Text 4 Management and Administration

Graduates of Bradford University may apply for Postgraduate School of Studies in Management and Administration. The degree of Master in Business Administration (MBA) is open to those who have a) a degree of Bachelor with first or second class honours from a United Kingdom university, or the Council for National Academic Awards; or b) a professional qualification which has been accepted by the Senate as equivalent to a) above.

Both courses begin in October of each year. All students attend courses as outlined below and take five written examinations at the end of one academic year. All students will normally take the following core courses: Economics, Organizational Behaviour, Marketing and Production, Management Science, Financial and Managerial Accounting, Society and Management, Strategic Management.

In addition, students choose seven elective courses from a wide range offered. The choice of electives is made in consultation with tutors and is governed by the option in which the student decides to specialize. There are eleven options: Managerial Science, International Business, Marketing Management, Personnel Management, Local Government Management, Economics and Corporate Planning, Business Policy, Financial Management, Production Management, Industrial Relations, General Management.

The core courses taken in the first term are examined in January and the final examinations are in June. Students who achieve a sufficient standard in the Diploma examinations may proceed to the degree of MBA by dissertation.

Unit two. Applying for a job Text 1 Types of Job-Search Letters

Letters can enhance your employment. The purposes and impact of every letter should be considered carefully. They should be functional, understandable, easy to read, and pleasant in tone. There are seven basic letters you will probably use during your job search: application, prospecting, networking, thank-you, acceptance, withdrawal, rejection.

Application Letter. The purposes of this letter are to get your enclosed resume read and to generate interviews. Your strategy is to demonstrate that your qualifications fit the requirements of the position.

Prospecting Letter. The purposes of this letter are to prospect for possible vacancies in your occupation, to get your resume read, and to generate interviews. The structure of this letter is similarly to that of the application letter, but instead of using position information, focus is on broader occupational dimensions.

Networking Letter. This letter is designed to generate information interviews. Information interviewing requires solid preparation and much effort. The networking letter is the first step in the information interviewing process. Normally, a resume is not attached to a networking letter.

Thank-you Letter. This is one of the most important tools in a job search. It is used to establish goodwill, to express appreciation, and strengthen your candidacy. Thank-you letters should be sent within 24 hours to everyone who interviewed you or granted you information interviews and to people who provided references for you.

Acceptance Letter. This type of letter is used to accept a job offer, to confirm the terms of your employment (salary, starting date, medical examinations, etc), and to positively reinforce the employer’s decision to hire you.

Withdrawal Letter. Once you accept a position, you have an ethical obligation to inform all other employers of your decision and to withdraw your employment application from consideration. You may state that your decision to go with another organization was based on having better job fit for this stage in your career.

Rejection Letter. Employers aren’t the only ones to send rejection letters. Candidates may have to decline employment offers that do not fit their career objectives and interests. Rejecting an employment offer should be done thoughtfully.