G RAD T RANSIT IONS

P RESENTATION P ACKAGE

Grad Trans Presentation Package

Introduction

The revised Graduation Transitions program is designed to support every BC graduate in the acquisition of the attributes that characterize students graduating in all schools across British Columbia. These attributes include intellectual development; social development; and career development as prescribed on the website www.bcgov.bc.ca/graduation.

Graduation Transitions is required for all students enrolled in Grade 10, 11 or 12 as of September 1, 2007 and beyond.

This program is intended to prepare students for a successful transition to life after secondary school by taking ownership of their own health and learning; finding connections between their learning and their future and use that connection to create a plan for continued development in health and living areas as well as education and career opportunities.

Graduation Transitions consists of three components:

o Personal Health o Community Connections o Career & Life Transition planning

The grad transitions course is worth four (4) credits towards graduation. Students must complete the requirements listed for each area of reflection in order to receive the four credits for graduation.

Upon successful completion of the program, a Requirement Met (RM) mark will appear on the final report card.

Attendance Requirements

All graduating students will be required to take the Graduation Transitions course in their timetable. During this assigned time students may work in the library, the computer lab, or at home to complete their major presentation assignment. Until the major presentation is complete there will be assigned classes, guest speakers and workshops Attendance at these sessions is mandatory.

All required components are expected to be completed and submitted by Friday, February 3rd. Exit Interviews are scheduled for March 1st and 2nd.

Presentation Overview

You will spend your time in grad trans building a digital presentation that will then be presented to a member of the community, a staff member, or your Grad Trans teacher. The presentation should be between 15 and 30 minutes in length. It is important that your presentation include ALL the required components outlined in this package.

Your final presentation must be completed and ready to present on or before your assigned presentation date.

What to Bring/What to Wear to the Presentation

When showing up for the presentation, you will need to bring the following: ⎫ A current, updated resume ⎫ A cover letter ⎫ A signed letter of reference ⎫ A signed work and/or volunteer experience verification form ⎫ A signed copy of the practice presentation verification form ⎫ An artifact, something that represents you or an additional proof of achievement you wish to share

Students are expected to treat the presentation like a job interview. You should therefore be dressing appropriately. Please be prepared for your presentation by wearing a “business casual” outfit.

Recommended Length: 6-8 slides

Slide Content to Include:

θ Name

θ Current photo of you

θ City of Birth

θ Nationality

θ Family Information

θ Elementary & Secondary School(s) attended

θ What achievements you have made over the past 3 years. Include grades, awards, certificates, certifications, personal changes, volunteer work, etc.

θ What is important in your life and why.

θ Your most important personal strengths

θ Attributes about yourself that you wish to improve on and how you plan to make these changes.

θ How your time at R.E.Mountain has shaped who you are

Recommended Length: 4-5 slides

Slide Content to Include:

θ Calculation(s) showing how you obtained the minimum required 100 hours of physical activity from July 1 - June 30 (in table format).

θ 2 areas* of health and wellness you are good at; include specific examples of why (How do you stay physically active? include pictures)

θ 2 areas* of health and wellness you need improvement on;

include specific examples of why

θ How you plan to incorporate physical activity and wellness into your life post-graduation.

θ Comment on your life’s balance (relaxation, stress,

work, expectations, time management, etc.). Are you in balance? How do you deal with your life when it is out

of balance?

* Areas of health & wellness to discuss should include:

~ nutritional habits ~ time management ~ positive health decisions ~ regular exercise ~ stress management ~ emotional health management ~ adequate rest/sleep ~ support network ~ spirituality (vales, morals, belief) ~ healthy relationships

Recommended Length: 8-12 slides

Slide Content to Include:

θ Current job and/or volunteering details. Including tasks and duties you perform. Include pictures of you on site working/volunteering.

θ What involvement you have in the both the school and/or community

θ Calculation(s) showing how you obtained the minimum

required 30 hours of work/volunteer between the end of Grade 10 and Jun 30 of this year. Include scanned copy of pay stub or letter proving these hours were obtained.

