( Originally posted 11/26/14 ) A uplifting reminder... with both the national and local economies starting to show signs of real improvement, job positions and contract bids are starting to open. It is very important to gain an edge in submitals. Good luck to all who are seeking better opportunities in life. A resume portfolio should be structured, it is a persuasive business message that is intended to stimulate a perspective employers interest in meeting and learning more about you. The Chronological Structure is often inappropriate for many who do not have a long work history where many accomplishments in different disciplines can be listed. The Functional Structure zeroes in on the applicants skills. Many perspective employers are suspicious of this format because they believe applicants are attempting to hide weaknesses, therefore a Combination format often works best. The cover letter to ones resume informs the perspective employer why you are sending the resume package, exactly what you are sending, and how they can benefit from reading it. The very purpose of this letter is to get a perspective employer to read the resume instead of tossing it in the waste can without as much as glimpsing at it. Be specific, keep it short to a maximum of two pages, preferably one, show some personality with the use of excellent communication skills since the resume itself will be choppy and in the shorthand form, and meticulously check your spelling mechanics, and grammar. When creating your resume, always remember a preliminary-autobiographical sketch should never be submitted with the initial resume. This is to be sent at the perspective employers request with supportive paperwork and other documents that lend credibility. Generally spanning one to three pages, the Autobiographical Career Goal Statement presents a profile of that part of your life which has contributed to make you the professional you are today. You might focus your efforts on developing your essay in terms of the three Cs--Character, Conviction and Commitment-- in your relation to your career goal. It may begin at any point of your life--any point where your interest or vocation begins to emerge--even if only by hindsight. It might begin at age 5, age 15, age 25, age 35. Recall the events, the people, the experiences involved. Describe these and speak of their particular role in your professional development and commitment. Effective statements do not just happen. They are made--slowly, carefully, painstakingly, editing and revising repeatedly until the statement communicates who you are and why you are uniquely suited for the job. Invest time in this. In the competitive marketplace, where several, even many, applicants may have outstanding qualifications for a single job, a well-crafted and effective Career Goals Statement may give your portfolio an edge, presenting a picture of a committed professional with a character and experience promising success in the job. When candidates have roughly equal qualifications, a statement such as this which presents a portrait of someone with the character, conviction and commitment the job calls for, and someone committed enough to invest the energy and time in writing it, may tip the scales in your favor. It shows you are committed and concerned enough to go the extra mile. Craft it with care, and be thorough. Proofread carefully and sign it as a final touch. When drafting your Functional resume, be certain to place yourself in the readers shoes. Be certain to provide your name and contact information in each document within the portfolio, draft a Career Objective, on the actual resume include your work experience, skills, and accomplishments finishing off with your education and activities-achievements. It is important to remember that volunteer activities can show perspective employers your abilities in leadership, teamwork, and task accomplishing. Concerning the troubleshooting and drafting of a business or action proposal, the process begins with a Initial Statement and ends with the Recommendation Report and Proposal for Implementation, which is a logical one. Effective solutions rest on careful examination and probing analysis of the problem. This is the task of the Initial Statement of the Problem. This statement should include the points listed below. 1: Statement of the problem (Justification of the study) What is the problem? Why does it merit investigation? How can you justify investment of resources (time, energy, etc.) required to investigate the problem, generate a report, and then resolve the problem? Show that there is a read need to resolve the problem. Consider your audiences (boss? client? lender?) priorities! 2: Division of the problem into parts or subproblems Most problems are multi-dimensional. For instance if you are investigating a problem in the company health-care policy, issues of quality of care (which itself could be broken down into subproblems such as single-doctor care, speed of care, access to specialists, etc.) financial issues (which again could be broken down into subproblems such as premium cost, co-payment or coverage ratio, speed of reimbursement, etc.), logistical issues like location of designated health-care sites, and so on. 3: Limitations of your project Carefully define the parameters of problem and project. If your project is to examine and ultimately to resolve problems in paper flow through the agency print/ copy shop, you might indicate that you are limiting your investigation to on-site (no farming out of work) solutions. You might also indicate any financial or logistical constraints. 4: Your Assumptions Every project begins with assumptions. An example of these might be that improvement of the health-care plan, or provision of more health-care options would improve health, happiness, and productivity of employees. Another would be that improving paper flow through the copy shop would improve agency productivity. Often assumptions focus on expected response to change. 