Please arrange the tables and chairs like this!

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COMM 202

T20, T21 & T27Week 2: Skills Matrix

Garret LaValley

No Laptops or Cellphones, NameCards out please!

Agenda

1. One-on-One Recap

2. Skills Matrix

3. Analyzing the Job Posting

One-on-One Recap

One-on-One RecapIn T20, T21 & T27, there is a student who:

• Hopes to work for Buzzfeed• Comes from a city with over 100 types of noodles!• Started their own clothing/apparel company• Met the Prime Minister of India• Has a scuba diving license• Worked for the World Bank in Washington DC• Plays the Ukelele• Plays cricket• Teaches children how to program using code part-time• Backpacked to over 10 countries in Europe & Asia

StrengthsQuestTranslate your Strengths into Skills!

WOO Communication; Motivating & Influencing

Competition Drive; Goal-setting; Adaptability

Includer Teamwork; Interpersonal skills

Activator Taking initiative; Willingness to learn

Positivity Determination to succeed; Communication

Skills Matrix

The Skills Matrix

S20%

T10%

A60%

R5%

L5%

SITUATION TASK ACTION RESULT LESSON/

LINK

• Set the Scene• Who?• What?• When?• Where?

Don’t leave out important details

• The objective, issue, or obstacle I had to overcome

• Why is this story significant?

• The “how”• What did I

consider/do to overcome the situation?

• What skills were applied

• My/vs team actions

• What was the result of my actions/decisions?

• Include quantitative or qualitative proof

• The lesson/outcome

• How are they relevant to the skill/job?

• Needs to be employer-centric

The Skills MatrixAdaptability

Willingness to learn

Varsity Volleyball Capilano University

Member and floor captain of the Capilano Blues men’s volleyball team for the 2012-13 season. Our team had 11 players in different positions which required a different skillset.

Following the injury to two key players during the Christmas off-season, I was required to switch positions in the second semester in order for our team to continue playing. This would require a great deal of effort re-learning the game from a new spot on the court.

In order to succeed in the new position I volunteered to attend additional practices and focused extra on individual workouts and drills that would allow me perform in the position. Remained open to critiques and feedback in order to further my development in the position. Openly communicated with teammates and coaches about additional needs in the new role, and continued to be dedicated to personal and team success.

In the first weekend of play helped the team to two straight 5 set victories and a weekend sweep over rival Victoria Island University. The team improved from a 6-6 record in first semester to a 9-3 second semester finish. Commended by my coaches post-season for stepping into a new role without question and leading the team by example.

Being able and willing to take on different roles will be vital in the workplace as I am handed different tasks and responsibilities.

The Skills Matrix – Failure Stories

SITUATION

MIS-STEPS FAILURE LESSON ACTION

STEPS

• Context• Who?• What?• When?• Where?

• What did I do wrong?

• How am I accountable for the mistakes made?

• What happened as a result of my actions?

• What did I learn through this failure?

• How did I overcome OR what will I do now?

Communication

Taking on Responsibility

Sales mentality

Treasury Analyst Suncor Energy

In my first four month term with Suncor, I was given the optional responsibility of making phone calls to vendors to persuade them to switch our method of paying them from cheque (more costly) to wire or direct deposit (less costly)

As this role was set up as an optional activity in my day-to-day, I saw it as less important and I was hesitant to pursue it because I felt unconfident speaking to these unknown vendors. I feared hearing the answer “no” so I avoided making the phone calls.

In the first four months of work I was unable to save the company any money from the reduction in cheques due to my unwillingness to take on the additional responsibility.

I quickly realized that this failure could actually become a huge learning opportunity to myself, as I felt my biggest weakness was a fear of being wrong, rather than my actual ability to “sell” the vendor on the idea of changing to a cheaper method of payment.

Over the next four months I made it a personal goal of making at least 1 phone call on busy days, and more when I had more downtime. I took each phone call as a competition to get a “yes” on the phone and essentially complete the sale. In doing this I was able to reduce cheques over those next four months by 200 per year, effective cost savings of almost $17,000 annually. I now confront all areas of my life where I fear being wrong and see them as a challenge to improve.

The Skills Matrix – Failure Stories

The Skills Matrix – Failure Stories

Story clearly indicates what went wrong and accountability is taken

Majority of the story focuses on lessons learned (i.e. personal and

professional development)

Student shows what they would do differently if faced with the

situation again, or what they already did since (comeback story)

Generally aim to be: authentic, humble, accountable

Skills Matrix Mixer – 4 rounds, 1 story each!

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The Skills Matrix Mixer

2 minutes to tell your story

1 minute for feedback – TAs will listen

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Giving Feedback

What is the storyteller missing from their story? (Situation)

Is is specific enough?

What is confusing? Is the skill relevant?

Are there step-by-step actions?

Is the story appropriate for an interview?

The Job Posting

Analyzing the Job Posting

Analyzing the Job Posting

Brainstorm

Industry Terms

Qualities Needed

to Succeed

Your Experienc

e

1. Analyzing the Job Posting What are the necessary skills needed for the job?

What are the soft skills the company is looking for?

What do you know about the culture of the company?

What is the difference between hard skills & soft skills?

2. Brainstorm Industry Terms What terms have you learned in school that relate to the

industry you are applying for

What articles/books have you read about the industry?

Who have you talked to in the industry?

3. Qualities needed to succeed? Which transferrable skill sets will be required in order to

complete the tasks/responsibilities

“Reading between the lines”

4. Your Experience Look back to the stories in your Skills Matrix, where have

you shown the necessary skills before?

Experiences in Jobs, organizations, clubs, class projects

How are your previous roles similar/relevant to the job posting’s?

Where to look?

Action Items Sign up for Office hours!

Job Posting Research Assignment due next week!

Skills Matrix due February 12th