θ Scanned version of your completed “Self Evaluation of

Employability Skills Checklist”

θ 2 or more Fundamental Skills* you used in your work/volunteer experience. Explain how you learned these skills. How did improving these skills help your job performance? Use specific examples.

θ 2 or more Personal Management Skills* you used in your

work/volunteer experience. Explain how you learned these skills. How did improving these skills help your job performance? Use specific examples.

θ 2 or more Teamwork Skills* you used in your work/volunteer

experience. Explain how you learned these skills. How did improving these skills help your job performance? Use specific examples.

θ 2 key areas where you need improvement and why these

are important skills to have.

θ How your work/volunteer experience helped prepare you for your future employment.

* Examples of these skills are listed in the Self Evaluation of

Employability Skills Checklist

Recommended Length: 8-12 slides

Slide Content to Include:

θ Career choice you have chosen for yourself (research on http://www.myblueprint.ca/)

θ How and why you made this career decision.

θ Details about this career

o Type of work you would be expected to do o The need for this work in the community o Typical salary for this career (screen shot from website) o Room for occupational growth

θ Education Plan o Pre-requisites for this program o The educational requirements for this job (on-site

training/apprenticeship would be included) o School/Institute where you plan to attend o Length and specific cost of program o Financial Considerations (student loans, bursarys,

scholarship, RESP, cost of living, local vs. living away from home, etc.)

θ Brief overview of your backup career plan

θ Scanned/Digital copy of your current, updated resume

θ Scanned/Digital copy of your cover letter

θ Scanned/Digital copy of your letter of reference

θ 3 Specific goals you wish to accomplish over the next 5 years and how you plan to meet them. Your goals must be SMART:

Specific Measurable Attainable Realistic Time-bound

A DDITIONAL

R ESOURCES The following resources are necessary for the some of the required components of your final grad transitions presentation. Please review the following pages carefully and use them to help make your presentation and research as good as it can be.

“Per

www.myblueprint.ca 1)Go to website

2) From  there,  if  you  know  what  field  you  would  like  to  go  in  to  go  into  the  “Post-­‐secondary  planner”  and  the  “Occupational  Planner”

Find all applicable information including: - Job Descriptions - Working Conditions - Earnings - Education Requirements - Sample Career Path - Related Careers - Other

• � If  you  are  unsure  what  career  you  would  like  to  end  up  in  at  this  point,  the  “explorations”  tool  is  a  great  assessment  to  help  you.  From  the  home  page,  select  the  drop  down  menu,  and  then  select  “explorations.”  You  will  then  complete  the  Career  assessment  questions  to  generate  possible  career  options.  From  that  list  you  can  click  on  careers  that  may  interest  you  and  check  out  the  schools  that  offer  those  programs.  

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING YOUR RESUME Making it Professional & Memorable

A resume must be short, easy to read; and quick to draw information from. Its job is simple: to get you the interview. Your resume is what will sell YOU to the company. When writing your resume, remember your audience and target your resume accordingly. Students who seemingly want “any job” do not impress employers. Students who have carefully thought about their skills, abilities and achievements and know how these relate to the type of work they are seeking impress them.

STYLE AND APPEARANCE • The first impression of your resume should be favorable; make it look nice • Imagine “vertical lines” – everything should line up properly (dates, locations, etc) • Should be kept to 1 or 2 pages (aim for one). • A manager will only glance at it for 15 seconds. • Your name should be front and center and bold. • Your resume must be well organized; easy-to-read; contain up-to-date information • Needs to be grammar and spelling error free. • Avoid Bright colours and “fancy fonts” • Make sure your email address is professional; might be time to get a new one

ORGANIZATION • The most important information should go first • For example, if your Work Experience would be of greater interest to the employer than your

Education, put it first • All dated items should be listed chronologically, with the most recent at the top.

Some clean, professional resume samples

[ Content of a solid resume ]

PERSONAL INFORMATION Center this information at the top with your name in larger and bold font.

