2205 Lower Mall,

Mailbox #5

Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

April 20, 2021

Niloufar Rohani

Residence Life Manager

UBC Student Housing and Community Services

2205 Lower Mall

Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

Subject: Reference Letter Request – Katherine Chan

Dear Ms. Rohani,

I hope you are doing well! I am writing to ask if you would consider writing a reference letter to use to apply for the position of Graduate Project Assistant in Enrolment Services.

I learned a lot about student services while working for you as a Resident Advisor in Marine Drive. I think you would be able to provide insight into my leadership and organizational skills, which would increase my chances of landing this new position. I always appreciate your perspective and feedback during our one-on-one monthly meetings. In particular, our November debrief regarding my professional development and desire to be more involved in Residence Life inspired me to pursue a larger breadth of programming for our community in winter term 2.

Having said that, I know that this you are extremely busy right now with summer hiring, so

please do not hesitate to let me know if you are unable to write a reference letter. I appreciate

your time and consideration in advance. Please find enclosed the job posting along with my

updated resume and cover letter. If you any questions or comments, please let me know

through email at katherine.chan@ubc.ca.

Sincerely,

Katherine Chan

Enclosure: Job posting, resume, cover letter

PDF Version: KatherineChan_Reference Letter Request 2

2205 Lower Mall,

Mailbox #5

Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

April 24, 2021

Kim Sicoli

Enrolment Services Advisor

Student Services

1874 East Mall

Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1

Subject: Reference Letter Request – Katherine Chan

Dear Ms. Sicoli,

I hope you’re have a great week! I am reaching out because I am applying for the Graduate Project Assistant position in Enrolment Services. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider writing a reference letter in support of my application to emphasize my qualifications for this role.

I believe you can provide great insight into my interpersonal and decision-making skills as a Project Assistant for the past year. Additionally, I have learned a lot from you working on the Financial Wellness team and I am ready for the challenge of joining the Graduate Studies team in a full-time capacity.

Please let me know if you are comfortable endorsing me and I appreciate your time and

consideration. Please find enclosed the job posting along with my updated resume and cover

letter. Moreover, I would be happy to answer any questions or provide additional

information that can help you write my reference letter. Please reach me anytime through email

at katherine.chan@ubc.ca. Once again thank you for your continuous support in my professional

development.

Sincerely,

Katherine Chan

Enclosure: Job posting, resume, cover letter

PDF Version: KatherineChan_Reference Letter Request 1

2205 Lower Mall

Mailbox #5

Vancouver, BC

V6T 1Z4

April 5, 2022

Student Services

1874 East Mall

Vancouver, BC

V6T 1Z1

To Whom It May Concern,

Please consider my application for the Graduate Project Assistant position in Enrolment Services as advertised on March 11 on Work Day. I will graduate from the University of British Columbia in April 2023 with a Bachelor of Computer Science degree. My current supervisor, Kim Sicoli, encouraged me to apply for this position.

As you can see from my enclosed resume, for the past year I worked as a Project Assistant in Enrolment Services on the Financial Wellness team. This experience, combined with my previous experiences working with a wide audience, has given me the knowledge and skills to engage with students’ expectations and needs for equity, diversity, and inclusion.

As a Project Assistant on the Financial Wellness team, I have worked with the Beyond Tomorrows Scholars community. I have researched and designed content with a Black Canadian Student lens. I am confident that I can assist in developing additional content and visual material required in this position. I am prepared and excited to take on the additional responsibilities of this role and I wish to challenge myself creatively in collaboration with the Equity in Adjudication Working Group.

If my background meets your needs, I would appreciate the opportunity to further discuss with you how I could contribute to the Graduate Project Assistant position. Please feel free to reach out to me via email at katherine.chan@ubc.ca or any weekday after 5:00 PM at (778) 751-1238.

Sincerely,

Katherine Chan

PDF Version: KatherineChan_CoverLetter

Graduate Project Assistant, Enrolment Services

The University of British Columbia  Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area

About the job

Job Category Student Employee

Job Title Graduate Project Assistant, Enrolment Services

Department Enrolment Services Advisors 2 | Student Support and Advising | Enrolment Services

Posting End Date April 11, 2022

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the day prior to the Posting End Date above.

Job End Date Aug 31, 2022

Enrolment Services values equity and diversity in our UBC community. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been traditionally, systemically and historically marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

The Graduate Assistant (GPA) role is project-based and flexible in terms of hours, dates, and the skills required to execute the job responsibilities. The GPA role is expected to be based on the Vancouver campus; however, a large portion of work can be done remotely. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and flexible arrangements and support can be put in place for the successful candidate.

Job Summary

The GPA role is an exciting collaborative opportunity to work with Enrolment Services and Strategic IBPOC Initiatives, Office of the Vice-President Students, to research and develop creative online content with the lens of Black Canadian experiences. The online content will be used in a variety of Enrolment Services processes in a supportive environment.

