Journal Day

2:40 p.m. is the official start of a long 5 day weekend. Your journal today is very simple, you are going to write about your plans for this little vacation. What do you plan to do? Any special places you are going? Any family coming to visit? Any big trips planned?


Or


Write on a topic of your choice.


(Journals MUST be a minimum of 1 full page)


Academic Content Standards:
15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.

Thank You Letters

What are follow-up and thank you letters?

A follow-up letter is a document that applicants send to employers to make sure the company has received the applicant’s résumé and cover letter or application. A thank you letter is a document that applicants send to employers to thank the employer for her time in reviewing a résumé or cover letter. Applicants also send thank you letters after conducting an interview with an employer.

Why do I need to do a follow-up or thank you letter?

You should send a follow-up letter if you have not heard from an employer for two weeks after submitting your résumé and cover letter. You should send a thank you letter if you have interviewed for a job.

How should I follow up on my résumé and cover letter?

You should allow ten days before calling or emailing the employee about your résumé and cover letter. When you contact the employer, remember that they are probably busy. Your résumé and cover letter are very important to you, but the employer is probably doing her job as well as reviewing other cover letters and résumés. Try to be patient. However, it is perfectly acceptable to ask about your job application documents ten days after submission.

Also remember that the goal of your résumé and cover letter is to get an interview for the job opening. When you follow up on your cover letter and résumé, first ask whether or not the employer has received your documents. If the employer received the documents, ask if she has had time to review them. If so, ask if she is setting up interviews yet.

If the employer has not received your résumé and cover letter in the past ten days, offer to resend the documents and double check the employer’s mailing address and contact person. You should also offer to drop off your résumé and cover letter in person. Remember to dress professionally if the company expects it.

How should I follow up on my interview?

You should send a thank you letter after you interview for a job. Sending a thank you letter is professional, and it shows you are still interested in the job. A thank you letter also show that you appreciate the employer taking the time to meet and speak with you. Lastly, a thank you letter reminds the employer about you.



Letter Examples
EXAMPLE 1:
Follow-up Letter (Block Format)

June 19, 2009

Karl M. Jones
900 N. 7th St. Apt. 6
Lafayette, IN 47904
765-123-4567
kmjones123@gmail.com

Alex Carson
Manager, A & D Industries
1437 State Route 26
Lafayette, IN 47904

Dear Alex Carson:

Two weeks ago, I submitted a résumé and cover letter in response to your job ad for the welder
apprentice position (#46). I am following up to make sure you received these documents. I am
still very interested in interviewing for the job if you have not yet hired someone.

I am looking forward to meeting with you to discuss the welder apprentice position and how I
can help A & D Industries. I feel that my years of welding experience will allow me to be a
valuable member of your team. If you have not received my résumé and cover letter, I would be happy to resubmit them or drop them off in person.

If you have any questions, please call me at 765-123-4567. You may also email me at
kmjones@gmail.com.


Sincerely,

/signed/


Karl M. Jones

EXAMPLE 2:

-Follow-up Letter after Submitting Resume or Application:
-Use block format

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

Date

Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

I submitted a resume earlier this month for the food server at Perkins.

I am very interested in working at Perkins and I believe my skills, especially my food prep class experience at the Berwick High School, would be good prepapration for this position.

If necessary, I would be glad to resend my resume or to provide any further information you might need regarding my candidacy. I can be reached at (555)555-5555 or jdoe@abcd.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Signature
Typed Name

EXAMPLE 3:


Follow-up (Thank You) Letter After Interview:
Use block format:

Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
Your Phone Number
Your Email

Date

Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:

It was very enjoyable to speak with you about the assistant position at Giant. The job, as you presented it, seems to be a very good match for my skills and interests.

In addition to my enthusiasm, I will bring to the position strong writing skills, assertiveness and the ability to encourage others to work cooperatively with the department. My (sports, club, school, etc.) background will help me to work well with the other employees and to do my work responsibly and efficiently.

I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I am very interested in working for you and look forward to hearing from you about this position.

