Boosting Your Resumé
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The keys to crafting an impressive application
By Aurora Chiu
W
hen the time comes to fill out your applications for post-secondary education
or a job, you don't want to find yourself
with a blank page. After all, it's tough to
sugar coat your experience and accomplishments
if you don't have any. Taking the time to ensure
that your CV is impressive is an investment in
future success. Here are two ways to ensure that
your application package isn't passed over:
Volunteering
Think of what comes to mind when you hear the
word "volunteer." If you're a high-school student,
you're probably thinking about helping out within your school. Although that kind of volunteer
work is great, it's not impressive. The main goal
is to impress an employer or post-secondary administrator. With that in mind, you want to stress
how connected you are with your community,
not just within your high school.
Still, the best way to find volunteer opportunities is by asking your school. The career centre
should have numerous placements, depending on your interests. Think about which subject
you hope to study or which job
field you are interested in pursuing, and try to find volunteer
opportunities that will help you
build the relevant skills. Keep in
mind that communication skills
are one of the necessities for any
field, as well as for life in general.
Internships
Volunteering is good, but if you want to be truly
impressive, find yourself an internship. Ask your
school's career centre if there are any internship
opportunities, or search online for a company
you'd like to intern with and contact them. Internships often provide experience like volunteering would, but they can also help you decide
if it is the career you want by providing more of
a hands-on experience that allows you to work
almost as if you are an employee. Occasionally,
an internship turns into a job, depending on the
employer and the type of work performed. Not
only does interning serve as an insight into a
career path, it is also something that will stand
out on any job or post-secondary application. An
internship will help the employer, or whoever is
looking at your application, conclude that you are
experienced and skilled enough to function in a
work environment, making you desirable as both
a student and an employee. Remember, experience, in all forms, is a big key to success!
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