Job Responsibilities

• Identify and review existing resources and literature on equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism training in an online environment.
• Assist with the development of UBC-specific training content with a Black Canadian Student lens using identified existing resources and literature.
• Assist with the engagement of students, faculty and staff in the validation and adjustment of developed training content.
• Work with key stakeholders in Enrolment Services to build out content into online and visual material while optimizing user experience and learning strategies.

Supervision Received

• The successful candidate will work under the day-to-day supervision of the Equity in Adjudication Working Group, which is led by Enrolment Services.
• At the outset of the position, the GPA will develop learning goals and a work plan with the support and direction of the Equity in Adjudication Working Group. These documents will serve as guides to ensure learning objectives and project goals are met.
• Regular feedback and ongoing support will be provided through weekly check-ins to track progress, informal check-ins, and feedback on completed projects. The GPA will be encouraged to reflect through open, collegial dialogue.

Required Skills Or Qualifications

• Ability to locate, critically analyze, and synthesize existing resources and literature.
• Demonstrated experience writing for a wide audience or the general public.
• Ability to maintain accuracy and attention to detail.
• Ability to grasp new tasks and terminology quickly and able to learn with minimal instruction.
• Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve.
• Ability to plan ahead, anticipate problems, and meet deadlines.
• Familiarity with, or ability to learn, how to cite sources and follow copyright protocols.
• Experience in a Windows-based environment, and willingness to learn to use new tools and software.

Asset Skills Or Qualifications

• Knowledge of equity, diversity and inclusion issues relevant to Black Canadian populations and ability to apply knowledge.
• Experience in content design in an online learning environment is considered an asset

Citation:

Workday, 11 Mar. 2022, https://ubc.wd10.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/ubcstudentjob/job/UBC-Vancouver-Campus/Graduate-Project-Assistant–Enrolment-Services_JR6777.

PDF Version: KatherineChan_Job Posting

Please find below my application package, which includes the job posting, cover letter, resume, and three requests for reference letters. I have also included PDF versions of each of the components. Additionally, please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

1. The actual advertisement or application instructions, accompanied by MLA documentation showing the source of the ad.
   • KatherineChan_Job Posting
2. A one-page cover letter addressed to the prospective employer or organization and designed to conform to the best practices for organization, content, layout, and design set out in Technical Communication
   • KatherineChan_CoverLetter
3. A resume – following the format and layout of one of the resume styles set out in Technical Communications. 
   • KatherineChan_Resume
4. Three letters requesting references
   • KatherineChan_Reference Letter Request 1
   • KatherineChan_Reference Letter Request 2
   • KatherineChan_Reference Letter Request 3

Katherine Chan

2205 Lower Mall,

Mailbox #5

Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4

Phone: (778) 887-7237

Email: katherine.chan@ubc.ca

Objective                  Administrative and research position with opportunity for advancement.

Education               University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

2021 – present            Bachelor of Science, Major in Computer Science

2008 – 2012                University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC

Bachelor of Science, Major in Behavioural Neuroscience

Employment             

2021 – present     UBC Enrolment Services, Vancouver, BC 

Conduct research on relevant student financial topics for presentations and Financial Wellness Peer program. Contribute to planning activities by connecting with student clubs and campus partners. Provide updates to Financial Wellness Canvas site. Research and create presentations for Beyond Tomorrow Scholars program.

2021 – present            UBC Student Housing and Community Services, Vancouver, BC

Create and implement active and passive programming based on student needs in areas of life-long learning and self-discovery.

Personal                  

Awards

Marine Drive Residence Programmer of the Year, 2021; City of Vancouver Remembrance Day Poem Recipient 2008.

Special Skills

Speak Cantonese fluently.

Activities

TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) Certification; CPR Level

A with AED Certification.

Interests

Baking, dog training, and reading.

References         

Available on request.

PDF Version: KatherineChan_Resume                                   

As this course winds down, I realize how fortunate I was to be given the opportunity to self-reflect on my roles. As a woman studying computer science I felt uneasy since I am a beginner lacking  technical skills. However, ENGL 301 challenged me to embrace my writing and communication skills. I learned that communication is an imperative skill in the workplace that encourage openness and collaboration. Clear communication especially through writing enables team members to be transparent, share difficulties, and solve problems together.

Assignment 4.1 Formal Report has made a huge impression on me. It challenged me to critically collect and evaluate feedback from my resident community. Recently I had the opportunity to take the CliftonStrengths Assessment and one of top strengths is input. My natural inquisitiveness aligns with the input strength. This helped me a lot when I brainstormed the scope and questions for my survey and interview.While I was working on my formal report I received feedback from my resident community about the types of programs they need. This led me to spearhead three amazing programs: 1. Table Tennis Tournament, 2. Rabbitats Fundraiser, and 3. Tax Workshop. I am proud that my team and I received fantastic resident engagement and turnout. Additionally, I was awarded Programmer of the Year in Marine Drive, which recognizes an incredible number and breadth of programming to my community.

