Yuwei 202 tutorial 2

1. COMM 202
tutorial 2: skills matrix
T04 & T10

2. agenda
• one on one recap
• skills matrix
• activity
• action items

3. one on ones!

4. what do you want from this course?
• learn how to excel in interviews!
• sense of confidence throughout the job app process
• build a strong resume +
cover letter to apply
for summer opportunities

5. timeline
This is less than ONE story a day!
• Intro to Skills Matrix
• Job Posting
Assignment due!
Week 4 Week 6Week 5
• Intro to Cover Letters
• Skills Matrix draft due
• Cover Letter peer review
• Skills Matrix due Friday,
October 14th

6. translating your strengths into skills
achiever
empathy
harmony
developer
responsibility
leadership, diligence, determination
mentorship, communication, interpersonal skills
communication, conflict management, tact
persuasion, strategic influence, teamwork
organization, ownership, self-improvement

7. skills matrix: using STAR
SITUATION
• Context
• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
TASK
• The objective,
issue or
obstacle you
had to over
come.
• Why is this
story
significant?
ACTION
• The How
• What did you
consider/do to
overcome the
situation
• What skills
were applied
• Your vs. team
actions
RESULT
• What was the
result of your
actions/decisio
ns?
• How are they
relevant to the
skill/job?
• Needs to be
employer
centric
LINK
• The Lesson
• How will I use
this in the
future?

8. skills matrix
Stories that demonstrate your skills are the foundation of your career toolkit. Your resume, cover
letter, and interview are the building blocks to your dream job!
Resume
Cover Letter
Interview
Skills Matrix

9. Skills Matrix

10. Resume

11. Cover Letter
• story-telling, engaging to read
• emphasis on the result and the link to the company / position / industry

12. failure stories
• why?

13. failure stories
• shows resilience, tenacity
• shows that you’re humble enough to focus not just on
your assets, but where you need improvement
• shows that you can learn from your mistakes and failures

14. failure stories
SITUATION
• Context
• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
MIS-STEPS
• What did I do
wrong?
• How am I
accountable for
the mistakes
made?
FAILURE
• What
happened as a
result of my
actions?
LESSON
• What did I
learn through
this failure?
ACTION
STEPS
• How did I
overcome OR
what will I do
now?
self-awareness & accountability

15. failure stories
• story clearly indicates what went wrong and accountability is taken
• majority of the story focuses on lessons learned (i.e. personal and
professional development)
• student shows what they would do differently if faced with the
situation again, or what they already did since (comeback story)
• generally aim to be: authentic, humble, accountable

16. failure stories
Skill /
Attribute
Experience Situation Mis-Steps Failure Lesson Action Steps
KPMG
Calgary -
Advisory
Selec ted in a
final round
interview for
one summer
student
position to
c onduc t
multiple
interviews with
different staff
members at
KPMG
I was selec ted in for a final
round interview, whic h
involved interviews ranging
from 2 hours and up to 5
hours. Due to the timing of
the interviews and my busy
sc hedule, I did not spend
enough time preparing for
these interviews and was
unsuc c essful in the last
interview with KPMG. I did
not realize how intense
these interviews were going
to be and therefore
thought that the effort that I
had put in to the first
interview was enough. I did
not even go through the
c ompany website, nor did I
speak with anyone who
worked at KPMG/ knew
anything about this position
After c ompleting
this sec ond round
interview, I
rec eived a
rejec tion email
stating that I did
not get the job.
You are not going
to land every
position that you
rec eive and
interview for even
if it is the last round
of interviews, but it
is very important
that you prepare
for eac h and
every interview
and know a lot
about the
c ompany. With
that being said, I
think that it is
important to take
all of the
feedbac k that you
c an from the
interview that did
not go so we ll and
strengthen your
weaknesses for the
next one!
Through this proc ess I
rec eived a signific ant
amount of training and
developed my interviewing
skills further. I made multiple
appointments with the BCC
and prepared for future
interviews by c onduc ting
moc k interviews and
rec eiving feedbac k. I then
was able to apply these
skills to the CPA rec ruit
whic h took plac e that
September. I was
suc c essfully able to land a
position at KPMG
Vanc ouver in the Audit
department.
DETERMINATION

17. marking rubric

18. activity
• take 5 minutes to brainstorm a story in STAR format
• applicants have 2 minutes to tell a story (either success or failure)
• interviewers have 1 minute to provide feedback (TA’s will be listening)
– what is the storyteller missing from their story? (Situation)
– is it specific enough?
– what is confusing? Is the skills relevant?
– are there step by step actions?
– is the story appropriate for an interview?

19. action items
• sign up for office hours! (next week)
• skills matrix draft due in tutorial: 4 positive, 1 failure story
• skills matrix due October 14th
• tutorial next week!
Puppy of the week!