Sincerely,

Your Signature

Your Typed Name

15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.

Journal Day

Everyone has a movie that just didn’t quite end the way they had hoped. Today you are going to write about a movie that you feel should have ended in a different way. What was the movie you were unhappy with? Why did it upset you? What do you think should have really happened? Should Rocky have never made it past Rocky I? Should Leo have survived the end of Titanic?


Or


Write on a topic of your choice.


(Journals MUST be a minimum of 1 full page)


Academic Content Standards:
15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.

Writing Cover Letters

3/24-2/25


Students will write their cover letters


**Students may be required to post their cover letters on http://www.turnitin.com/

Academic Content Standards:15.1.11A
- Write with a distinctive focus.1.5.11B
- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.1.5.11C
- Write with controlled organization.

Cover Letters

Monday, 3/22/10 - Tuesday, 3/23/10

Writing a Cover Letter

You have worked very hard and have written an excellent resume. However, without a cover letter, a resume will not make the impression that it could. According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, 66 percent of hiring managers prefer a good cover letter attached to a resume. This is your first chance to stand out in the crowd of applicants. Your cover letter can tell the hiring manager or dean of admissions that you are qualified for the job or college and a serious candidate. Perhaps more important is the opportunity to show your personality through your letter.

For this reason, some employers throw out resumes that do not have cover letters. By not writing a cover letter, you are telling a possible employer or school that you have not taken the time and energy to present yourself in the best possible light.

Here are some things to remember as you write your cover letter:

It’s your cover letter, not your memoir
Keep the cover letter to a few organized paragraphs that fit on one page.

Be yourself
Being yourself doesn’t mean being your party self. It means putting a little personality into your writing, but not a string of jokes or casual, over-familiar, or slang expressions. Use your own words and ideas, not just a form letter or template with the contact information changed!

Let the resume speak for itself
Hiring managers read the cover letter before they (hopefully) flip the page to look at the resume, so don’t just repeat your resume information. Discuss a specific achievement or experience that shows your qualifications for the job. The cover letter and resume combined give you their attention for only two pages, so don’t waste it repeating yourself.

Know your audience
If your teacher greeted you each morning by saying, “Hello, student,” you’d be irked she didn’t know your name. Cover letters beginning “Dear Sir or Madam” and “To Whom It May Concern” do not make good impressions. If the job posting does not specify who will receive the applications, find out. Look online or call the company’s main line or university or college to ask for the name of the corporate recruiter or hiring manager or director of admissions. Once you find out, use a formal title such as Mr., Ms. or Mrs. It adds a personal but professional touch that will be appreciated.

Why you want this job/admission to this college
Sure, a paycheck or diploma would be nice, but hopefully you want this job/college for another reason. The university’s or company’s history, accomplishments, reputation and culture probably played a role in your decision to apply. Let the hiring manager/director of admissions know. It tells him or her that you’ve done your homework and are serious about being a member of the business or college team.

Your manners
Even though job hunts are increasingly taking place online, you still need to adhere to business etiquette. As you would on any professional correspondence, include your full contact information as well as the hiring manager’s name and company address or university’s director of admissions name and address.

Take your time
You already know how important a cover letter is, so don’t rush through it. Treat it with the same care you used for your resume. Check your facts. Write several drafts, revise it and look it over again. Let your first impression be a good one.

Here are some links that have more tips and examples of cover letters:
http://www.rpi.edu/web/writingcenter/cover_letter.html

Who needs a cover letter?
http://jobstar.org/tools/resume/cletters.php

Tips for writing cover letters (with examples)
http://www.thejobexplorer.com/Cover_Letter/Tips-for-Writing-an-Effective-Cover-Letter.html

Cover letter examples:
http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/coversamples.htm

Academic Content Standards:
15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.

Journal Day

Everyone has something they are afraid of. Sometimes it is something logical, like death. Other times it could be something as irrational as the fear of a mannequin. What is your biggest fear? Why are you afraid of it? Did this start in your childhood or after some traumatic event possibly? What do you do when you are confronted by your fear? Do you have any plans of trying to get over this fear, if so how?

