The Details Matter 

The AWE staff has been in the office and have identified a couple of trends to be mindful of.

Remember that a job interview is all about YOU. When answering a question that asks you to reflect on your teamwork or conflict resolution skills, use “I” statements, as opposed to “we” statements. This will put you in the spotlight and inform the employer about your approaches to various situations. For example, saying “In my previous role, I created social media posts to advertise our events” is far more impactful than undermining your experience by saying, “We had a social media account that I posted for.” Own your experiences, both on your resume and cover letter, and in an interview setting to get your point across. This may not come naturally, but practice makes perfect! 

It is also critically important to use very specific examples from your work, volunteer and extracurricular activities, both in your resume and cover letter and in the interview setting. It is not enough to tell the employer that you have great communication skills. HOW have you developed those skills? By leading with the skill and following with the task that helped you develop that skill, you will show the employer that you have what it takes to get the job done. For example, “I have developed excellent presentation skills by researching China’s trade policies and reporting my findings to my International Economics class of 50 students,” provides far more information than just telling the employer that you have great presentation skills. Proof is powerful!

We hope that these tips help you prepare your job search documents and hone your interview skills but if you want to learn more, contact your Work Experience Coordinator to book a meeting!