Before Writing your Resume: Things to Consider

1. 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. 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. 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. Getting to Know Who You Are! • Skills • Abilities • Knowledge • Strengths • Interests

5. 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. 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. Skills from Experience Activity

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