Unit 4: Employment communication
Business Communication for Managerial Effectiveness notes · PTU syllabus (MBA 107-18)
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Unit summary
Finding a job is itself a communication exercise. This unit covers employment strategy, planning and writing resumes, applying and interviewing for employment, understanding, preparing for and following up interviews, and role play and simulation of employer–employee and interviewer–interviewee relationships.
After this unit you can
- Build an employment strategy
- Plan and write a resume and application letter
- Prepare for, take part in and follow up interviews
- Practise workplace and interview communication through role play
PTU syllabus topics
- Employment strategy
- planning and writing resumes
- applying and interviewing for employment
- understanding
- preparing and follow-up
- role play and simulation of employer-employee and interviewer-interviewee relationships
- 1Plan your employment strategy
- 2Write a targeted resume
- 3Write an application letter
- 4Prepare for the interview
Research, practise, STAR answers
- 5Follow up
Thank-you note
Topic 1
Building an employment strategy
- Self-assessment: skills, interests, values, strengths (SWOT).
- Know the market: growth sectors, required skills, salary trends.
- Sources of vacancies: campus placements, company career pages, job portals (Naukri, LinkedIn), referrals, recruitment agencies, networking events.
- Personal branding: professional LinkedIn profile, portfolio, internships, certifications.
- Research the employer: products, culture, financials, recent news, role requirements.
Topic 2
Planning and writing resumes
- Application (cover) letter: solicited (in response to an advertisement) or unsolicited (prospecting).
- 1Opening
Position applied for and source
- 2Body
Relevant qualifications, achievements, fit with the company
- 3Closing
Request for interview, availability, thanks
Length
1–2 pages
Longer, detailed
Focus
Skills and achievements relevant to the job
Complete academic and professional history
Use
Corporate jobs
Academic, research, international roles
Customisation
Tailored for each job
Mostly constant
- Resume formats: chronological, functional, combination.
- Sections: contact details, career objective/profile summary, education, experience, skills, projects, achievements, certifications, extracurriculars; references available on request.
- Tips: action verbs, quantified achievements ("increased sales by 15%"), keywords for applicant tracking systems (ATS), no errors, honest information.
Topic 3
Applying and interviewing for employment
Structured
Fixed questions
Unstructured
Free-flowing conversation
Panel
Several interviewers
Stress
Tests composure under pressure
Behavioural
Past behaviour as predictor — STAR method
Technical/case
Problem-solving
Virtual/video
Online platforms
- Preparation: research the company, practise common questions, prepare STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result), dress appropriately, carry documents, arrive early or test technology.
- During: greet confidently, listen carefully, answer concisely, maintain eye contact, ask thoughtful questions at the end.
- After: send a thank-you email within 24 hours.
Example
"Tell me about a time you handled a difficult customer" — STAR answer: Situation (angry client at internship), Task (resolve within a day), Action (listened, offered replacement), Result (client renewed contract).
Topic 4
Preparing for and following up interviews
- Understanding the interview: the employer checks fit, skills and attitude; the candidate checks the role and culture.
- Common questions: tell me about yourself, why this company, strengths and weaknesses, where do you see yourself in five years, salary expectations.
- Follow-up: thank-you email within 24 hours; polite enquiry after the stated decision date; letters of acceptance or refusal, and resignation, handled courteously.
Topic 5
Offers, acceptance and resignation
- Reference letter: written by a former employer or teacher about the candidate's character and abilities; specific, honest, balanced.
- Offer of employment (offer letter): position, start date, salary and benefits, location, probation, terms and conditions, acceptance deadline.
- Job description: job title, department, reporting relationship, purpose, duties and responsibilities, working conditions; job specification — qualifications, experience, skills.
- Letter of acceptance: accept the offer, confirm joining date and terms, thank the employer.
- Letter of resignation: state intention to resign, last working day (as per notice period), brief reason (optional), gratitude, offer to help with handover — always polite, never burn bridges.
Topic 6
Role play and simulation
- Employer–employee: giving and receiving feedback, appraisal conversations, handling a grievance, delegating a task, conveying bad news.
- Interviewer–interviewee: mock interviews with structured feedback on content, body language and voice.
- 1Brief the scenario and roles
- 2Prepare
- 3Act out the interaction
- 4Observers note strengths and gaps
- 5Debrief and repeat
Example
Appraisal role play: the manager starts with achievements, discusses one area for improvement with evidence, and agrees an action plan with the employee.
Key terms
- Personal branding
- Presenting one's skills and identity professionally
- Resume
- Concise summary of qualifications for a job
- ATS
- Applicant tracking system that screens resumes for keywords
- STAR method
- Situation, Task, Action, Result answer format
- Role play
- Simulated interaction to practise communication
Quick revision
- Employment strategy: self-assessment, market, sources, branding, employer research.
- Resume: formats, sections, action verbs, ATS keywords; cover letter.
- Interviews: types, preparation, STAR answers.
- Follow-up: thank-you note, acceptance, resignation.
- Role play: feedback, appraisal, mock interviews.
Important exam questions
Practice questions written to the PTU exam pattern for this unit's syllabus: short answers (Section A style) and long answers (Sections B and C style).
Short-answer questions
- Q1.What is personal branding?
- Q2.Distinguish a resume and a CV.
- Q3.What is an ATS?
- Q4.Explain the STAR method.
- Q5.What should a thank-you email after an interview contain?
- Q6.What is role play?
Long-answer questions
- Q1.Explain how to build an employment strategy.
- Q2.Describe the structure of an effective resume and cover letter.
- Q3.Explain how to prepare for and follow up an employment interview.
- Q4.Discuss the use of role play in developing workplace communication.
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