ABSTRACT
Using data from 88 students, 20 advisers, and 24 hirers, this article examines the rhetorical persona of the “Professional” in résumés and cover letters. Participants often explained professionalism by its inverse: items, formats, and language that are labeled “unprofessional.” Their discussions suggest that professionalism can be a problematic requirement for applicants with work history or formats associated with feminized sexuality, or for applicants whose names trigger biases about White English Vernacular.
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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
Supplementary material
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10572252.2024.2340432
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Chalice Randazzo
Chalice Randazzo researches the intersection of practical and critical-cultural technical and professional communication, especially missing work and silence. She is an Associate Professor at Utah Tech University.