Why?
2. In what ways do formal and informal reports differ?
3. What should be included in the introduction to a formal report? Can you provide an example from the audit reports that were provided?
4. What should the writer strive to do in the body of the formal report?
5. An important piece of writing any business report, letter, or any other form of communication is to know the audience you are writing to. After reading the audit reports and listening to the interview who is the intended audience? Why?
Use APA or MLA style and use headings.
You must use 2 outside sources (articles, for example) and you must cite them (using APA or MLA style) throughout your report, besides our book. You must cite our book at least twice in your report.
*THE BOOK WE ARE USING IS CALLED Business Communication: Process & Product
By: Mary Ellen Guffey; Dana Loewy. WHEN YOU CITE THE BOOK PLEASE CITE FROM CHAPTER 13*
OUTLINE FOR AUDIT REPORT:
➢ Audit Reports are NOT just another business letter
o They sum up the audit process and opinion in one place
o They are specifically designed to meet the New Clarity Standards
➢ Paragraph 1 – Summarizes the report information
o Accompanying Financial Statements of ABC Organization
o Financial Statements Presented – Statement of Financial Position, as of June 5, 201X, and related statements of activities, functional expenses, and cash flows for the year then ended, and related notes to the financial statements
▪ Must include appropriate wording for combined or consolidated financial statements.
▪ Must also cover all years presented in the financial statements, i.e. comparative statements.
➢ Paragraph 2 – Managements Responsibility for Financial Statements (this heading must be there according to clarified standards)
o Paragraph has been modified to clearly reflect management’s responsibility to monitor controls for fair presentation of FS free of material misstatement whether or not due to fraud or error.
▪ Mgmt must realize that these are THEIR financial statements and they must accept full responsibility for everything in them. They are not just the auditor’s financial statements, even if prepared by the auditor. Mgmt is required to sign a representation letter at the end of the audit taking responsibility for these financial statements and much more.
➢ Paragraphs 3, 4 & 5 – Auditors Responsibility (this heading must be there)
o Clarifies that the auditor’s responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements
▪ What standards we utilize to perform our procedures
▪ The procedures/process utilized to achieve the opinion
▪ Disclaimer of opinion over internal controls
▪ Statement evidence has been obtained to support our opinion
➢ Paragraph 6 – Opinion (this heading must be there)
o States the auditors opinion that the financial statements are fairly presented, in all material respects in accordance with GAAP.
▪ If the financial statements are not in accordance with GAAP, there may be an adverse opinion if a significant departure and an additional paragraph preceding the opinion
▪ If financial statements are on the cash basis, the opinion paragraph would state “in accordance with the cash basis of accounting as described in Note X”, and the basis of accounting would be described in additional paragraph following the opinion.
➢ Paragraph 7 –
o This will vary depending upon the engagement!
o A separate paragraph is needed for a Report on Summarized Comparative Information etc.
➢ Paragraph 7 or 8+ – Other Matters (This heading must be there)
o Other matters includes a separate paragraph identifying supplemental information such as the schedule of functional expenses, the procedures utilized for these schedules and if we are stating an opinion on these schedules
o “Other information” – Would pertain to the schedule of expenditures of federal and state awards, the procedures applied to these schedules and if we are stating an opinion on those schedules.
o “Emphasis of a Matter” – Would be if additional concerns such as a going concern were identified during our audit and we believe that it would affect the readers ability to understand the financial data and big picture for the organization.
In this folder you will find the following documents that you will need as you listen to the interview and complete your written response. *EVERYTHING IN THIS FOLDER WILL BE LINKED*
1. AICPA Guide to Clarity
2. Appendix 13A-3 Standard Report on Supplementary Information
3. Appendix 13A-5 Standard Report on Financial Statements
4. Appendix 13A-7 Standard Report on Comparative Financial Statements with Prior Year Summarized Information
5. Appendix 13B-5 Report Modification Because of an Uncertainty
THE ORDER TO WATCH THE VIDEOS IN –
FIRST -13 MINUTE ONE
SECOND – 3 MINUTE ONE
THIRD – 5 MINUTE ONE
I MUST RESPOND TO 2 CLASSMATES POST. EACH RESPONSE MUST BE 120 WORDS. THE DISCUSSION PROMPT IS LISTED BELOW FOR REFERENCE
DISCUSSION PROMPT:
* share a real-world experience involving workplace communication dealing with bad news expectations. Consider the following items when sharing your story:
* The example should be one in which you were personally involved.
* You may want to change details (names, employer, etc.) to protect the people involved, including you.
* Keep the focus of the story on managing perceptions and expectations (formal and informal) about how you communicate in a workplace setting.
CLASSMATE POST #1:
How you choose to address issues in the workplace can have a big impact on the future of the organization. Choosing to privately address issues or a reprimand is vital to finding the source of the problem and laying out steps to fix the problem. You never know what people are going through deep down and a public humiliation in front of their peers can tip the scales. I firmly believe that mistakes and failures will happen, and fixing the root cause is vital. Public humiliation can lead to a lack of respect, lack of work ethic, and fear for other employees.
