Over The Edge Page 12

November 15, 1999

NO. 3 IN A SERIES
HOW TO GET STARTED
ON YOUR JOB SEARCH - SKILLS

By David Peterson

You may be wondering,
so - what’s the point?
“Skills,” you think,
“sound very boring to
me, | think | will now
turn the page.” Ah-hah!
You have fallen into the
“I-know-this-is-apathy-
but-l-am-not-going-to-
call-it-apathy” trap.

Why think about your
skills? In terms of the
world of career develop-
ment, there are two
main reasons:

1. To build your resume.
Your resume will high-
light the skills you have
already developed and
are currently develop-
ing.

2. To update your
resume. You are always
acquiring new knowl-
edge and skills.

There is an underlying
principle: skills are like
tools which are transfer-
able from where we
have learned them to
other jobs, tasks, etc. In
my career manual,
there is an entire chap-
ter devoted to just listing
various skills (who
needs comics, any-
way?). Here, | will throw

out some of the more
commonly used ones to
get you to think about
other skills you may
have!

Examples:
Administrative skills:

- interpreted and
enforced the Customs
and Immigration Acts,

Regulations, and
Directives
- Managed finances and

production schedules
for social and theatrical

groups

Computer skills:

- Developed strong
word processing, ana-
lytical, layout, and
design

skills using: MS Word,
MS PowerPoint, Corel
Draw, Spreadsheets,
SAS

- Provided user support
for PC hardware and
software in a university

setting

Field skills:

- Completed ethological
data collection for

salmon, honey bee, and
waterfowl behaviour for
academic projects

- Assisted in field sur-
veys of the spiny-tailed
North Coast _ tiger,
Echinofelix princeru-

pertensis, research pro-
ject

So, are you impressed
or what? Look at all of
your accomplishments!

‘See what some deep

thinking about oneself
will do? This sounds a
lot better than saying:
“Well, | can dress
myself, cook with Jello,
and | know how to hitch-
hike...”

Before | forget, check
out the Group
Workshops! These are
free, drop-in sessions
where you can get help
and instruction with job
searching, resumes,
cover letters, and inter-
views. These will hap-
pen every Monday in
November, from 1:30 -
3:30 pm, at the Student
Employment & Career
Centre (Student
Success Centres). Just
check-in at the recep-
tion desk. A schedule is
posted on the windows
adjacent to the recep-
tion area. Everyone is
welcome, but please, no
pets. Sorry Anna, but |
know you really wanted
to ride your horse...

Ryder Cup of Ping-Pong. Finalists Duke it
out in front of a crowd of thousands

WHAT NAoLE0N WAS REALLY
THINKING.

Wenge: sewrw netbialee GOH

pusiness Undergraduate
Student Society

ino HIGSS Emaik le

¥ aati 50

President Jago adresses the first BUGSS

press conference on Friday November fifth

Business: The Next Generation

Calling all megaloma-
niacs. And less power
hungry entrepreneurial
types. For the fourth
consecutive year in
February 2000, CNC is
offering its four month

hands-on entrepre-
neurism course
“Business: The Next
Generation” or BNG.

Those students admit-
ted into the program will
have a keen interest in
self-employment and
still be in their formative
years (read: under thirty
years old).

George Kennedy,
M.A., instructs BNG. As
well, students will have

their business knowl-
edge enhanced by the
frequent visits of several
community mentors
who have _—_ specific
expertise in their fields.
In past years, mentors
have included Miro
Krstic of Wendy’s, Norm
Ferris of Re/Max, and
John Kason of Impact
Merchandising.

Initially during BNG,
the students, or more
aptly, neophyte busi-
ness people, will brain-
storm business ideas
which will be critically
examined for viability. Of
these ideas, one or
more will advance to the

operational stage,
which includes market-
ing, sales, accounting
and management. Past
classes have become
directorates for a T-shirt
company (I997), a racy
entertainment maga-
zine (1998), and a Y2K
information publication
(1999). -And now for
2006, the drawing board
is wiped clean for the
next collaborative effort.
For more information
on BNG or to attend an
information session,
please contact CNC’s
Business Division.