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–… was the subject of my paper in … Representatives from three national companies have visited our laboratory to discuss the technique with me.

–Through the competition, I met … who invited me to … I have since completed … These … are now being tested at the local hospital. I hope to be able to pursue this interest once I start working.

–My portfolio includes seven research papers and lab reports of more than 20 pages each, and I have delivered four oral presentations, one of which being 45 minutes, in class.

–Since your company specializes in …, you might find the subject of my major project especially relevant.

4)awards granted to you:

–The most rewarding part of my education at … took place outside classroom. My entry in … competition sponsored by … won second place.

–The project was given the Senior … Award, granted by a panel of … department.

5)skills acquired:

–In these courses, I have acquired skills in … .

–One important skill stressed in your ad is the availability to communicate effectively in writing and orally. Our science courses have extensive writing and speaking requirements.

20.Go through the phrases suggested for the education paragraph, filling out the spaces.

Model:

At Stanford University I have taken a wide range of courses in the sciences, but my most anvanced work has been in applied mathematics.

21.Practice using the phrases suggested for the educational paragraph of an application letter. Choose a few job ads given in Unit 1 to write the educational paragraphs. Extend on the situations presented in Ex. 16. Consider some additional situations:

SDescribe the courses relevant for the position. Mention higher GPAs earned in related subjects. Speak about practical experience as part of your program, giving an example of your achievements.

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SYou have a working knowledge of a number of computer languages. In your laboratory course you developed a computer program that has already found an application.

SThough your GPA is not very impressive, you hope to improve it as you take some additional courses in your major. Think of a suitable reason for your poor academic progress and ways you plan to improve.

22.Using a job ad written by you in Unit 1, develop a paragraph on education for your application letter.

23.At an interview, you will have to make a brief presentation of yourself, emphasizing your qualifications for a job, mainly education and work experience. Now it is time for you to practice speaking about it aloud. Using the phrases above or the paragraph on education that you have developed, make a brief oral statement of your education.

EMPLOYMENT PARAGRAPH

24.When writing an employment paragraph avoid simply saying things such as you worked as, say, a sales clerk. Instead, write how you maintained inventories, sold merchandise, prepared displays, implemented new procedures, supervised and trained new clerks. For this, you will need the action verbs, a sampling of which is given in Appendix 2, Fig. 6, pp. 217–219. Using these verbs, develop a description of your responsibilities on the job.

25.Note how the following employment paragraph develops a unified idea by combining education and employment, while being highly specific about the skills acquired. Identify action verbs. Find the sentence that connects education and employment. Analyze the reasoning.

For the last three summers and part-time during the academic year, I have worked as a technical editor for Digital Systems, Inc. I was chosen because of my dual background in computer science and technical writing to coordinate the editing of computer manuals. I have been responsible for verifying the technical accuracy of the versions made by copy editors, getting in contact with system analysts to make sure the computer program can manage the corrections. This position gave me a good understanding of the way the operational manuals are produced.

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26.Review the phrases used in the employment paragraph

1)to make a statement concerning a job:

–My job was … .

–For the past three summers and part-time during the academic year, I have worked for …, a firm that specializes in … I began as … . By the second summer I was … . Most recently, I … .

–Although I have worked every summer since I was fifteen, my recent position as … has been the most rewarding. I was chosen by … from among … candidates because of my dual background in … and … . My job was … .

–My position at … was part-time during the academic year and full time during summers.

–My work experience would be especially appropriate for … as … .

–I have worked extensively in … and I am familiar with … .

–I have worked in … for … as … .

–I have had more than a year and a half of experience working for … .

–At … , where I currently work part-time, I analyze … .

–For two years I worked as a part-time … at … .

–For the past two summers I have worked for … where I qualified as … .

2)to speak about your responsibilities on the job:

–My responsibilities have been, in many ways, similar to those asked for in your ad.

–Your ad mentions that this position will require substantial client contact. I believe that my work in … , in particular, would be of value.

–I was responsible for … .

–Most recently I assisted in … I coordinated campaign to … .

–While working at … I was able to apply my computer experience to the field of … .

–In my project for … I used my background in FORTRAN to develop and test new FORTRAN software used in … .

–In another project I used … to evaluate … .

–At … I assisted with writing system documentation.

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–Recently, at … , (Working at … ,) I was completely responsible for incorporating changes in … .

