Selling your experience as a Rep
One of the most important aspects of being a Rep is the opportunity to prove to employers that you have gained useful skills. The skills you gain from being a Rep are transferable and can help you stand out in the graduate job market.
Many students leave university with 2.1 or 2.2 degrees, so you will need to show that little bit extra on your CV if you want to be noticed. Fortunately, Reps can demonstrate a huge range of skills and can work towards the University of WolverhamptonVolunteering Certificate.
As you go through the list below, think of specific examples of when you have used each skill while carrying out your duties as a Rep. Effective Reps should have no problem identifying and providing evidence for these skills. These skills can form the basis of an excellent CV.
Communication Skills
Through their activities Reps can demonstrate the skilful expression, transmission and interpretation of knowledge and ideas.
Skills gained in this area include:
• Speaking effectively
• Providing appropriate feedback
• Writing concisely
• Negotiating
• Listening attentively
• Persuading
• Expressing ideas
• Reporting information
• Facilitating group discussions
• Describing feelings
For example, these skills may be evidenced by attendance at Staff/Student Meetings and the School Council, and by feeding back to students in your group. Reps use these skills when putting forward ideas and feeding back outcomes to the student body.
Research and Planning Skills
Through their activities, Reps can demonstrate the search for specific knowledge or change, and the ability to conceptualise solutions to problems.
Skills gained in this area include:
• Identifying problems
• Gathering information
• Creating ideas
• Extracting important information
• Imagining alternatives
• Developing evaluation strategies
For example, these skills may be evidenced by consulting students about a particular aspect of their course, identifying some current problems, thinking of alternative solutions and gathering evidence to back up your new ideas.
Interpersonal Skills
Through their activities reps can demonstrate the use of interpersonal skills for resolving conflict and relating to and helping other people.
Skills gained in this area include:
• Developing rapport
• Representing others
• Listening
• Asserting
• Providing support for others
• Feeding back
• Motivating
• Networking
• Cooperating with others
For example, these skills may be evidenced by working with other reps on your course or in your School, feeding information from committees to students in your group, taking inquiries from students and representing a fair account of others’ views at committees.
Interpersonal Skills
Through their activities Reps can demonstrate the use of interpersonal skills for resolving conflict and relating to and helping other people.
Skills gained in this area include:
• Developing rapport
• Representing others
• Listening
• Asserting
• Providing support for others
• Feeding back
• Motivating
• Networking
• Cooperating with others
For example, these skills may be evidenced by working with other Reps on your course or in your School, feeding information from committees to students in your group, taking inquiries from students and representing a fair account of others’ views at committees.
Organisation and Leadership
Through their activities Reps can demonstrate the ability to guide individuals and groups in the completion of tasks and fulfilment of goals.
Skills in this area include:
• Initiating new ideas
• Decision-making with others
• Handling details
• Managing conflict
• Coordinating tasks
• Leading groups
• Promoting change
For example, these skills may be evidenced by attending School Council, organising meetings with other Reps, highlighting the need for change, mediating between contrasting views of your colleagues and taking issues forward to committees.
Generic Employment Skills
Through their activities Reps can demonstrate the day-to-day skills that assist in promoting employee productivity and work satisfaction.
Skills in this area include:
• Implementing decisions
• Enlisting help where necessary
• Being punctual
• Setting and meeting deadlines
• Time management
• Accepting responsibility
• Attention to detail
For example, these skills may be evidenced by preparing for and attending meetings, networking with students, Reps and staff, following up and researching queries and signposting.
You can probably think of other individual-specific skills that you have acquired as a Rep. Don’t be afraid to sell yourself! You’ve put the hard work in, so reap the rewards.
The skills identified above can form a major part of your CV. The University’s ePortfolio allows you to create CVs and document your personal and professional development: www.wlv.ac.uk/eportfolio
Alternatively, visit the University’s Careers and Employment Services for advice on constructing your CV: www.wlv.ac.uk/careers