Or


Write on a topic of your choice.


(Journals MUST be a minimum of 1 full page)


Academic Content Standards:
15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.

Resumes

Students should complete their resumes.
All resumes should be turned in by Friday.

Monday: Introduction to cover letters

Journal Day

The government has perfected gene manipulation and now the government wants to use this knowledge to create a group of superheroes to help clean up the world’s problems. You have been chosen as one of the experimental test subjects. Since they are not sure exactly how well this will work, they give you the option to choose your super powers as a slight compensation. So what would your powers be? What would your costume look like? How would you use your powers? What would your super hero identity be?


Or


Write on a topic of your choice.


(Journals MUST be a minimum of 1 full page)


Academic Content Standards:
15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.

Journal Day

Christopher Reeve once said, “[s]o many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.” What does this mean to you? Is this really a natural progression of dreams? How can this be applied to your everyday life?

Or

Many people believe that success is measured by wealth or power, however B. C. Forbes once argued that, “[t]he man who has done his level best... is a success, even though the world may write him down a failure.” What is your opinion on the topic? How do you define success? Is there really a way to measure success?

Or

Write on a topic of your choice.


(Journals MUST be a minimum of 1 full page)

Academic Content Standards:
15.1.11A- Write with a distinctive focus.
1.5.11B- Write using well-developed content appropriate for the topic.
1.5.11C- Write with controlled organization.

Resumes

Cover letters and resumes are the way to sell yourself.

In a few carefully chosen words you can catch a potential employer’s attention and set yourself apart from the million other applicants. Therefore, cover letters and resumes need to be extremely well written, well organized and brief, but revealing.

You will be writing a cover letter and resume for a hypothetical employer. Decide on a job in which you are interested and for which you are qualified.

(RESOURCE: RESUMES FOR HS STUDENTS)
http://www.money-zine.com/Career-Development/Resume-Writing/Resumes-for-High-School-Students/



I. What is a resume?
A resume (also spelled résumé) is a brief document that summarizes your education, employment history, and experiences that are relevant to your qualifications for a particular job for which you are applying. The purpose of a resume (along with your cover letter) is to get an interview. Research has shown than it takes an average of ten (10) interviews to receive one (1) job offer, so your resume needs to be persuasive and perfect. Given this, your resume must be user-centered and persuasive.

The general purpose resume usually contains four sections:

•Contact
•Education
•Experience
•Honors, activities, and outreach

What should it look like?
A general résumé should be a brief summary of your experience, so it should be as concise as possible-no shorter than one full page and no more than three pages (some specific kinds of résumés can be longer). Résumé differ from letters and papers, and they are written in a concise style using bullet lists rather than long sentences and paragraphs. A résumé is designed to be skimmed quickly. You should look at as many résumé examples as possible before writing your own. You can check our samples to see several different formats.

TAILOR YOUR RESUME:
Though you may maintain a general résumé, you should tailor your résumés to fit the needs and expectations of each company and job position. To help tailor your résumé, collect as much information as possible on the organization and its mission/goals. Then collect information on the people who may read your résumé: human resources, decision makers, potential boss, etc. Finally, collect information on the job position and its requirements. When you know about the company, the audience, and the position, you can match your training and experience to their needs and expectations.

CONTACT INFO:
Writing the contact section of your resume
This section of your resume is definitely the easiest to write, but you do have a few options for design and content.

What is a contact information section?

Unlike other sections of your resume, this section does not have a special heading like "Contact Information." Instead it simply lists the information below at the top of the page:

•your full name
•your e-mail address
•your permanent address
•your local or campus address (if applicable)
•your phone number(s)
•your web address/URL
•your fax number, etc.

Of course, as with the rest of your resume, you'll want to double-check that all the information you include is current and accurate. Mistyping your phone number could easily cost you an interview! Also, if you list an e-mail address, be sure to check your e-mail regularly or you may miss an important message.

When you go to college: If you live on campus, you should provide your campus address. But you may also want to provide your home address.

