This document provides an agenda and timeline for a COMM 202 tutorial covering skills matrices. It discusses translating strengths into skills, using the STAR method to structure skills stories, includes examples of skills matrices, and provides a rubric for activities where students will practice telling skills stories and receive peer feedback. The timeline shows that upcoming weeks will focus on introducing skills matrices, having students complete a job posting assignment and skills matrix draft, and participating in cover letter peer review.

1. COMM 202 TUTORIAL 2 T08 | Wed. 1 – 2
T09 | Wed. 2 – 3

2. AGENDA
One on One Recap
Skills Matrix
Activity
Action Items

3. COURSE TIMELINE
Week 4 Week 5 Week 6
• Intro to skills
matrix
• Job posting
assignment due
• Intro to cover
letters
• Skills matrix draft
due
• Cover letter peer
review
• Skills matrix due
Friday, October
14th
That’s less than one story a day!

4. TRANSLATING YOUR
STRENGTHS INTO SKILLS
WOO  communication, personal skills, persuasion
Includer  teamwork, leadership
Positivity  resilience, initiative
Learner  adaptability, analytical skills, problem-solving
Individualization  attention to detail, mentorship, personal development

5. STAR SKILLS MATRIX
Situation
• Set the scene:
• Who?
• What?
• Where?
• When?
Task
• The objective,
issue, or obstacle
you had to
overcome.
• Why is this story
significant?
Action
• The How
• What did you
consider/do to
overcome the
situation
• What skills were
applied?
• Your actions vs.
your team's
Result/Link
• The
Lesson/Outcome
• What was the
result of your
actions/decisions?
• How are they
relevant to the
skill/job?
• Needs to be
employer centric

6. Resume
Cover Letter
Interview
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!

7. Resume
Cover Letter
Interview
Skills Matrix

8. Resume
Cover Letter
Interview
Skills Matrix

9. Resume
Cover Letter
Interview
Skills Matrix

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

11. 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

12. EXAMPLE

13. MARKING RUBRIC

14. ACTIVITY
Take 5 min 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?

15. ACTION ITEMS
 Skills matrix draft due in tutorial: 4 positive, 1 failure story
 Next week: Tutorial
Questions?