Get Started! Enhance Your Skills and Gain Valuable Experience - For International Students -

Career Development Centre

2014 - 2015

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the importance of understanding yourself in successful Career Planning

• Identify your current skills and skill areas that could be further developed

• Understand the value of gaining experience during university

• Learn how to find volunteer and paid experiences while at Laurier that will help you acquire new skills

• Understand how you can begin to reflect on the skills you have gained so far through past experiences

Career Planning Model

SELF-

AWARENESS

EMPLOYMENT

PREPARATION

GOAL

SETTING

CAREER

IMMERSION

CAREER

AWARENESS

What is Career Planning?

Gathering, assessing and understanding information about yourself

Understanding your options so you can make the best decisions and take the most effective actions to move toward selecting your career

Career Planning is ongoing, answers do not occur overnight

Self Awareness

• You are the most important part of the process

• Self-awareness is something you will think about again and again

• This includes understanding;

– your values, skills, your preferences, needs, aspirations, work environments you prefer, teams you work best within, etc

• Often overlooked or superficially managed

• You might think you need to discover only “What can I do with my degree?”

• A more meaningful question to ask is “what are my skills, interests and personality and how does this translate into a meaningful career path?”

Employers Hire People Not Degrees

Elisabeth Araujo

• Bachelor of Arts, Sociology and

Communications

• Current Position: Marketing

Communications Coordinator

• 4yrs volunteering in the Advertising Department of WLU Student Publication Office

• Alumni Profile

Let’s begin with SKILLS

What is a skill? An ability to perform an activity competently

1. Transferable skills - are skills we all have to

varying degrees and are applicable for many

situations/jobs

2. Knowledge-based (technical) or job-specific

skills - acquired through education, work, on the job experience

3. Personal Traits/Attitudes – developed in

childhood and through life experience

Top Skills Employers are looking for:

• Communication Skills (verbal, written, listening)

• Analytical/Research

• Computer/Technical

• Flexibility and Adaptability

• Multi-tasking

• Interpersonal

• Leadership/Management

• Sensitivity to Diversity

• Planning/Organizing

• Problem Solving, Reasoning and Creativity

• Teamwork (Source: UC Davis)

Knowing your skills involves:

• Understanding your strengths • Knowing how you use your skills • Know what skills you want to use • Knowing what skills are required for a job

You’re doing a lot; do you know how?

It May be Difficult to Be Objective

• How would others describe you?

• What do you hear again and again?

– “Wow, your notes are so organized.”

– “I can always come to you when I have a problem.”

– “Even when you’re volunteering, you always go the extra mile.”

– “You come up with the most creative ideas!”

• If you’re struggling answering this question, try asking family, friends, classmates what they notice.

Skills Exercise

Skill Identification Exercise Step 1: Think about a RECENT work/volunteer/school experience in which you were involved.

Briefly describe the experience (i.e., volunteer for a local community organization, camp counsellor)

Step 2: Task/Activity Identification

Identify and list 4 key tasks/activities you did during

the experience.

Rank

yourself

Low 1 –

5 High

Step 3: Skills Identification

For each task/activity, identify and list 3 skills you used.

Summer Camp Counsellor Good

At

Enjoy

1. Supported campers

1 Comforted campers upset about being away from home

2 Boosted confidence of campers that were worried about

trying new things

3 Engaged and enjoyed the high energy the campers

brought

2. Developed sports games for campers

1 Created a fun activity

2 Taught the game to campers

3 Thinking quickly on the spot

3. Team collaboration

1 Backed up other counsellors when necessary

2 Brainstormed fun activities for campers

3 Trained new counsellors

4. Communicated with diverse populations

1 Became familiar with different cultures

2 Supported campers with disabilities

3 Communicated effectively with diverse groups

Skill Development Exercise

Step 1: Think about a POSSIBLE situation in which you will be able to continue to develop skills. What activities are

coming up, what skills do you want to develop?

Step 2: Task/Activity Identification

Identify and list 3-4 key tasks/activities you believe

you will engage in during the situation

Rank

yourself

Low 1 –

5 High

Step 3: Skills Identification

For each task/activity, identify and list 3 skills you believe

you will develop during the task (regardless of

skills/enjoyment)

Academic assignment, written paper and oral

presentation

Good

At

Enjoy

1. Attend research and presentation workshops

1Refined research skills

2Recognized value of extensive preparation

3Practiced public speaking

2. Researched (topic)

1 Knowledge of International Development

2 Understanding different cultures

3 Analyzed various resources

3. Written paper

1 Evaluated information and pulled ideas together

2 Concise communicator

3 Edit edit edit (understand the value and importance)

4. Presentation

1 Spoke clearly

2 Used resources to get audiences attention

3 Answered questions

http://navigator.wlu.ca/career/student/planning/discipline.htm

Gain experience

What are some ways you can gain experience?

• Volunteering

• Part-time jobs

• Summer jobs

• Extracurricular activities (clubs, committees)

• Co-op

The Value of Volunteering

What are the benefits of gaining experiences outside of academics?

• Learn more about your own skills and interests

• Learn about different types of roles and work settings

• Allows you to try out a job, make connections with potential future contacts to learn from and build your network

• Leverage your experience as part of your professional profile. Feature it in your resume and interviews

• Use volunteering to help gain new skills to assist your transition into a career, change careers or seek promotion

Find a Volunteer Opportunity

1. www.wlu.ca/volunteer

2. www.volunteerkw.ca

3. www.charityvillage.com

4. Take courses with Community Service Learning

5. Not-for-Profits (Blue Book)

Get involved with Student Organizations

• Join a group of interest

– Search WLUSU list of campus clubs

• Look for ways to get involved in the student organization (e.g. take on a role, run an event, etc.)

Find a Part-time/Summer Job Opportunity

Ensure you have your work permit in hand before you start work! Talk with Laurier International for information about applying for a work permit

Laurier Navigator

Many job postings for on and off campus jobs and summer jobs!

Login using your Novell login

Being successful at work is more than just doing your day to day tasks.

Make the Most of Your Experiences

• Be professional and have a willing to learn attitude

• Be punctual, dependable

• Work hard to complete your tasks. When you finish, ask if there is something else you can help with. This attitude will be appreciated and offer you more experience and skills developed.

• Network with people you meet

• Keep track of activities you are doing

• Explore different types of experiences to explore your interests

Value Your Skills

“The same skill set that made me successful in running organizations in college has

helped in the business world.”

Anne Mercogliano

Next steps…

• Continually invest in your career by looking ahead and identifying your options

• Set goals, develop an Action Plan

• Obtain your Career Development Certificate

• Talk with a Career Consultant at a monthly drop-ins at Laurier International or make an appointment at the Career Centre

Connect With Us!

519.884.0710 x4495 careercentre@wlu.ca wlu.ca/career facebook.com/lauriercareercentre lauriercareercentre.wordpress.com linkedin.com (Laurier Career Centre group)