JOB SEARCH PORTFOLIO PROJECT

Requirements & Evaluation Checklist

GENERAL APPROACH

• for a desirable real job; could likely obtain after graduation
• includes URL and full text
• adheres to project job advertisement guidelines
• includes annotations
• highlight in blue (or bold): job functions, roles, tasks, and/or responsibilities you must be able to perform; things you must be able to do and/or things you will be asked to do (these are often—but not always—verbs)
• highlight in green (or italics): attributes, qualities, traits, and/or characteristics you should possess (these are often—but not always—adjectives)
• highlight in yellow (or underline): tools, systems, or products you must be able to use, work with, or provide; products or things you must be able to create or make; knowledge or expertise you must possess (these are often—but not always—nouns)

GENERAL APPROACH

• employs a rhetorical approach
• is clearly targeted at/tailored to the job advertisement

STYLE & GRAMMAR

• employs effective professional style (clarity, conciseness, correctness, parallelism)
• employs reader-centered writing where possible/effective
• is grammatically correct with no typographical, grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors

GENRE CONVENTIONS

• is appropriately formatted according conventions of professional letters, including
• professional letter formatting
• correct addressee info, name, and/or title
• appropriate salutation/greeting
• complimentary closing

CONTENT

• includes effective introduction (provides context); introduction
• states reason for contact (applying for position) and where you learned of the position (if possible, on company/organization website)
• includes job title as written in the advertisement
• includes ad ID, position number, or job code
• indicates school/career status
• includes statement about how skills, qualifications, education, and/or experience make you a good candidate for the position
• indicates reason for interest in the position (and/or business/organization)
• includes effective body paragraphs; body paragraphs
• are appropriately organized in some way (hierarchical, logical, chronological, or based on job ad)
• highlight/expand/explain/prove selected items from resume; items that demonstrate qualifications for the position
• may use context > skill > outcome/proof > reader appeal
• include appropriate/relevant indications of specific experiences, results, and/or successes
• includes effective closing; closing
• reiterates interest
• reaffirms qualifications, skills, strengths needed to succeed in the job
• asks for an interview (directly or indirectly)
• may include phone/email contact info
• thanks reader for time and/or consideration

General Approach

• is targeted towards a particular job advertisement (and position, organization, etc.)
• reflects language of and/or concepts in job advertisement
• makes a compelling case for the applicant for the position/organization in the job advertisement
• proves/explains/details qualifications, requirements, skills, knowledges, abilities, characteristics, etc. relevant to position

Style & Grammar

• employs parallel structure
• includes effective active/action verb statements
• employs effective professional style (clarity, conciseness, correctness, parallelism)
• employs reader-centered writing where possible/effective
• is grammatically correct with no typographical, grammatical, punctuation, or spelling errors

Genre Conventions

• is clearly and appropriately written as a chronological, skills, or mixed resume
• is is professionally formatted, readable, unique
• is is aesthetically pleasing, professional, easy to read, and not based on a template

Content

• includes (at least) the required sections: contact info, objective statement, education, and experience and/or skills & proficiencies)
• includes a well-written objective statement, clearly tailored towards the particular job advertisement and/or position description, highlighting what the applicant will bring to the position
• includes descriptive action verb statements that effectively describe duties, responsibilities, successes, and outcomes
• uses correct verb tenses
• uses strong, descriptive verbs
• if/when/where possible, language reflects language/concepts in the job advertisement
• where possible/appropriate, employs APR language (action verb; problem/project; results)

GENERAL APPROACH

• Formatting and content are optimized for scanning/OCR and to maximize search returns (hits)

GENRE CONVENTIONS (FORMAT)

• 12/14pt sans-serif font (Helvetica or Arial)
• Plain text; no font styles (no bold, italics, underline); no text effects
• left align with ragged right margin; no indentations; no centered or justified text
• no non-text elements; no borders, shading, shapes, or bullets

STYLE, GRAMMAR, & CONTENT

• Shifts verbs to nouns (where possible); shifts past tense verbs to present tense
• Includes terms from the job advertisements; includes synonyms, keywords, and buzzwords
• Anticipates employer search terms

GENERAL APPROACH

• demonstrates knowledge of company/position
• reinforces qualifications for position
• contributes to professional, positive ethos

SPECIFIC APPROACHES

GENERAL APPROACH

• employs clear, correct, concise professional writing style
• demonstrates correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no typographical, capitalization, or other errors
• employ clear/correct language (diction)
• employs reader-centered writing
• you view (you attitude)
• positive emphasis
• communication of reader benefits
• employs rhetorical approach & logical organization