3)to describe your work experience:

–My experience in … has been both extensive and varied.

–I am familiar with the basic procedures of … but my primary qualifications lie in … .

–This experience (position) has taught me a good deal about … (has given me a good understanding of …).

–This experience, along with … work described in my resume, has given me clear and practical understanding of … .

–Over the past three years I have gained considerable experience in … .

–Other related experience I have had includes … .

–… so I have been able to participate in the full testing cycle from beginning to end.

–I feel that the … skills I developed as a … (that my experience in …) would be of benefit at … (… would be usefull to you).

–As a person who has worked in many capacities in the field of … my experience would be invaluable in (doing something).

–Because of my … background I am comfortably working with … and enjoy a fast-paced technical environment.

–Because this practical experience supplements the theory learned at … I would fit into a research laboratory with minimum training.

–Through my work I am well aware of the problems and difficulties of … .

–Also, related work at two firms has given me experience (doing something).

–In particular, more than two years work as … taught me the importance of … .

–I have also had some related job experience in working with … .

–I would like the opportunity to apply those same skills at … .

–Moreover, my … background might be an asset to your … program.

–I have confidence in my … skills.

–My experience and education have prepared me to work well with others and to respond creatively to changes, crises, and related responsibilities.

–I have tried to remain current with the latest advances.

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–Having been out of school for more than a decade, I am well aware of how much the technology has changed.

–My experience with … makes me confident that I can quickly learn new … systems.

4)to speak of the availability of your materials:

–Copies of these documents are available for you to examine in my portfolio.

5)references:

–I have asked Mr. N., who can be reached at (tel.), to serve as a reference and he is willing to write or speak to you at your convenience.

6)to mention awards:

–For this project, I received a certificate of appreciation from the company president.

27.Look through the phrases above making complete statements to be used in the employment paragraph.

Model:

For two years I worked as a part-time realty agent at R & B, Inc.

28.Note that you should always speak to the employer’s interests while highlighting your own accomplishments. The following paragraph is a good example of the you-attitude in action. Analyze what makes it strong.

Your team members, of which I might be a part, need both general knowledge and ability for data collection techniques, as well as specific job skills. Therefore, I would like to point out that last summer I worked for the Department of Fishing on a fish population study. Through this, I gained electro-fishing and seining experience and also learned how to collect and identify aquatic plants.

29.Practice writing about your employment history: choose an ad that you may like to respond to and develop an employment paragraph, in which you

Sestablish yourself as a mature person who already has a lot of work experience. Outline the range of your responsibilities on a similar job, keeping in mind applying the skills acquired to your new job.

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Sshow how your background helps you work comfortably in a fast-paced technical environment. Your work experience has taught you the importance of responding creatively to changes and added responsibilities. Substantiate your claim with an appropriate example.

Sshow how your practical experience prepared you to fit into the new job with minimum training and to work well as one of the team.

Sacknowledge that since the time you graduated from the University the technology in your field has changed greatly. Though you are proud of your job experience you realize the necessity to learn on the job.

30.Write a work experience paragraph for your own application letter written in response to a particular job ad from Unit 1 and in conjunction with your resume. Be sure to respond carefully to the requirements mentioned in the ad.

31.Make a brief oral presentation of your work experience that may help you handle this question during an interview.

CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

32.Below is a sample concluding paragraph of an application letter. Identify the functions it performs.

More information about my education and expertise is included in the enclosed resume. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you. I will be available for an interview daily after 3:00 p.m. through June 22, and at any time that suits your convenience after that date.

33.Given below are phrases to be used in the concluding paragraph of an application letter. Study how

1)to mention a resume:

–The enclosed resume provides more information about my education and experience.

–My enclosed resume gives additional details of my academic background.

–More information about my education and experience is included on the enclosed resume.

–… as you will see (note) on my enclosed resume … .

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–The enclosed resume provides an overview of my education and experience.

–You will find more detailed information about my education and work experience in the resume enclosed with this letter.

–I have attached a copy of my resume … .

–Enclosed is a resume that highlights my credentials.

–I enclose a resume containing more detailed information about me and my experience.

–As my enclosed resume outlines, I have considerable experience in … .

–As you will note on the enclosed resume, I have also had experience in … .

–I can supply job descriptions concerning my past employment and report of my … research.

2)to ask for an interview:

–Could we meet at your convenience to discuss further the skills and experience I could bring to your company?