Designing your contact information section
Employers will probably look first and last at your contact information section, so it's well worth your time to make this section easy-to-read and appealing to the eye. Whatever design choices you make, try to coordinate them with the rest of your resume. Here are some specific design options:

1.Use page design strategies to present information in a usable format. For example, to help readers find desired information, you might place your name in a larger font size, center it, boldface it, or anything to make it stand out. If you have a permanent and local address, you might want to play with columns.
2.You may want to add a graphic element such as a horizontal line to help section off your contact information. Make sure the visual does not distract from your textual information.
3.Coordinate with your cover letter. One way to make your application documents a professional package is to match your cover letter and your resume. You might do this by creating stationery or a letterhead for both documents. For instance, if you use two columns for your addresses and a double line on your resume header, you might adapt it for the top of your cover letter as well. Make sure to use the same fonts (size also) for both documents.
Questions to ask


•What are the different ways you may be contacted? How do you prefer to be reached?
About the company or organization

•What means of contacting you would be most convenient for the company or organization?



OBJECTIVE:

The objective should be short and concise, but it must also be user-centered. User-centered objectives are tailored to the specific organization and position. User-centered objectives state the organization's name and the specific position title, and they briefly outline how the applicant will help the organization achieve its goals:

Sample Objective: Help ABC Aerospace achieve its mission of designing tomorrow's technology today by joining the Navigation Software Development Team as a programmer.

Creating a user-centered objective is important because you don't want to sound like you're using the organization selfishly to further your own career:

Sample Objective: Expand my skills in programming in the software development field

Notice how the second objective does not mention the specific organization or job, and it does not discuss how the applicant plans to help the company.

EDUCATION:
In the education section, state the highest degree you have earned and provide the following details:

•Institution where the degree was granted
•Date of graduation
•Level of degree (B.A., M.A., etc.) and field (Electrical Engineering), any minors(English), and your GPA. You are not required to state your GPA, but potential employers may assume you left it off because it was low. However, if your GPA is lower than a 3.0, consider omitting it.

HONORS AND AWARDS:Be sure to include any honors or awards you have received during high school. Be very specific and indicate a brief description of each honor / award.

CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES:Briefly state any club or activity in which you have participated. Indicate any offices or special positions held. Also include any special projects or events that you played a key role.

COMMUNITY SERVICE:Include a brief description of any community service events or activities.

WORK EXPERIENCE
The section on work experience is usually broken down by company or position. For each, provide the following:

•Name and address of the organization
•Dates of employment
•Position title
•Responsibilities.
You may also want to include skills learned if the job has little or nothing to do with the position for which you are applying. Try to connect your experience with your current job interest.

Optional Sections
In addition to the basic sections, you may also want to include other optional sections to provide a more accurate idea of your skills, achievements, education, etc. These can include the following:

•Computer skills
••Languages
•Certifications
•Volunteer experience
•Foreign travel
•Professional memberships



•Sample Resumes:

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/media/pdf/20080129030125_719.pdf

http://jobsearch.about.com/library/samples/blhsresume.htm

* http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-1340-Cover-Letters-Resumes-R%c3%a9sum%c3%a9-Samples/?sc_extcmp=JS_1340_advice&SiteId=cbmsn41340&catid=cl

*There are 2 sample resumes at the bot. of this blog

II. Design: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/631/01/

III. Vocabulary

It is important to use precise, positive, active words to describe yourself and your activities, skills and experiences. Use the link below to find vocabulary suggestions.
Action words to use on resumes and cover letters:
http://www.aie.org/Finding-a-career/writing-your-resume/100-great-resume-words.cfm

http://www.ferrum.edu/career/guide/keywords.htm


IV. 10 things to leave off of your resume

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2175-Cover-Letters-Resumes-10-Things-to-Leave-Off-Your-R%c3%a9sum%c3%a9/?sc_extcmp=JS_2175_advice&SiteId=cbmsn42175&catid=cl

V. Link to tips:

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/MSN/Category.aspx?categoryid=CL


BLANK RESUME TEMPLATES:
http://www.professional-resume-example.com/free-blank-resume-template.html



MORE
Sample Resumes
Use the resume samples to find a format which best fits your type of experiences and skills.