5: Definitions of problematic or unfamiliar terms is always optional. The Initial Work-Plan Proposal consists of six (6) essential parts, listed below. Cover each of these thoroughly, succinctly, and precisely, with appropriate detail. 1. WHY THE PROJECT IS NECESSARY: (Why) Justification of the Project This generally consists of a brief summation (one full paragraph is fine) of the problem to be addressed by your project. You can rely here on your earlier work in the Statement of the Problem, revising, condensing and editing where appropriate. 2. WHAT THE PROJECT IS: (What) Project Summary Provide an comprehensive overview here of the project as a whole, focusing particularly on its scope, its purpose and its intent. (One full paragraph is generally sufficient) 3. HOW YOU WILL COMPLETE THE PROJECT: (How) Methodology Here you will lay out your procedures, the kinds of activities you must engage in to complete the project. These may include such activities as research--traditional library research, oral interviews and site visits, surveys, analysis and interpretation of data, testing hypotheses, and so on. Your methodology will vary depending on the character of your project. 4. WHERE YOU WILL COMPLETE THE PROJECT: (Where) Resources Here you note resources you will need to complete the project. These may include time, money, assistance (clerical and otherwise), books, computer software, access to special computer and internet systems, people (whom you might interview for information) and so on. The kinds of resources you use will vary depending on the character of your project. 5. WHEN YOU WILL COMPLETE THE PROJECT: (When) Agenda Here you lay out a detailed agenda for your work on the project. Plot the course of your work week-by-week, listing those tasks you plan to complete in any given week. Many agendas take the form of a time line, others are plotted in chart or tabular form, but a simple listing of tasks on a week-by-week basis is fine. Your agenda should be detailed, thorough and comprehensive. 6. WHO WILL COMPLETE THE PROJECT: (Who) Credentials In a single paragraph present your credentials for this work. These need not be formal, but may consist of experience in the field, interest in the problem, or simple concern. Whatever form your credentials take, state them clearly and with confidence. The Professional Report consists of the Recommendation Report, the Proposal for Implementation, and prefatory materials and appendices. PREFATORY MATERIALS: letter/memo of transmittal executive summary/abstract cover page table of contents, plus list of illustrations/graphics RECOMMENDATION REPORT: Introduction: subject, purpose and plan of report Presentation on each option using uniform criteria Summary/Conclusions/Recommendations Summary: Key facts/finds assembled Conclusions: Implications of facts/findings presented Recommendations: The best solution PROPOSAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION: Summary [of key points of Recommendation Report] Introduction [of Proposal for Implementation] Overview [plan of Proposal for Implementation] Plan for Implementation this may include items like the following: Work Management Plan/ Methodology/ Procedures Agenda, Logistics/Facilities, Budget, Personnel APPENDICES (which might include): tables documentation and research materials bibliography pictorial materials GENERIC OUTLINE OF RECOMMENDATION REPORT: I: INTRODUCTION 1 Subject of report (statement of the problem) 2 Purpose of the report ( to present findings on three or more solutions to the problem 3 Plan of report (options covered and criteria used to evaluate them Note that final Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations will be presented at close of report II: PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS ON 3+ OPTIONS Systematically present your findings on all options, using a same set of uniform criteria. III: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Summary: Assemble your findings on all options, comparing them Conclusion: Draw conclusions about the best options given your criteria Recommendations: Your final recommendations of one of your options. GENERIC OUTLINE OF YOUR PROPOSAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION I: INTRODUCTORY MATERIAL a. Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations (you should raw on the Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations sections of your Recommendation Report for this information). This should be at least one full paragraph. b. Statement of purpose of the report. This can be a single sentence declaring your intent to present a proposal for implementation of your recommendation. c. Overview or Plan of the Report. Here you should provide an overview of all the main topics covered in the report. I recommend you mention all the topics in the body of the report that follows. II: BODY OR SUBSTANCE OF THE REPORT: THE PROPOSAL FOR IMPLEMENTATION Topics here will vary depending upon the nature of your project. Think through all the logistics of implementation. Be sure your proposal has an agenda, as detailed an agenda as possible. Aim for at least three pages here. Use headings liberally. III: CONCLUDING REMARKS This may consist of anywhere from a paragraph to a page where you sum up the chief benefits of your proposal, driving home its feasibility and potential. Remember all documents should intelligible ( outer senses, legible ), possess a sense of aesthesis ( be compelling ), have logos ( logic and logical order ), ethos ( a range or sense of ethics, ethical argument ), pathos ( passion in delivery as well as the ability to evoke passion in the reader ), and kinesis ( a call to action, or searching for a responsive action ).
Posted on: Wed, 31 Dec 2014 14:44:45 +0000
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