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Look broadly at life experiences for transferable job skills

How to write a great resume ahead of the Black Press Career Fair on May 11
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The Black Press Career Fair takes place on Thursday, May 11, at the Langley Events Centre (7888 200 St.), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. File photo

You may be more qualified for the job you want than you think.

When writing your resumes for the Black Press Career Fair on May 11, look broadly at your life for transferable skills that may make you the ideal candidate. Dozens of potential employers will be looking to recruit talented people at the fair. Writing good resumes with specific and relevant information could help you stand out from the crowd and catch the attention of the right people.

That’s advice the University of the Fraser Valley career services coordinator So Jeon gives to students and grads seeking jobs. She says job seekers are often hesitant to apply for jobs that seem to demand more experience than they have.

As an example, Jeon says people will often see a job posting demanding three years of relevant experience.

“I wouldn’t interpret as three straight years of full-time paid work experience,” she said.

Job seekers should rather look to entry-level jobs, such as cafe barista and restaurant serving, as experiences where they’ve developed time management, communication, and other skills.

They should also list volunteer, community engagement and and extra-curricular activities they’ve participated in during school. She says employers are also often receptive to applicants who detail their involvement in sports, as it demonstrates an individual likely has built character and develop cooperation skills.

Jeon says a common mistake job applicants make when writing resumes is they list skills they possess without specifying how they developed those skills.

People will often list “excellent writing skills” and think that’s enough, but Jeon says it’s much better to give evidence for it. She encourages resume writers to instead tell employers they developed excellent writing skills in a series of English classes in school and then honed them during an internship, for example.

The Black Press Career Fair takes place on Thursday, May 11, at the Langley Events Centre (7888 200 St.), from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring more than 100 employers ready to hire and give career search advice and post-secondary direction.