Entry #3 | Researching Opportunities

In your first notebook entry, you discovered multiple “next steps” you might want to pursue as you explore career possibilities. Next, you will explore and refine your career interests through in-depth exploration and analysis of two audiences of your choice. This assignment serves as the foundation upon which you will be able to make a connection with these audiences when constructing application materials, such as resumes and cover letters.

What does this have to do with life design? It’s about getting curious about these audiences, but it’s also about telling your story––and the more you understand your audience, the more compelling your story will be.

STEP 1: Choose two opportunities.
Choose two different, distinct “next steps”—we will call them “goals.” Think of these as immediate goals. Your choices can be ambitious, but they should also be reasonable––opportunities you would realistically pursue in the next six to twelve months.

Also, remember that internships, jobs, and research opportunities may come from postings or from direct inquiries you make.

Here are some sample choices of two goals that would satisfy the requirements of the upcoming assignments:

Speak with your instructor if you have questions about selecting your goals.

STEP 2: Research each audience.

(“Audience” = the employer, faculty member, etc., who would hire or admit you.)

For each goal:

(a) Consult the posting (if there is one)

Look at the internship, job or research program posting to see what the employer is specifically looking for. If there is no posting available, generate a summary of what type of position you hope will be available; be specific. Pay attention to required and recommended skillsets, experiences, and knowledge.

If there is a posting, include a snapshot of it (and make sure to cite that image!!) when you submit your answers to the response questions below. Also, I recommend saving a pdf of the posting you’re using, because they can disappear after a few weeks.

(b) Perform additional audience research

Identify information that can help you decide how the employer—not simply the opportunity itself—is a good fit for you, as well as how to best communicate that to your intended audience. Your research might include:

• The organization’s mission
• Values (e.g., sustainability; diversity; innovation)
• Size (number of employees) and location(s)
• Main products or services
• Reputation in the industry
• Recent news
• Culture of the organization
• Other (financials for start-ups; impending mergers and acquisitions, etc.)
• For undergraduate research: faculty background, primary research focus, key research projects, funding sources

In conducting your research, be sure to use the library databases you learned about in the blackboard tutorial to “triangulate your sources”:

At the same time, strive for authenticity in this activity—ultimately, you need to ask yourself what you need and want to know about the organization in order to make a solid connection with your audience. If you are having difficulty locating information on your audience(s), consult your instructor or a librarian.

Be sure to keep track of your sources so that you cite them when necessary during Step 3.

Step 3: Analyze your audience.
An audience analysis should define whom you are writing to, what their expectations are, and where the “connections” are between you and your audience. By answering these questions ahead of time, you can go into the process of drafting and revising your application materials with a clearer sense of what to include and prioritize.

Answer the questions on the submission page for each goal. Be concise, yet detailed––remember that time spent on this preparation work will pay off later!

Your LDN entry should include a screenshot of the posting (if there is one), answers to the six questions listed, and the one-to-two paragraph summary described below for each of the two goals.

Due: 9/28 by class time

Entry #3 Submission

GOAL 1

Screenshot of the entire job posting and citation for Goal 1:

Goal 1:

1.Background: Discuss the organization and the specific position you’re interested in. What does the employer do? What kind of work would the position involve?

2.Organizational values: What things matter most to you about an organization where you’d like to work? How much of this information were you able to find? How good a “fit” is this organization for you and why?

3.Additional tidbits: What are some interesting pieces of information that you found out about this organization during your research?

4.Your audience: Did you find out anything about your audience––in other words, the person who will be reading your application materials? (This can be difficult or even impossible with large organizations, but if there is an obvious contact, what did you find?)

5.Qualifications match: What specific qualifications is the organization looking for in a candidate? What skills do you possess that they’re looking for? Are there any skills or qualifications listed that you do not possess?

6. Emphasizing those qualifications: How and where will you show that you possess the qualifications/skills you described in question 5? Remember that it’s not enough to have the qualifications – you have to show the reader that you have them too.

Summary: Now write a detailed one- to two-paragraph summary of #1-6 above. This summary should be able to stand on its own, outlining who your audience is and where the “connections” are. Don’t forget citations as appropriate. You will use this summary as your audience analysis in your Midpoint and Final Portfolios.

GOAL 2

Screenshot of the entire job posting and citation for Goal 2:

Goal 2:

1.Background: Discuss the organization and the specific position you’re interested in. What does the employer do? What kind of work would the position involve?

2.Organizational values: What things matter most to you about an organization where you’d like to work? How much of this information were you able to find? How good a “fit” is this organization for you and why?

3.Additional tidbits: What are some interesting pieces of information that you found out about this organization during your research?

4.Your audience: Did you find out anything about your audience––in other words, the person who will be reading your application materials? (This can be difficult or even impossible with large organizations, but if there is an obvious contact, what did you find?)

5.Qualifications match: What specific qualifications is the organization looking for in a candidate? What skills do you possess that they’re looking for? Are there any skills or qualifications listed that you do not possess?

6. Emphasizing those qualifications: How and where will you show that you possess the qualifications/skills you described in question 5? Remember that it’s not enough to have the qualifications – you have to show the reader that you have them too.

Summary: Now write a detailed one- to two-paragraph summary of #1-6 above. This summary should be able to stand on its own, outlining who your audience is and where the “connections” are. Don’t forget citations as appropriate. You will use this summary as your audience analysis in your Midpoint and Final Portfolios.