Include your address, telephone number, and email

JOB OBJECTIVE OR CAREER GOAL • A job objective or career goal is a brief personal summary about who you are. This is done in

paragraph form, not point form, and includes what you would bring to the job, but also, what you would like to learn from your experience. This gives the employer an idea of what you want to do and how you can benefit his/her

company.

WORK EXPERIENCE • Organize jobs in reverse chronological order, starting with most recent • Date (month and year) when you began and date when your job ended • Job title: create an accurate one if you did not have one • Name of the company or organization and its location • In point form, detail what your responsibilities were for the job listed

EXAMPLE: June 2008 – Present Save-On-Foods Langley, BC Cashier & Customer Service Rep

• Packed, bags, straightened shelves, worked a cash register, customer service representative

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

• Organize volunteer experience the same way you would work experience EXAMPLE: Summer 2011 BC Summer Games Burnaby, BC

• Helped organize athletes, time various events, and maintain a clean grounds

EDUCATION • List your education starting with the most recent year. List the year(s) you attended in bold;

then the name of the school; and finally the grade or completion of special programs. EXAMPLE: Sept 2007-Present Walnut Grove Secondary School Langley, BC

• Currently in Grade 12 • B-Honour Roll & Work Ethic Honour Roll Grades 8-11 • French Immersion

SKILLS SUMMARY • It is important to identify to the employer what general skills you possess • Include three to six points outlining your most relevant strengths for the type of work you

are looking for. • If you are proficient in other languages or have any other special skills related to the specific

type of work you will be doing, include them here. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS

• State your role (e.g., Member, President), the name of the organization and the dates during which you were involved. Organize this information in reverse chronological order. State if any positions were elected or appointed.

• At the bottom of the section include interests such as physical fitness, hobbies, sports and/or leisure activities.

REFERENCES

• Avoid “References available upon request” • Include at least two responsible adults as references for the employer to call to verify the

information given in your resume. You shouldn’t use family members.

Firstname Lastname Job Title Phone Number Email Address

Firstname Lastname Job Title Phone Number Email Address

How Many Pages Should my resume be?

Most high school students should be able to keep a resume to one page. If you have to go to 2 pages, try to fill at least half of the 2nd page. Avoid large blank spaces.

Resume Vocabulary Try to incorporate these terms when describing yourself. They will help make you stick out, especially if the company is using a computer to scan a large collection of resumes.

GUIDELINES FOR WRITING A COVER LETTER The Magical Four Paragraph Cover Letter The Purpose of covering letter is to introduce yourself to the employer to whom you are applying. Your cover letter is your personal ambassador. It reflects your personality, your attention to detail, your communication skills, your enthusiasm and your intellect. An employer will decide whether or not you will reach the next phase in the employment process-the interview- based on the information in your application package. The four-paragraph cover letter could cast the magic spell you need.

First Paragraph • Identify the job you are applying for and how you learned about it. • Indicate that you have attached enclosures with the letter (e.g. resume and portfolio). • This paragraph should be brief; no more than two or three sentences.

Second Paragraph

• State your qualifications for the position. • Deconstruct the job description and list the required skills, duties and responsibilities. • Focus on relevant qualifications listed in your resume and discuss them in detail,

demonstrating how your background and experience qualify you for the job. • Be as specific as possible, and refer the reader to your resume for additional details. • Stick to the facts about your competency, skills and attitude. Never dismiss the skills of

others. Third Paragraph

• Refer to research you have done about the company and how it relates to your interests. • Illustrate your knowledge about the employer, key projects they have underway, their

corporate culture, and any unique working conditions. • Indicate your willingness to meet for an interview.

Fourth Paragraph

• Close with one or two sentence paragraph thanking your reader for his or her time consideration.

Other

• Sign your name in pen above your typed name, phone, and email • Tell them what it attached by using an “Enclosure: Resume, Application Form and Letter of

Reference” statement

Remember: the goal of the cover letter is to secure an interview. An excellent cover letter will ensure you will get the interview and identify key themes you’d like to discuss – themes that are at the heart of the employer’s enterprise.