First Name Last Name
6 Pine Street, Arlington, VA 12333
home: 555.555.5555
cell: 566.486.2222
email: phjones@vacapp.com
Education

Arlington High School, Arlington, Virginia
2002 - 2006
Experience

Pet Sitter
2004 - Present
• Provide pet sitting services including dog walking, feeding and yard care.

Child Care
2002 - Present
• Provide child care for several families after school, weekends and during school vacations.

Achievements
• National Honor Society: 2004, 2005, 2006
• Academic Honor Roll: 2002 - 2006

Volunteer Experience
• Big Brother / Big Sisters
• Arlington Literacy Program
• Run for Life

Interests / Activities
• Member of Arlington High School Tennis Team
• Girl Scout
• Piano

Computer Skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet

_____________________________________________________________________
Resume Template - High School Student

First Name Last Name
6 Elm Avenue, Stockler, CA 91733
Home: 111.111.1111 Cell: 766.444.4444
petals@flowershop.com

OBJECTIVE
A weekend part time position in a retail store that sells music, books or sporting supplies.

EDUCATION

Woodrow Wilson National High School, Stockler CA
High School Diploma anticipated in May 2009 Junior, GPA 3.41
High School Awards and Honors
National Honor Society: Fall 2005, Fall 2006, Spring 2008
Middle School Academic Honor Roll: 2002, 2003
Perfect Attendance 2006

WORK EXPERIENCE

Franklin's Lawn & Garden Services, Stockler CA 2004 to Present
• Assist family business to provide lawn and yard care services for 25 neighborhood homes bi-weekly.
• Create and distribute 200 flyers about lawn services using Print-to-Pretty software in the neighborhood monthly.
• Help to stuff envelopes with invoices for monthly billing and enter payments into Quick spreadsheet software.
Chuck's Sodas & Pizza, Stockler CA Summer 2007
• Restocked condiments, napkins and maintained a clean counter.
• Provided great customer service for about 25 walk-in customers on each shift.
• Operated cash register, POS, and frequent guest card system.

VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY

Big Kids Society - 10 hours monthly
Library Reading Program - 2 hours monthly
5K Walk with family - October 2004, 2005, 2006

INTERESTS & SKILLS

-Community Basketball League - Most Improved Player Award 2001
-Bass Guitar - Indoor Marching Band 2nd Place Tournament of Bands 2008
-Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Internet Research

____________________________________________________________________

High School Resume Sample:

First Name Last Name
6 Elm Avenue, Stockler, CA 91733
Home: 111.111.1111 Cell: 766.444.4444
petals@flowershop.com
OBJECTIVE
Interested in a paid summer camp working up to 15 hours per week.

EDUCATION
Pepperona Central High School, Pepperona LA
High School Diploma anticipated in May 2010
Sophomore, GPA 3.84
Electives: Art, Culture & Foods, Independent Living, Family Advocacy
Activities: Band and Stage Crew
SPECIAL SKILLS & INTERSTS
• Love to work with children
• Can create attractive posters and flyers using graphic software
• Able to follow written instructions
• Good with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Can do internet research using MS Explorer and FireFox
• Enjoy biographies of famous people and plays
• Travelling with family
• Manage family recycling assignments

VOLUNTEER & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Stocklerbridge Hospital, Stockler CA Ongoing
Pediatric Ward Volunteer
• Read, watch television or play games with children
• Make sure the play area is neat and toys are put away after use
• Run errands or do assignments from staff
Stockler Recreation Department, City of Stockler Summer 2007
Volunteer Camp Counselor
• Led arts, crafts, sports, games, camping and hobby workshops for groups of 8-10 year olds
• Monitored groups of up to seven children on weekly field trips to the zoo, water parks and on walking tours
• Made sure campers were dropped off and picked up safely

GOALS
Planning to study Psychology or Music as a major in college
Join the Pep Squad in Junior year