–Could I meet with you at your convenience to discuss my qualifications for this position?

–Could you meet with me on one of those days to discuss the potential growth of … ?

–I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss with you several questions which I have about … (to disscuss my qualifications with you … ; to meet with you at your convenience to discuss my application in more detail).

–I look forward to having an interview with you (to talking with you soon).

–If my background meets your needs, I would welcome the opportunity to talk with you about the position and my interest in … .

–Even if my information is wrong concerning the position in your … department, I would like to meet you and get your advice.

3)to make an appointment:

–A message can be left for me any time at … (tel.).

–I can be reached at my home address or by phone any day after 3:00 p.m. at … (tel).

–You can reach me after noon Thursdays and Fridays at … (tel.).

–Please write to me at the above address or leave a message (or call me any time) at … (tel.).

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–I am available to interview at your convenience and can begin work immediately.

–I am available for an interview any time after 2:30 p.m. until June 13 and can be reached at … (tel.).

–I am available for an interview daily after 2:00 p.m., and after that date at any time that suits your convenience.

–After that date, I could come to your office any time at your convenience.

–My telephone number during the day between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. is … .

–I will be in Virginia from April 21. If you want to contact me there, the number is … (tel.).

–If you need to get in touch with me before then, I can be reached by telephone (tel ...) or by e-mail … .

–If you would like any additional information about me, please write at the above address or call me at … (tel).

–Please phone me any weekday after 4:00 p.m. at … (tel.).

–… but I could arrange to drive to … any time convenient for you.

–In April I will attend the annual meeting of … in … Would it be possible for me to talk with some member of … at any time?

–I will call you (your secretary) next week to see if you might be available when I visit (when it will be most convenient for you).

–I will get in touch with you in the next few days to ask if I might schedule a few moments with you.

–Because I know that it is difficult to get in touch with students, I will call you in the next few days to see if you would like to set up an interview.

4)to ask for confidentiality:

–For obvious reasons, I must request absolute confidentiality.

–As I am currently employed, I would appreciate this to be kept in confidence.

–As I have not yet given notice, I would appreciate your discretion in this matter.

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34. Choose from the phrases above to construct complete statements. Fill out spaces.

Model:

I can be reached at my home address or by phone any time at your convenience.

35. Here are some poor ways to close a letter. Can you see what is wrong with them?

SI would like to set up an interview with you. Please phone me to arrange a convenient time. (That’s the employer’s prerogative, not yours.)

SI do not live too far from your office. Could we meet for coffee sometime next week? (Turn this around. Say that since you live nearby, you may be available for an interview any time.)

SI know that you are busy, but I would really like to have an interview. (Say you would like to discuss the job further.)

SI would like to discuss other qualifications you have in mind for the job. (How do you know that there might be any?)

a) Give the reasons for your choice. Use the comments given in the key. Work in pairs or together as a group.

Model:

St.: I don’t like Statement 1 because it is … (key). I’d rather say … .

Key: too humble; pushy and categorical; too informal; introduces a new subject.

b)Establish proper tone by using phrases from Ex. 33.

36.Choose a job ad from Unit 1. Using the phrases given in the previous sections, make a concluding paragraph for a letter of application written in response to the ad. Be sure to 1) mention enclosed resume, 2) ask for an interview, 3) make an appointment.

Assume that

Syou are only available after 3:00 p.m. any day at … (tel.);

Syou can be written to or left a message at the address mentioned in your letter;

Syou are going to Nevada on business and can be reached there at … (tel.) any time after 5:00 p.m. until April 15.

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37.Working in pairs, make short dialogues about how to get in touch with people in case you or they may need it. Use the phrases suggested for the concluding paragraph of an application letter.

Model:

St. 1: How can we contact you?

St. 2: I can be reached at 555-0607 any day after 3:00 p.m.

38.Below is an application letter written to go with a job ad and resume from Unit 1. Study it carefully, check the spelling and tone.

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39.Answer these discussion questions to the application letter above.

1)What is your first impression of the applicant? Does s/he seem like a well-qualified and competent professional? 2) What is it about the letter that makes it look so unprofessional? Is it pleasing to the eye and easy to use? 3) Does it serve as a good guide to the resume? Are all the facts relevant for the job mentioned in the letter? Should they be emphasized or stay half-buried in the resume? 4) What do you think of the strategy to mention the applicant’s weak

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