Southern Illinois University Carbondale

IT240 FIRST LINE SUPERVISION

Fall 2007

 

INSTRUCTOR:           Dr. Michael F. Costello           

 

PHONE:          (302) 734-7829 - Office                      Dover AFB, DE

                        (850) 581-8490 – Office                      Hurlburt Field, FL

                        (661) 258-7357 - Office                      Edwards AFB, CA

                        (707) 437-2982 – Office                      Travis AFB, CA                      

                        (302) 678-2302 - Home         

           

E-MAIL:          mikecost@dmv.com

 

COURSES DESCRIPTION:

Analysis of problems of first-line supervisors.  Topics include leadership, motivation, communication, grievances, training, disciplines, and group and individual effectiveness, and labor relations.

 

TEXT:  Supervision:  Key Link to Productivity,  Rue, Leslie W. and Byars, Lloyd L., 9th Edition, Richard D. Irwin, Homewood, Illinois. (2007).

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

 

1)    Discuss the basic skills required to be a successful supervisor.

2)    Present several ideas for improving delegation.

3)    Discuss the basic steps in the planning process.

4)    Outline a general approach for making sound decisions.

5)    Provide suggestions for handling effective meetings, giving instructions, and dealing with the grapevine.

6)    Describe various methods used in performance appraisal.

7)    Identify and discuss various leadership styles.

8)    Discuss the supervisors role in introducing change and methods for reducing resistance to change.

9)    Discuss the supervisor’s role in cost reduction and control, work-methods improvement, quality assurance, and inventory control.

 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD:

 

 This is a non-weekend formatted course that is offered as an independent study.  Students are required to complete all reading assignments.  Periodic examinations must also be completed.  These will be time-limited, closed-book, and closed-notes exams.

 

GRADING STANDARDS:

 

            90% - 100%                A

            80 % - 89%                 B

            70% - 79%                  C

            60% - 69%                  D

            Under 60                      F

 

 

ASSIGNMENTS

 

 

TEXTBOOK                                                   EXAM                         DATE

 

Chapters     1 – 6                                                   1                                Sept. 24, 2007 

Chapters     7-14                                                   2                                Oct. 22, 2007 

Chapters     15-20                                                  3                                Nov. 26, 2007 

Resume                                                                                                    Nov. 26, 2007

 

 

 

RESUME WRITING:

 

A resume serves two purposes.  It conveys your interest and capabilities to any prospective employers and it acts as a guide for the individual.  By this I mean that one can evaluate what has been accomplished as compared to what is expected for a given position.  Should the resume reveal any weakness, the writer can try to fill those through extra study or experience as time goes along.

 

 

1.  Select a position, which would be of interest.  (Select from some major newspaper).

 

2.  Study the normal qualification of that position at the entry level of any advanced level for which you feel qualified and prepare a job description of that position.                                                                                                                                                                          

 

3.  Prepare a resume and a cover letter for a real or hypothetical position due by Nov. 26, 2007.

THE COVER LETTER

 

 

SUGGESTED DO'S AND DON'TS FOR WRITING THE COVER LETTER

 

DO:                 --Use a correct business letter style

                        --Personalize each letter by sending it to a specific individual

                        --Be sure to spell correctly his or her name and to use the proper title

                        --Word the letter carefully; keep it short and to the point

                        --Realize that the reader will view the cover letter as a n example of your                                                  written communication skills

                        --Be honest and sincere.  Try to give an impression of modest confidence.

                        --Type your letter on good quality white paper; observe margins and                                         spacing; do not use lined tablet paper

                        --Remember to PROOFREAD and sign your letters

 

 

DON'T            --Use a reproduced form letter or a pre-printed letter

                        --Exceed one page

                        --Overuse the personal pronoun "I"

                        --Cover all the material that is included in your resume, but do refer to                                       your resume

 

WRITING A SUCCESSFUL RESUME

 

GENERAL SUGGESTION:

Appeal is essential.  Your resume must offer something of interest, something of value to a prospective employer.  You should give a great deal of thought to selecting enough interesting instances from your experience to make the personnel manager want to meet you.  Remember that he will read only as far as his interest is maintained - the odds are against you since many resumes are filed away with little more than a glance.  This piece of paper is your only means of convincing an employer to spend the time and money required to interview you.

