Answer

Interviewing, Follow-Up, Negotiating Job Offers

A professional career goals statement

“To rise to a management position within the administration department of a firm that is reshaping its industry while utilizing the business administration and management skills gained in school and through various internship positions while pursuing my bachelor’s degree in business administration and management.” This statement was developed based on the fact that I pursued a business administration degree, which is applicable to any firm that requires an administrator (Furbish, 2013). The position of an administrator is usually available in most organizations as each firm requires administrators to take care of the administrative tasks within the firm. This statement shall be perceived by prospective employers as request to be hired as an office administrator within a busy firm that requires the use of my skills as an administrator. I have acquired such skills from school as well as through various internship opportunities at large firms. This statement also specifically states that I am willing to take a job that relates only to the course I covered in school and do not want a job that is not related to my college major. This impresses upon the HR managers that I am keen on pursuing my chosen field of study in order to become an expert. 

An in-depth analysis of my skills, experiences and education

My skill-set currently fits the job requirements for an office administrator given that I have excellent computer skills, which come in handy in such a job as I would need to be using my computer most of the time. Excellent communication skills are also a major requirement for an office administrator as I would have to deal with all types of people including customers and I must act cordially and professionally towards all the people that I interact with. The ability to remain organized at all times is critical for an office administrator as one needs to keep track of all incoming and outgoing correspondence and ensure that the boss keeps an organized schedule. My organizational ability is well-suited for this job as an office administrator because I am usually very highly organized as an individual. Time management is also a crucial skill for an office administrator as he has to keep his boss organized through setting up meetings and ensuring that the boss’s calendar is maintained (Pelczarski, 2015). However, I would like to emphasize that my ultimate goal is to rise to a managerial position by excelling at my job and taking on larger administration jobs at the managerial level.

3 jobs that I might apply for and the application process

A sample of three jobs that I will be applying for includes management trainee positions, and project assistant positions and business analyst positions. Employers who offer the management trainee role usually offer an online application process through an e-recruitment portal that allows eligible applicants with the right qualifications to apply for the position. Many employees offer a variety of tests during the application process, which might include aptitude tests as well as personality tests in order to recruit only the best candidates. Candidates usually undergo various interview processes before finally being selected as management trainees (Waheed & Zaim, 2015). The management trainee role usually involves the rotation of candidates through various departments in order to learn about the operations in each department and finally be appointed into managerial positions. The project assistant application process usually requires prospective candidates to send in their resume and cover letters and might involve an aptitude or personality test, but is not as rigorous as the management trainee tests. Project assistants must demonstrate that they have the right skills to work on a particular project. Applications for business analyst position usually require the submission of a cover letter and a resume that demonstrates that the candidate has the required skills for the position. A personality or aptitude test might also be required of the candidate.

Different companies where I can apply for different positions

The Coca-Cola Company offers a management trainee position that I can apply to given my skills as a business administrator and manager acquired from school and through various internship positions. I worked within the logistics department at Diageo Plc, as an intern and acquired a set of supply chain management skills that are largely applicable to Coca-Cola in managing its logistics operations. McKinsey & Company a consulting firm also offers an entry-level business analyst position, which I am qualified to apply for given my skills in business analysis acquired from my school work. As a business analyst, I will be responsible for analyzing the business operations of clients and recommending areas of improvement or new opportunities that would increase the competitiveness of the firm’s business clients (Spurk, Kauffeld, Barthauer & Heinemann, 2015). Affinity, a national consulting firm, offers the position of project assistant to recent graduates with minimal experience and I can apply to this job.

Best practices for resume and cover letter writing

One of the best resume writing skills is to choose a resume format that showcases your skills and accomplishments as well as your qualifications for the job you are applying for in the best way possible. It is also important to link your skills and competencies to the requirements of the job that one is applying for (Pelczarski, 2015). One should also align their professional values with those of the prospective employer within their resume and their cover letter in order to appeal to the employer based on similar values. A job applicant should develop a value proposition statement or personal branding statement that they can use on their resume and cover letter as well as all job related communication.