GE 2/ GE 3: Purposive Communication
WEEK 16
Learning Outcomes/Objectives:
a. Define interview.
b. Determine the characteristics of an interview.
Discussion:
BUSINESS PROPOSAL
When the company you work for wants to venture into a project with another organization, you may be
asked to write a business proposal. The purpose of a business proposal is to attract clients or secure support
from possible investors or organizations. You may also write one for your own use if you are a freelancer.
Generally, proposals have the same template. Because there are numerous competing companies nowadays, it is
important that you produce a well-written proposal so that you will have an edge over the others. Your goal is
having the proposal approved by your prospective client so do your best to attain that objective. You need to
know and understand your target client in developing a proposal that has a sound methodology, a viable
solution to the problem that the company is facing, a realistic schedule, and a reasonable and justifiable budget.
A good proposal cannot be prepared overnight. If you are targeting a client, research about it
exhaustively. Know how it operates. Design a method by which you can outshine other competitors who also
wish to submit a proposal on the same ground. Note that some prospective clients you meet in the course of
your career may suddenly request for a proposal to be prepared and submitted within a short notice. When this
happens and you are not able to get to produce a persuasive proposal, do not be disheartened as the experience
will still add to your journey as a professional.
Business proposals generally have three major parts: the problem statement, the proposed solution,
and the costing or pricing. Make sure that you begin with the Executive Summary which highlights what you
or your company 1s all about, the services it provides, and how it differs from the others. This should be your
selling point. Think of an added value that you or your company can offer that will make it outdo the other
organizations of the same nature.
After the Executive Summary, proceed to the problem statement or what your prospective client is
encountering. The client should be convinced that you perfectly understand the situation that it is in. This
should be followed by the proposed solution which explains how you can address or resolve the concern/s
besetting the client. You should then offer a sound method by which you will address the problem, spelling out
the step-by-step procedure that you will employ to carry out your plan effectively. The step-by-step procedure
will likewise require a timetable or the schedule for the completion of the project. Make sure that your timetable
is realistic. It is not a good idea that you merely impress your prospective client but are not able to deliver and
meet the client's expectations. Stating a bit of your qualifications and your vast experience in the field can be
highlighted in this part so that you can convince the prospective client that you are the best choice and the most
qualified to take on the job and bring success to the client. The last major part is the costing. You need to state
the price of the services you will render if given the chance. It is all up to you and your company if you want a
one-time payment or a payment on a staggered basis depending on the nature of the project.
Finally, there are no hard and fast rules as regards the length of the proposal. What is more important is
that it is complete with the information needed including those that your prospective client may ask for. Your
proposal should be accompanied by a cover letter and should begin with a Title Page with your name/name of
the company indicated, the company to whom the proposal is being submitted, as well as the date when it is
submitted.
GE 2/ GE 3: Purposive Communication
SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
To date, Facebook has become the most popular social media website. Developed by Mark Zuckerberg
in the early 2000s, Facebook allows you to link with people whom you have not yet met and re-connect with
family, friends, and acquaintances and to stay in contact with them. You need to create your own account first
and your personal profile. You may include information you want to be known by other people either in private
or public depending on the kind of status you have. You may upload pictures, and write your views on the
Facebook wall which may or may not call attention. Your Facebook friends may "like," react, or comment on
your post.
Facebook, however, is not limited to individuals as it is also used nowadays by organizations and
companies. It is the fastest way to reach out to others and disseminate information. If a company is going to
organize an event such as a convention, lecture, or symposium, it uses Facebook to spread the information.
Many events become successful because of online advertising and announcements. Online postings such as
those in Facebook and Twitter are also the cheapest way to advertise events and achieve optimum results.
Finally, Linkedln as a social networking service is used for professional networking. Employers use this
site to post job vacancies while interested applicants post their curriculum vitae or résumé. LinkedIn is a very
effective way to connect professionals and establish professional linkages.
When you share your curriculum vitae via LinkedIn, there is no need to post your home address and
other personal details. You may just limit your presentation to your professional qualifications such as your
educational background, work experience, and achievements as a professional. This way, you can avoid
exposing yourself to some external threats.
SYNTHESIS
1. There are many communication materials that cut across professions: business letters, memoranda, and
minutes of a meeting, among others. Other genres are the Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn which are
found in social media channels.
2. While traditional genres now have their counterparts in the social media, their structures are essentially
the same.
3. One important genre that cuts across disciplines is the business proposal which has three major parts: the
problem statement, the proposed solution, and the costing or pricing.
GE 2/ GE 3: Purposive Communication
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS:
Name: Date:
Check your understanding of the input by answering the following questions:
1. Aside from the genres presented above, what are the other communication materials or genres used across
professions? Name at least three and give a detailed structure of each.
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GE 2/ GE 3: Purposive Communication
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2. How different are these genres in terms of structure when compared to their online counterparts?
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3. In what instances would the traditional form of genres be useful? What about their online versions?
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GE 2/ GE 3: Purposive Communication
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GE 2/ GE 3: Purposive Communication
LESSON 2: THE JOB INTERVIEW
Discussion:
APPLYING FOR A JOB
Before getting employed, one undergoes an application process that involves the communication skills
you have been practicing in the previous lessons. The application process usually begins with a job
advertisement that is made available through various forms such as newspaper advertisements, radio and/or
television broadcasts, and social media posts, as well as through job placement offices in business and
educational institutions.
To apply for a job, an applicant must carefully read the job advertisement to determine if the job
description matches his/her interests, needs, and qualifications. These advertisements list certain requirements
that applicants must prepare and submit. The requirements usually include an application form or letter,
recommendation letters, school records, and other supporting documents. After all the requirements are
collected and submitted to the employers, depending on the nature of the job, paper-and-pen tests may be
scheduled. Finally, a job interview is arranged.
The job interview is a vital component of the job application process. Documentary requirements, which
are the written components of the job application, do not give a complete picture of the applicant. Test results
are not totally reliable in providing all the information employers need. Thus, employers arrange to interview
job applicants to determine whether or not the latter possess the qualities expected by the company or
organization. Because each job interview is different from the other, it is important that applicants prepare
themselves well, In this lesson, you will learn about preparing for a job interview, as well as what to do and
what not to do during a job interview
REFERENCE:
Marilu Ranosa Madrunio, Isabel Pefianco Martin. Purposive Communication. Using English in Multilingual Contexts
GE 2/ GE 3: Purposive Communication
