Specific (hard) or transferable (soft) skills

Specific (hard) or transferable (soft) skills

• Specific (hard) or transferable (soft) skills

• Transferable skills can be learnt in one context and applied to another

• Can be acquired through work, hobbies, sports etc

• Examples:

• Activity Skill

• Organised a conference Project management

• Gave a presentation Oral communication

“Confidence and tenacity, resilience and flexibility” (The Cooperative)

• “Confidence and tenacity, resilience and flexibility” (The Cooperative)

• “Multi-tasking and flexible with problem solving skills” (JWT)

• “At least four months experience working or studying outside your own country” (BMW)”

Cover letter should include

• Cover letter should include

• Why the student wants to work for this organisation

• Why they want this position

• What they have to offer (that the employer wants)

• This last part should address key skills and back up with evidence from a diverse range of experiences.

• Study abroad might provide one or two examples for this section, depending on the job and criteria.

Job 1: The applicant must demonstrate cultural sensitivity when meeting clients and be able to build strong relationships

• Job 1: The applicant must demonstrate cultural sensitivity when meeting clients and be able to build strong relationships

• How might Student A draw on their year abroad experience to meet this criteria?

• Write an example cover letter sentence.

• Job 2: The applicant must be flexible and resilient; able to adapt and cope with challenges

• Repeat above task with Student B

Read the job specification again

• Read the job specification again

• List the skills required and the ones you especially want to convey

• Prepare diverse examples from across your experience to use in the interview

• One or two on study abroad is probably enough

• Structure answers using S.T.A.R: Situation, Task, Actions and Result, focusing on your Actions

The travelling I did at the end of my study abroad year required significant project management.

• The travelling I did at the end of my study abroad year required significant project management.

• I had to manage my budget and time and book accommodation, transport and activities in advance.

• Scheduled goals in diary so that everything would be done in time; Prioritised tasks depending on urgency; Monitored the exchange rate prior to my travels so that I knew how much money I’d have; researched prices of accommodation and transport to find best deals and take advantage of advance booking discounts; read guidebooks to find out what was happening where; watched the news to make sure bad weather or big events didn’t disrupt my plans.

• I had an amazing time and had $100 left at the end to spend on souvenirs!

Third year abroad website

• Third year abroad website

• http://www.thirdyearabroad.com/home.html

• Taking Advantage of Time Away, Edinburgh

• http://www.employability.ed.ac.uk/CaseStudies/LLC-TATA.htm#Resources

• “Packaging your international experience”

• http://www.abroadview.org/avmag/2008fall_larsson.htm

• “The benefits of Study Abroad”

• http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0403/benefits_study_abroad.shtml

• University of Oxford Careers Website

• http://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/