Module 3: Job Application Materials and Workplace Communication
Technical Writing by Tiffani Tijerina is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Technical Writing by Tiffani Tijerina is licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 International
Analyze a workplace situation to determine whether a formal business letter, an internal memo, or a professional email is the best format to use based on the audience and purpose.
Draft business messages that focus on the reader's needs, perspective, and interests, ensuring that even negative or difficult information is framed positively and professionally.
Apply standard professional formatting (such as block-style layouts, clear subject lines, and appropriate salutations) while writing concise paragraphs and using bulleted lists to make text easy to scan.
Write tailored cover letters that grab a hiring manager's attention, state clear objectives, and directly connect personal qualifications to the specific requirements of a job posting.
Format chronological resumes using professional document design principles (including strategic white space, consistent margins, and action-oriented bullet points) to ensure the document is highly readable and visually balanced.
*Explainer and knowledge check questions generated with Notebook LM, using Open TC 2e, Chapter 13 as the source content.
The below resume and cover letter examples are real documents I've used for past jobs. The early career resume example is what my resume might look like if I was an undergrad student with little-to-no experience going into the job market. I don't have my resume from back then, but this is based on my actual situation from my senior year of college.
You don't have to know this type of document for this class, but it doesn't hurt to see one! A CV is what academics and researchers typically use instead of a resume. Since I am a professor, I use my CV a lot more often than I do my resume.
You also don't have to know this type of document for this class, but you will likely have to write one at some point in your career (probably multiple). This is a real resignation letter I used to resign from a past job.
Have ya'll seen The Boss Baby (the movie)? I remember watching it the first time and thinking it was actually a pretty good, pretty funny movie. It's not one I watch all the time or anything, but it was worth watching the first time. Anyway, as I was watching it for the first time, this scene (linked) comes on. And I remember turning to look at my now-husband and just cracked up laughing because he was staring at me waiting to see my reaction to the scene. He heard the word "memo" and immediately knew I was going to have some kind of reaction, as someone who was into the whole professional writing thing.
*Explainer and knowledge check questions generated with Notebook LM, using Open TC 2e, Chapter 12 as the source content.
More than Memos is a YouTube account with some really great analyses of different examples of technical communication. With each module, I'll assign you a video to watch with a different example. Enjoy!
Think about the worst letter, memo, or email you've ever received. This could be a work-related message, a school communication, or even a personal email. In your post, address the following:
Describe the message. Without revealing sensitive details, summarize what it was about. What was its purpose, and why did you feel it failed to communicate effectively?
Analyze the flaws. Was the language unclear, overly formal, or too informal? Did it lack professionalism, structure, or a clear purpose? Consider whether poor netiquette contributed to the communication issues.
Propose improvements. If you were writing that message, how would you approach it differently? What specific strategies would you use to ensure clarity, professionalism, and effectiveness in your communication?
After posting your response, read through your classmates' posts. Choose at least one post to respond to and engage in a discussion. You might share whether you've had a similar experience, offer additional suggestions for improvement, or discuss the challenges of applying netiquette and communication best practices in different contexts.