Students who haven’t yet engaged in a professional-grade job search might be surprised by how much work is involved and how long the process can take. Starting late or diving in without a plan can make this challenging project even more hectic. In contrast, approaching it thoughtfully can reduce stress and smooth out bumps along […]
Category Archives: Employment Communication
Seven Tips for Succeeding in Video Interviews
Students should prepare to be interviewed by video as they move through the job search process, and these interviews require some special consideration. Video interviews can be conducted via Skype or similar services, video conferencing systems, or automated interviewing systems in which candidates respond to prerecorded questions. Most of the advice outlined in Fourteen Tips […]
Fourteen Tips That Will Help Your Students Succeed in Phone Interviews
As your students begin the interview process, chances are good that their initial screening interviews and at least subsequent interview will be conducted over the phone. Employers treat telephone interviews as seriously as in-person interviews, so candidates need to be ready to perform effectively in these important exchanges. Share these fourteen tips with your students […]
The Future of Communication: Augmented Writing
This is the fourth post in a series about technologies that are shaping the future of communication. We’ve been following technologies that cover an interesting array of possibilities, from enhancing existing communication modes to replacing at least one of the humans in a conversation to assisting people who have a variety of motor, vision, and […]
The Future of Communication: Blind Auditions
This is the second post in a series about technologies that are shaping the future of communication. We’ve been following a dozen-plus technologies that cover an interesting array of possibilities, from enhancing existing communication modes to replacing at least one of the humans in a conversation to assisting people who have a variety of motor, […]
Five Steps to Help Your Students Develop Their Personal Brands
Most students preparing to enter or reenter the job market have probably heard the advice to develop a personal brand but might not know how to proceed. Here are five steps that can make the task feel easier and more authentic. Step 1: Don’t Call It Personal Branding If You Don’t Care for the Term […]
Teachable Moments with Infographic Résumés
Infographic résumés are getting a lot of buzz these days. We cover them in all three of our business communication textbooks and provide a variety of examples via our Real-Time Updates and Business Communication Headline News services. In certain situations, a well-designed infographic résumé used at the right point in the job application process can be […]
Starting the New Term: A Great Time for Students to Hone Their Networking Skills
We’re pleased to be joining you for another year of sharing business communication tips and techniques. With many students looking ahead to the job-search process, this is a great time to discuss professional networking. Networking is a multi-purpose learning tool because it combines so many important business communication skills, from conducting research and adopting the […]
A Few Flickers of Hope in Employment-Related Communication
The sluggish job market isn't going to reignite overnight, but we have recently noticed a few positive communication developments that could eventually help more qualified candidates land the jobs they want. 1. The growing realization that auto-screening applicants is not automatically a good idea When companies complain they can't find qualified applicants for unfilled openings […]
Employment References: Automated, Anonymous Reference Checks Are Changing the Game
Employment references have been one of the more volatile areas of business communication in recent years, and the situation is often frustrating for everyone involved. With the threat of lawsuits over negative references, many employers now offer nothing more than confirmation of dates of employment. On the other side of the equation, recruiters are frustrated […]