A specific example that stounds out in my head is a time in the military when an individual made a mistake doing maintenance. The individual did not properly tighten down a door hinge on an aircraft and it came loose when closing it, causing the door to swing and smash the aircraft. The individual was publicly reprimanded on the spot, everyone moving forward tip toed around every little step when working. The outcome was longer work days for everyone and lack of maintenance being accomplished, primarily because everyone was afraid to make a mistake. Eventually, the commander had a conference with everyone and let them know that mistakes happen, and to learn from others mistakes.
CLASSMATE POST #2:
Bad news in the workplace should always be delivered to the individual directly unless it is directly impacting the whole group. I have not had any bad interactions regarding bad news being delivered at any job I have held. However, I have seen it done poorly. While working at a restaurant we had a manager who did not enjoy conflict at all. He would send an assistant manager as the bearer of bad news to avoid conflict. Even though the interactions would be one-on-one it created a very awkward and uncomfortable environment for many people working there. The main reason is they felt a lack of respect was being shown. Even though it is not as embarrassing as being called out in front of a group it was certainly not as effective as just pulling a person in for a quick one-on-one.
share a real-world experience involving workplace communication dealing with bad news expectations.
Consider the following items when sharing your story:
The example should be one in which you were personally involved.
You may want to change details (names, employer, etc.) to protect the people involved, including you.
Keep the focus of the story on managing perceptions and expectations (formal and informal) about how you communicate in a workplace setting.
Look at the File for a better understanding
For Project 3: Internal Proposal to your employer, you’ll be writing an informal, unsolicited (i.e., not
requested) proposal using traditional business letter format and an internal proposal structure. Your proposal
must identify and define an observed issue or problem and offer a recommendation to help improve it. Within
a few pages [roughly about 1000 words] your proposal must provide enough data and explanations to
persuade your audience that the issue warrants attention and that your suggestions are worthy of their
consideration. YOUR PROPOSAL WILL USE BOTH TEXTUAL AND VISUAL ELEMENTS TO NOT ONLY CONVINCE THE
READER OF ITS MERIT, BUT ALSO PRESENT A VIABLE PLAN FOR IMPLEMENTING IT, ALONG WITH BUDGET (AS A
TABLE), TIMEFRAME, AND CALANDAR SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION (AS A GANTT CHART. SEE BELOW).
An important part of developing a persuasive proposal is supporting your points with concrete data. Your use
of researched sources must be integrated into your own text as support for your observations and
recommendation. Your research sources may range from statistics and sociology articles to surveys.
Incorporating research from a variety of reliable sources will make a more persuasive proposal than using
only one source or one type of source. FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT, YOUR SOURCES WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO YOUR
TEXT USING THE STANDARD SIGNALING METHOD (ATTRIBUTION, CLOSURE, AND SYNTHESIS).
DELIVERABLES OVERVIEW
An informal, unsolicited proposal in business letter format that identifies an observed issue at a place of
employment and suggests an improvement to your employer. The proposal is supported by specific data,
both textual and graphical, from reliable research sources. (Minimum 800 words; Maximum 1,000 words)
Deliverable Specifications:
Write your proposal as a business letter to a specific person such as a Director or a supervisor, in an
organization where you are a stakeholder, such as an employee, Your direct boss may not be the best
audience for your proposal, so do some research to find out who could make a decision regarding your
recommended improvement or special event. This will require visiting your organization’s website to find
that person’s name and title.
Support your proposal with reliable, current sources (not older than 3 years) containing facts, statistics,
and/or analyses related to your idea (you need a minimum of 2 supporting sources).
Note: The proposal is not a sales pitch. Therefore, your proposal should benefit the organization and not
be trying to sell a product or service through which you personally will benefit. The proposal is a form of
outreach within your company from you, the individual, to another individual with the authority to approve
your proposed idea.
Writing an internal company project proposal can be a great way to pitch a solution to a problem you’ve
identified in your organization. Here are some steps you can follow to write an effective internal proposal:
1. Develop your idea: Before you start writing, identify the problem that you are trying to solve for the
company. Take some time to think through your idea and the problem and make some notes about
how it will solve the company’s problem.
2. Create your hook: Open with a you-centered introduction to get the audience’s attention and state the
purpose for writing the letter. (Remember the AIDA model.) In addition to grabbing the reader’s
attention, the opening of the proposal should make clear your purpose for writing, in other words, that
you are proposing a solution to a problem and state what the problem is. The opening paragraph of
your document should do at least two things:
a. provide the audience with a clear understanding of the problem you are trying to solve and
why it is important.
b. clearly state the purpose of your letter (why are you writing today).