   October  4,  2010  

   Mr.  Andrew  McNamara  Editor  in  Chief,  Game  Informer  724  North  1st  Street  3rd  Floor  Minneapolis,  MN  55401  

   Dear  Mr.  McNamara:  

   I  am  applying  to  become  an  associate  editor  at  your  esteemed  website.  Having  been  a  long  time  fan,  I  have  always  kept  up  to  date  on  your  website  and  found  the  ad  for  the  job  there.  The  intellectual  and  genuine  journalism  found  on  your  website  motivated  me  to  apply  for  this  job.    My  qualifications  consist  of  both  experience  and  grades  in  relative  subjects.  I  am  currently  writing  for  a  lesser-­‐known  website,  and  have  been  writing  there  for  about  three  months.  I  have  learned  a  lot  about  various  formats  including  HTML,  and  using  publishing  platforms  like  word  press.  Throughout  my  high  school  years,  I  have  maintained  above  80%  in  English,  improving  my  mark  gradually  each  following  year,  thus  maintaining  an  “A”  honor  roll  status  in  the  majority  of  my  high  school  grades.   I’m  right  for  this  job  because  of  my  passion  for  journalism,  and  my  ability  to  efficiently  learn  new  skills,  and  apply  those  new  skills  to  further  my  career  in  journalism.  I  can  provide  quality  articles,  and  am  flexible  to  write  on  whatever  topic  I  am  given,  and  complete  those  articles  on  time.    Thank  you  very  much  for  giving  me  the  chance  to  apply  to  become  a  part  of  your  illustrious  website/  magazine.  Attached  is  my  resume  further  stating  my  skills  and  history  pertaining  to  this  job.    Thank  you  for  your  time  and  consideration.  

Sincerely,  

 

       Joe  Smith  604-­‐123  -­‐4567  joesmith@live.com    Enclosure:  Resume,  Application  Form  and  Letter  of  Reference  

To Whom it May Concern:

I highly recommend Joe Smith as a candidate for employment. Joe was employed by Grant & Wylie Solicitors as an Administrative Assistant from 2010 – 2011. Joe was responsible for office support including word processing, scheduling appointments and creating brochures, newsletters, and other office literature.

Joe has excellent communication skills. In addition, he is extremely organized, reliable and computer literate. Joe can work independently and is able to follow through to ensure that the job gets done. He is flexible and willing to work on any project that is assigned to her. Hoe was quick to volunteer to assist in other areas of company operations, as well.

Jane would be a tremendous asset for your company and has my highest recommendation. If you have any further questions with regard to his background or qualifications, please do not hesitate to call me.

Sincerely,

Shane Davis Human Resources Grant & Wylie Solicitors 8454 200 St, Langley, BC (604) 533-1234 shane.davis@grantandwylie.com

P RESENTATION T IPS &

G UIDELINES

A few things we want you to consider when presenting:

• Avoid reading off the screen. Use the screen as a guideline to remember what it is you want to talk about.

• The majority of information should come from YOU… not the screen. • Maintain as much eye contact with your evaluator as possible • Don’t rush the presentation. You have lots of time. • Bring some water with you in case you throat dries up a little • Be genuine. Be real. Be yourself. We want to know the real you. • Relax. Taking a few breaths before you get started can be very helpful;

Work and/or Volunteer Experience Verification

Employer /Company Employer/Company Name:

Contact-Person/Supervisor:

Employer/Company Address:

Postal Code: Phone Number: Fax:

Email (optional): Placement Details

Dates – From: To: _

Student Position:

Total Hours:

Proof of Participation Attached? (ie. Pay stub, letter, supervisor’s evaluation). Signatures

I verify that the information recorded in this package is correct.

Student:

Parent/Guardian:

Work Place Supervisor

Name: Student Number: _

It is expected that students will demonstrate the skills required to work effectively and safely with others and to succeed as individual and collaborative workers by participating in at least 30 hours of work and/or community service..

REMSS Grad Trans Presentation Package