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1) Informational Interviews and Networking

facilitated by Shagufta Pasta

Presentation and discussion with Shagufta Pasta from the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers. Shagufta discussed how to set up informational interviews, the value of these kinds of meetings and how they can help you expand your network.

Note: Shagufta regularly offers Drop-In Advising Sessions each Tuesday from 11 am – 1 pm, in the front foyer of the Centre for Student Involvement and Careers (Brock Hall, 1874 East Mall).

2) How to Write for your Portfolio

facilitated by Letitia Henville

1 – How to write about your learning activities

I suggest that you think about the impact that your work had—either on how you have learning and developed, or on a group of people you worked with or helped. Two ways to think about writing about your impact are to use the accomplishment statement formula or the STARR formula for behavioural interview questions:

• About accomplishment statements: https://students.ubc.ca/career/career-resources/resumes-cover-letters-curricula-vitae
• About the STARR formula: https://students.ubc.ca/career/career-resources/interviews(scroll down to the section called “behavioural-based questions”)

If the only job you’ve had is something like working retail or serving in a restaurant, you can still include that in your portfolio! Talk about why and how you were great at your job, and the impact that your work had on yourself or on others. Here are two posts from the great blog “Ask a Manager” – in these posts, Allison Green is talking about how to write about what you’ve accomplished on a resume, but her advice also stands for a portfolio:

• “how to rewrite your resume to focus on accomplishments, not just job duties”:http://www.askamanager.org/2014/02/how-to-rewrite-your-resume-to-focus-on-accomplishments-not-just-job-duties.html
• “how to list accomplishments on your resume when your job doesn’t have easy measures”: http://www.askamanager.org/2013/06/how-to-list-accomplishments-on-your-resume-when-your-job-doesnt-have-easy-measures.html

2 – How to edit your learning activities for the web

• Write short paragraphs.
• Use bullet points.
• Delete bullshit. Here’s how to identify and fix weasel words: https://withoutbullshit.com/blog/how-to-fix-weasel-words

3 – Send me your URL!

I’d love to see how you’re progressing and am happy to provide individualized advice. You can reach me at arts.eportfolios@ubc.ca.