Putting the Spotlight on Yourself

How to build your resume as a student, and prepare yourself for job interviews

You’re most likely approaching your final semester of high school, thinking about all of the great experiences that await you as you pursue your undergraduate degree. Some of you may even be thinking about how when you’re finishing up your degree in roughly four years’ time, you’ll need to find yourself a job to embark upon your career of choice.

Not too long after that, you’ll discover the age-old dilemma of needing experience to get a job, but also needing a job to gain experience in the first place. To get to that point, however, you’ll need to hone your skills in applying to, and interviewing for jobs.

One of the best ways to build and improve your skills is through firsthand experience. Many of Brock’s programs offer a co-op option that you can apply to. In addition to all the knowledge you’ll gain in the classroom, you’ll also graduate with a minimum 12 months of work experience to add to your resume. Through this option, various workshops and information sessions are offered to help you create your resume and write cover letters, and help prepare you for job interviews.

The greatest assets you have when applying to any job are your experience and skills. It’s important to note that while it’s great to talk about relevant past work experience, it’s also ideal to talk about your undergraduate experiences. You can speak to any leadership roles you’ve held, whether it be for group work or a club you’re a member of, or even for the research and critical thinking skills you’ve developed in class. In addition, all programs at Brock feature experiential learning opportunities for you to take part in, learn from, and add to your resume.

Volunteer work and getting involved on campus is another great way to build your resume, and build skills that employers are seeking. At Brock, there are plenty of ways to get involved both on- and off-campus. Through our Student Life and Community Experience office, you can explore these options and find an event or specific cause that interests you to get involved with.

Above all else, when applying to and interviewing for any job, remember to be yourself. Do plenty of research on the organization you’re applying to, and work this into your cover letter and interview. Employers want to hire confident individuals that have had the chance to build their skills, and are willing to dedicate themselves to a new role and continue their development.

Experience matters, and getting the chance to build your resume throughout your undergraduate studies will help you go far, both in university and afterwards.