Applying for Jobs & Graduate Schools
Average Reading Time: 25 Minutes
Learning Outcomes
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how to write a killer resume, cover letter, and personal statement
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how rhetoric will help you land the job or a spot in graduate school

15.1 Professional Audience Analysis
Audience Analysis
- Look at the company, program or employer's website to see how the organization describes itself.
- Create a list of key terms from the ad and the website.
- Briefly answer the Audience Analysis Questions. Note that you might not be able to answer all of them based on the audience.
- Using all of this information, write a brief analysis of your audience.
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What is the approximate size of your audience? Are you addressing just one or two people or a sizable group?
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Who, specifically, are you writing to? A Hiring Manager or department? A specific person?
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What information do you have regarding the demographic makeup of your audience (age, gender, education level, ethnicity), and how might you use that information to develop and shape your writing?
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What personal and professional traits do you have in common with the members of your audience?
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What common values do you share with your audience?
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Are there any cultural considerations that may influence how your audience responds to your writing?
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Will your audience expect to be entertained as well as informed?
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Will you be targeting certain members of your audience, and if so, which members? (Think name-dropping, more on that later)
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How will you have to earn your audience’s trust? How will you demonstrate your knowledge or expertise?
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What preconceptions or biases might be held by some members of your audience?
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What expectations will your audience have regarding your application materials?
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What expectations will your audience have regarding the format of your application materials?
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What key questions will your audience expect you to answer?
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What key objections are audience members likely to raise?
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What particular appeals should you include in your application materials to connect to the needs and interests of your audience?
15.2 Rules of the Resume
Conventions of the Genre
One Page
Golden Triangle
Your Golden Triangle
What information will you place in the golden triangle?
White Space
Narrative
What to Include and In What Order
Religious Volunteer Experiences
Interests

15.3 Bulleted Sections
Once you have nailed down which experiences you want to highlight, based on your Audience Analysis, you need to look at how you will organize that information into bulleted sections. Within every section, each bullet point is a phrase—not a complete sentence. And each phrase begins with a verb. If you find that you are using the same verb in many of your bullets, you may want to google “Action Verbs” or head to BYU’s Career Services website to see their Action Verbs handout.
Look at each of your bullet points. Do they begin with a verb-first phrase? After you have revised your verb-first phrases you need to look closely at the information you are providing your readers. You should move from task-oriented phrases to phrases which provide quantifiable data, indicate the motivation behind the task, and show the impact on others.
Move from
- Tested operating systems
to
- Tested 5 operating systems daily
and ending up with something like this
- Tested 5 operating systems daily to minimize errors for customers
Bullet Points
Now you do it. Revise each of your bullet points to include quantifiable data, motivation, and impact.
Best=Longer?!?!?
15.4 The Master
How to Use It
15.5 Cover Letters

