Braden Saint-Val – News Writer
Typically, a resume is looked at for just 30 seconds, so if there is not something that stands out or makes you unique, you could be brushed aside and not get called back for an interview unless you get professional help.
The Office of Student Involvement & Leadership Development held its final “Leadership Luncheon” of the semester last Wednesday with the Office of Career and Professional Development’s Director, Aimee O’Shea.
O’Shea showed students who attended how to incorporate their leadership experiences into a resume and job interview to express their individuality and impress potential employers
“The “Leadership Luncheons” give them the opportunity to one, get a free lunch, but also hear from different staff and faculty on campus about certain aspects of leadership that are really important,” the Office of Student Involvement & Leadership Development’s Graduate Intern, Talia Lent, said.
After a satisfying lunch, O’Shea taught students how to write about their accomplishments, strengths and skills in their resumes.
No matter what type of job or volunteering they have done, there are always ways they can describe what they did and learned in the best light possible.
She also explained the importance of soft skills like creativity and conflict resolution that can transfer into any workplace and introduced them to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, NACE, Career Readiness Competencies.
They are the top eight skills that employers from all industries consistently look for in college graduates, which include career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, professionalism, leadership, teamwork and technology.
Students discussed what two soft skills they feel strongest in and how their experiences correlate with NACE’s competencies to better understand themselves.
Nursing major Simon Dinglasan, a freshman, believes that communication is one of his strongest skills. After the pandemic, he studied different ways to communicate effectively and understand others better, which supports his role as a student leader.
“We really want students to understand who they are as a professional and what they offer to their next place of employment or to their next step,” O’Shea said. “Our goal is really to help students identify and enact their own success.”