 

Brevity is an asset. Personnel managers are confronted with imposing stacks of resumes and seldom appreciate the comprehensive 6-page biography.  A concise, carefully worded resume is the one most likely to receive a complete and attentive reading - so strive to make yours direct and to the point.

 

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE:

Selectively - Do a thorough job of personal research and then choose only those details that indicated your best accomplishments in each job.  Ask yourself what your employers appreciated most, and which assets point directly toward the kind of job you are after - do not include facts of only secondary importance.  Place full emphasis on your most recent business experience.

 

Specificity - Use definite examples and facts:  don't simply say you can accept responsibility show instances that demonstrate it.  For each job, you should dive examples of ways in which you saved the company money, helped to develop a new process, or contributed to some other company goal.  Explain what you actually did, products and processes you actually worked with - do not merely elaborate on your job title.

 

Objectivity - Do not use personal opinions or draw conclusions.  State facts, such as:  number of persons supervised, management decisions delegated to you, problems solved, systems designed, programs under your direct responsibility.  From these details, the potential employer will draw his own conclusions as to your qualifications.

 

OBJECTIVES:

Why are you considering a change?  Personnel managers look for the central "why"; they generally eliminate candidates seeking to get rich quick, foremen interested in plant manager openings, and people who seem to have no reason for wanting to change jobs.

 

Be reasonable.  Relate your job objective carefully to your education and background.  Remember that an engineer seldom jumps directly into a management position merely by changing jobs.  Frequently, however, an engineer does change into a position where his accomplishments will be more directly visible and where rewards are likely to be more consistent with his long-term goals.

 

Flexibility is important.  The idealist who has a detailed list of terms and conditions under which he will accept employment is seldom sought after.  Better to be the man who generally wants to make a valuable contribution to the company.

 

REMEMBER:

Your resume may make the difference in whether or not you get the job you want.  If it is not properly written, it may never stand out from the hundreds of resumes crossing the personnel manager's desk each day.  Our long experience indicates that some careful thought on your part in producing a short, simple and specific resume will be a valuable investment.  So your resume deserves the best you can give.

 

RESUME CONTENT

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED

 

A.  Identification

            --Name

            --Address, Including Zip Code

            --Phone Numbers, Including Area Code

 

B.  Professional Goal

            --State What You "Plan To Do In Your Career Field"

            --Indicate How You Plan To Use Your Major in the World of Work

            --Think about the Career or Job Which Best Suits You

            --Use Key Words Such As "Trainee Position", "On The Job Training", "Human                                            Services", etc.

            --Develop One or Two Clear and Concise Sentences

            --Recheck and Rethink - Is It to Specific or To Vague

 

C.  Education

            --Most Recent or Highest Earned Degree First

            --Dates of Attendance or Date Degree Awarded (Month and Year)

            --Institution(s)

            --School/College

            --Major, Minor

            --Grade Point Average (Optional)

            --Academic Honors

 

D.  Experience

            --List All Including Volunteer, Summer Jobs, Part-Time Jobs, Internships, etc. In                            Reverse Chronological Order (Most Recent First)

            --Dates

            --Employer

            --Position Title

            --Job Duties; Use Key Words Such As "Initiated", "Directed", "Responsible For",  etc.

            --Stress Variety

 

E.  Optional Data

            --Should Be Separate Block of Information

            --Skills Related To Major

            --Licenses or Certificates

            --Memberships (Professional and Social)

            --Special Projects; Thesis, Dissertation

            --Military Service

            --Interest and Hobbies or Extracurricular Activities

            --Personal Information:  OPTIONAL (May Choose To Include; Date of Birth,                                            Height, Weight, Marital Status, Health Status, Date of Availability, Geographic                                Preference)

            --Security Clearance, If You Have One

F.  Reference

            --Available Upon Request