Conventions of the Genre
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Heading: Your heading should match the heading found on your resume. Make sure to include your address, telephone number, and email address. You can include your LinkedIn information. We also need the date and the address of person to whom you are writing.
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Opening Salutation: Please avoid using “To Whom It May Concern.” It is outdated and shows that you didn’t care enough to seek out the person your letter is going to. Use Google and see if you can figure out your point of contact. If that fails, give the company a call. “Hi! My name is Bob Lob and I’m applying for the student intern position in the pediatric research department. I’d like to personalize my cover letter. Could you tell me who’s responsible for potential interns?” Not only does it provide you with the information you need, but it could also get your name circulating. If all of the above fails, you can broaden your field a bit and address the role or the department (e.g., “Dear Hiring Manager,” or “Dear Applications Department”)
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1st paragraph: How did you find out about the job? What connects you to the company? “Name drop” in this paragraph. Do you have any mentors that work there? Did a current employee suggest the job to you? What position are you applying for?
1st Paragraph Activity
Answer the above questions in paragraph form.
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2nd and 3rd paragraphs: Why are you interested in their company? How will you add value to the company? What is unique about you? Highlight the awesome items that are in your resume. Mention education and experience. You can mention why the company is good for you, but focus mostly on how you are good for the company. Show them how much you want to work for them. If you need to explain why you may have sub-par grades or experience, this is the place to do so. Make sure that you own your flaws, but use them to show your character. If something made your grades fall a bit short, show what you learned from the experience.
2nd and 3rd Paragraph
Answer the above questions in paragraph form. Make sure you are keeping your audience in mind. Also, it wouldn't hurt to use the PAR method (problem, action, result).
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Last paragraph: Ask for an interview or say how you are looking forward to connecting with them soon. Thank them for their time. Be kind and considerate.
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Closing and signature: If the company you are applying to is super old school and they want your application materials in hard copy, don’t forget to sign it.
Cover Letter Comparison
First, look at the revised thesis statement. The writer focuses on 3 things (code quickly, collaborate with anyone, and work like a Trojan) that inform the rest of their letter (the three body paragraphs). And then they wrap it up very nicely at the end (I’m an engineer who can blaze through problems, create an effective team, and work really hard). See if you have a thesis statement the guides the reader through your cover letter. Revise your letter so that it has a strong thesis statement, paragraphs that link to the thesis, and a nice concluding statement.
Second, notice how memorable the second cover letter is? They do so by including PAR stories and by using words that are full of emotion. Revise your letter so that it includes PAR stories and has engaging language.
15.6 The Interview
Prepare
Practice
Interview Formats
In-person Interview
Video Call or Remote Interviews
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Become familiar with the technology so you won't be flustered if it fails. Try out at least two services so you can switch if necessary.
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Compose a backdrop. Make sure your interviewer sees you in a clean, simple environment.
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Orient the light toward your face or to your side, (not above or behind you.) Strong overhead light can make you look spooky. Natural light is the most flattering, so try to sit facing a window.
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Make sure the camera is at eye level or slightly above. Place your laptop on a stack of books so that your interviewer isn't looking up your nose.
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Double check the interview time and time zone.
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Choose a solid-colored shirt and make sure it's pressed. Wrinkles show up more on camera. If you need to wear a white shirt, wear a suit jacket over it. If you want a few pointers on how to dress, read this article by Monster.
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Maintain a fairly constant distance from the webcam.
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Don't drum your fingers or use the keyboard to type notes during your call. Sensitive microphones will magnify every sound.
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Look at the camera, not the screen. Don't try to stare at it constantly, but do look directly into it when you want to emphasize a point or convey sincerity.
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Smile! Exude energy, confidence, and optimism.
Phone Interviews
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Remain standing and walk around
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Smile (even if no one's in the room)
Interview Day
15.7 The Aesthetics of the Application
Comparison
Open your two documents (resume and cover letter) side by side on your screen. Do they jive? do they look like they go together? If now, fix them. Make them cohesive. Just like you dress the part, you need to dress up your application materials.
15.8 Graduate School Applications
Curriculum Vitae
Format
Style
Personal Statement
Personal Statement Questions
Respond to the following: (Yes, there are a lot of questions, but these will help you create a really fantastic and specific statement)
- What is your purpose in graduate study?
- What is the area of study in which you wish to specialize? (Use the language of the field)
- What is your intended future use of your grad study?
- What is your unique preparation and fitness for study in the field?
- Do you have any problems or inconsistencies in your records/scores?
- Do you have any special conditions that are not revealed elsewhere in your application?
- What did you learn from the problems or inconsistencies or special conditions?
- How have those experiences made you into the person you are today?
- These should be made into positive statements about your abilities and future.
- Why do you want to attend their university? Be specific.
Conventions of the Genre
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Be conservative with your design and writing style
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If no page requirement is listed—stick to 2 pages max, singled-spaced.
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12 point in a conservative font like Verdana, Courier, or Times New Roman
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No opening or closing salutation
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Your essay should begin
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ATTN: Graduate Selection Committee (unless you are posting your work in a text box)
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Tell how you first became interested in the subject you plan to study
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Provide anecdotes from childhood, early academic life, travel, service, or other experience
- Course work you've excelled in
- Awards you've received
- Aspects of the field that inspire you
- Clubs you've participated in
- Conferences you've presented at
- Papers you've published
- "I want to attend X University because I want to study women’s health”
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"As you can see, from the time I was 16, I’ve dedicated myself to researching the impact of the environment on women’s health in 3rd world countries. My time spent studying under Dr. MacKenzie has taught me the value of working alongside someone who not only excels in academia but also gets their boots dirty, so to speak. X University’s reputation for providing onsite training and fieldwork, in addition to preparing its students to hold their own in the academic setting is unparalleled. I would be honored to be among those students. I would also love the opportunity to study with Professor Ludlow, given her groundbreaking research on microplastics and women’s health in India. Her article found in...”
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Summarize what you've already written
- Perhaps touch back on the hook from your intro
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Express interest in THEIR program
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Thank them for their consideration
"Maya Angelou famously said, 'We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.' This is true of your professional evolution. You might feel like you are not where you want to be—or not where you thought you’d be by now—but your journey will evolve. There is nothing wrong with revealing the bumps along the way, as long as you can articulate where you want to go. The most important exercise . . . is defining your values, goals, and mission and working consistently in that direction."
Mentors
Letters of Recommendation
15.9 Personal Branding

Online Presence
Your Personal Brand
Your Personal Brand Review what Washington & Lee University has said about personal branding (above). Go through your Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and make necessary changes. Write a quick paragraph detailing some of the changes you made.
ResearchGate
Commencement


References
Suggested Citation
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