1. Student Career Centre Before Writing your Resume: Things to Consider This presentation contains audio. If you cannot hear sound, check that your speakers are turned on and the volume is adjusted accordingly. StFX Student Career Centre

2. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Learning Outcomes Discover the importance of knowing your skills as it relates to writing an effective résumé. Importance of answering the “so what” question. How to pull learning from experience. Taking what you learn about yourself and applying it to your cover letter and résumé.

3. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Opening Activity I want you to consider that you are in an interview. This is the first question the interviewer asks. “In 30 seconds, why should I consider you for my job?” Right now, how prepared were you to answer this question?

4. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Getting to Know Who You Are! Skills Abilities Knowledge Strengths Interests

5. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Skills Communication Honesty/Integrity Teamwork Interpersonal Motivation/initiative Work ethic Analytical Flexibility/adaptability Self-direction Ability to manage time Organization Decision making Learning Problem solving Computer Self-confidence See Handout: What are my Skills.

6. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Why? So What??? Questions: Why did you enroll in **insert program** ? What have you learned from being in this program? What do you think you will learn from being in this role? How will you know if you are successful in this role?

7. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Skills from Experience Activity Describe the experience.What did you learn from this experience? What skills or abilities did you develop? What learning can I transfer to potential employment? Academic year 2010 to 2012 Peer Mentor Received training in conflict mediation, non-violent crisis intervention training, and mental health first aid. Worked with a team of four to set events and schedule for upcoming school year. Executed events, wrote stories for the Weekly Empathic listening skills, communication skills, how to build effective relationships, how to deal with difficult situations, assertiveness training, role of confidentiality Marketing skills How to write news stories about peer mentorship events Key skills: Coordinating, organizing, time management, communication, confidentiality, team work Team work: Being a contributing and responsible team member Organization: Ability to organize events, communicate with internal and external stakeholders Ability to listen to other points of view and verbally share ideas

8. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Now What? Writing effective descriptions for your work and volunteer experiences. ◦ Start with the verb ◦ Use some adjectives to describe “how” ◦ Quantify “how many/much” ◦ Include benefits or accomplishments ◦ Add skills

9. Student Career Centre StFX Student Career Centre Additional Information Student Career Centre (SCC) Ground Level, Schwartz School Tel: 902-867-2296 Email: scc@stfx.cascc@stfx.ca http://www.mystfx.ca/mycareer/