One of my original goals of this course is to implement and transition the skills from ENGL 301 into my professional life and beyond. I feel confident that I am on my way into making that a reality! I plan to continue updating and editing my resume as I progress through my academics; I know this course has equipped me the skills for success. All in all, ENGL 301 awarded me the opportunity to not only strengthen my writing skills, but to critically self-reflect on my professional development. Thank you for my team members and the instructor on their constructive feedback and encouragement throughout this journey.

Engl 301 has allowed me to gather all my accomplishments and create one space to share and

showcase my work. As a mature student who decided to renter UBC after almost a ten year

academic hiatus it has been a humbling experience to navigate a virtual professional setting.

This course has given me the opportunity to discover a different side of writing, while building

my confidence with peer review and feedback. My overall outlook on writing has changed from

the beginning  and I have learned the importance of being more detail-oriented.

While creating the web folio, I had the opportunity to review my previous works. I noticed that

I’ve become more effective in my writing. Moreover, I have become more conscious of

demonstrating more you-attitude, which conveys a more positive and optimistic outlook to

readers. This is a pertinent skill that I plan to practice in my work learn position as I create

content on financial wellness for students. As a take a step back, I feel proud of my work in this

course and I’ve learned to the grace to receive feedback and implement it effectively.

This reflection blog summarizes the work completed for Unit 3 Writing Strategies & Drafting Reports. Overall, I found this unit the most challenging. I underestimated the focus and determination this unit demands to complete the formal report draft.

Formal report

The formal report is a major assignment in the course. In the beginning I felt confident because because I am familiar with collecting data from students and residents using Qualtrics through my role as a Project Assistant and Residence Advisor. However, I found it challenging to summarize the visuals into words! In my other roles I never had to explain the data, but only used the data in administrative duties and scheduling.

Additionally, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interviewing the Residence Life Managers. During my monthly one-on-one meetings the Residence Life Manager would ask me questions and I would answer. It was very interesting to have the tables turned and I learned a lot from my supervisors on their perceptions and opinions on residence life.

Overall, found the data section the most strenuous section in the assignment and for the first time in the course I experienced writer’s block. I had to take multiple breaks to reflect and refresh to continue the rest of my formal report.

During this time, I was experiencing some personal issues, which impacted my assignments. I would like to acknowledge my team member, Ali Hasan, who has been very patient with me during this writing process. I am grateful for his kindness and understanding.

Writing this formal report felt therapeutic to me because it reminded me why I chose to be a Residence Advisor. I tried to think of the assignment as reflective piece for myself and it helped me feel inspired and motivated to continue the formal report.

Peer-reviewing

We also learned about YOU-attitude or reader-centered writing in this unit. As I reviewed Ali’s formal report, I had the opportunity to practice how to emphasize to the reader’s benefit and focus on the positive. I also learned a lot about the pros and cons of work from home versus in-person setting through different lenses such as financial and health impact. Additionally, I learned a little bit more about Ali and his workplace. I believe I provided Ali with meaningful feedback and I hope that my recommendations will help Ali during his revision.

Final Thoughts

I feel a sense of accomplishment in completing my formal report draft. I have to admit that it was challenging, but I look forward to finishing the formal report and application package. I believe I will be proud of my final draft and my recommendations can impact my residence community.

Enclosure: My First Draft

This reflection blog summarizes the work completed for Unit 2 Strategies for Formal Reports and Application Packages.

LinkedIn

During the process of researching best practices for professional networking, I discovered strategies I should implement into my LinkedIn profile. In particular, I will implement the tip to pursue professional development through LinkedIn Learning because it was recently brought up in my Work Learn position in Enrolment Services. Additionally, all UBC students have full access to LinkedIn Learning until July 2022; it’s a fantastic opportunity to develop employable skills. Moreover, according to Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey the employment fell by 200,000 in January 2022. Therefore, I think creating a professional social media network is very relevant and important in our current job market.

Report Proposal and Outline

I think the Report Proposal is like a marathon in that I need to work diligently in small tangle steps. As a current Resident Advisor resident engagement and community impact are important factors I consider in my role. I am happy with my topic selection and I am eager to begin the interview and survey component. I do not have questions about how my Report Proposal will come together at the moment. However, I know time management will be challenging, so I’m grateful in creating a detailed Outline.

Peer Review

I learned about the challenges of accessing dental care in individuals experiencing homelessness in Victoria through Jen’s Report Proposal. Their proposal is well-defined and thorough. I was persuaded by their writing and I believe that the recommendations can make many positive impacts. Additionally, I am impressed that Jen is leveraging her professional network, Our Place Society, through their Report Proposal.

My Team’s Writing Forum

In reviewing my team’s writing forum I gained new perspectives on topics I never initially considered. I am impressed with my colleague’s work and their dedication to improving their writing skills. I am glad that I have been able to work with a different partner because a new perspective is valuable. I believe my writing has improved because I challenged myself to critically evaluate not only my work, but my team’s work.

Final Thoughts

I feel more confident as I draft my Formal Report because I know I can lean on my teammates to give me their constructive criticism. I am optimistic as I delve further into y Formal Report and I look forward to learn more from colleagues.

Enclosure: My Revised Report Proposal

Enclosure: Jen’s Peer Review on my Report Proposal