3. After the opening paragraph a section called “BACKGROUND” should give your reader the context
for the problem (when it was first noticed, what the harm is that it presents to the company, and what
the ramifications are if the problem is left unresolved.). Explain how you will solve the problem. Be
sure to include any relevant data or research that supports your idea.
a. Discuss your position as a stakeholder in the organization (i.e., employee, member,
volunteer, intern, etc.)
b. Provide an overview of the situation to establish context for your proposal.
c. Identify the need for a specific improvement
d. Discuss your specific suggestions for the improvement
4. Outline the benefits: Explain how your proposed solution will benefit your company, first and foremost
by solving the problems as well as any collateral benefits that may be realized. Be sure to highlight
any potential cost savings, increased efficiency, or other benefits.
a. In a “BENEFITS section,
b. Explain in detail why your suggestions would benefit the organization and its stakeholders
c. Focus on the benefit to the company first, then customers or employees secondarily
5. Detail the steps required to implement the plan in a section you call “IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.” In
the Implementation Plan section,
a. Outline your suggested solution in a step-by-step manner
b. Include parties who may be responsible
c. Inlcude effort levels and timeframes
6. Provide a SCHEDULE and BUDGET: In this section, you should provide a detailed timeline for your
project, including key milestones and deadlines. You should also provide a budget for your project,
including any necessary resources or personnel.
7. Summarize your proposal: In your CONCLUSION, summarize the key points of your proposal and
reiterate why your idea is important and how it will benefit your company.
8. In a “SCHEDULE” section, give a visual representation of the timeframe from the Implementation Plan.
For this assignment, show your schedule for the implementation plan as a GANTT chart. A Gantt
Chart is a visual tool in project management that helps in planning and scheduling projects of all
sizes. It illustrates the start and finish dates of the various elements of a project. The chart’s
horizontal bars show the duration of each task involved in the project.
Here is what a GANTT chart looks like:
Task Item Jan 1 Feb 2 Mar 3 Apr 4 May 5 Jun 6
Task 1:
Task 2:
Task 3:
Task 4:
Task 5:
Task 6:
Note: The Task Item descriptions should create a clear link between this section and the steps identified in the
implementation plan section.
9. In a “BUDGET” section, give an estimated cost for the project. Don’t assume that your idea will not
cost money, since even internal operations, employee hours, utilities, all can cost. Your budget
should be linked with the implementation plan and identify all charageable items, the number needed,
the cost per item, and a total cost for each line item. At the bottom of the budget table, give the total
budget for the entire solution.
Here is what your budget table should look like:
Item Description
Number of Items
Needed
Cost Per
Item ($) Total ($)
Laptop Computers 5 1,000 5,000
Office Chairs 10 150 1,500
Desks 10 300 3,000
Projector 1 800 800
Whiteboards 2 200 400
Printer 1 250 250
Grand Total 10,950
Note: The Item Descriptions should create a clear link between this section and the steps identified in the
implementation plan section.
10. CONCLUDE politely with a summary and a thank you to your reader, and offer to discuss your proposal
further, and your contact information.
11. Your proposal should use a minimum of two (2) scholarly research articles or paper to
support your idea. Check your research for credibility and cite your References list in APA
format (7th edition) for the research sources you used. Integrate your research into your
proposal using the STANDARD SIGNALING METHOD OF ATTRIBUTION OF SOURCE, CLOSURE NOTE, AND
SYNTHESIS STATEMENT. Sources need to also be current, published within the last 3 years.
*Research to Support Proposal:
Research can draw on many types of information including, but not limited to, statistical, scientific, historical,
government and demographic data. All sources must be evaluated for reliability. Sources should support
your proposal and be integrated into your text using the standard signaling method of attribution, closure,
and synthesis. Evaluate your sources to make sure they meet credibility standards, at a minimum ensure you can
identify the author, the title, and date of publication. Try to think beyond a Google search, which will return a lot of
websites that are self-promotions and sales sites, so avoid webpages that promote a company or product or that
contain a “shopping cart” theme. These sites will almost certainly present information in a biased manner toward
their own products and services.
A better search can result by using the ASU Library Online. Refer to the ASU Libraries online tutorials about
evaluating sources and conducting research linked on the course site. Peer-reviewed research articles, business
articles, and government reports with facts, statistics, and analyses by reliable experts are examples of sources.
The sources must contain data that relate to your topic but they do not have to be specifically about your topic. For
example, a community resident’s proposal for improvements to a local park could result in environmental and
human health benefits. A research article about the benefits of outdoor activity by a reliable expert in the medical
field could help support such a proposal. When evaluating sources pay close attention to the authors’ credentials
(i.e., degrees, titles, background in the field) and where their work is published.
FORMAT
This is a business LETTER and not a text or an email. Use the traditional LETTER format and write your
letter on professional letterhead (or stationery). The format and structure of business documents are of
paramount importance as they significantly influence clarity, effectiveness, and professionalism. A well-
structured document guides the reader through the content in a logical, coherent manner, making it easier
to understand and follow. This is particularly crucial in business settings where information is often
complex and decision-making is based on the details presented.