Skills and Experience Worksheet

Use this worksheet to generate a list of work-related skills you’ve acquired in the past five years. As you work through this list, think in terms of things you have done and can do regardless of the context in which you did them. In other words, managing a $10,000 annual budget is managing a $10,000 annual budget, regardless of whether you managed it for an accounting firm, the family farm, you fraternity, your dorm, or yo’ mama.

Education:

List your major(s) and minor(s).

When do you plan on graduating (Semester and year)?

What are your professional plans after graduation?

Work Experience:

For both of the following lists, include specific dates, job descriptions, name and contact info of employers or supervisors AND specific skills and activities (be very specific only if these skills are directly related to your prospective job; describe general skills if not.

Make one list of work experience and internships directly related to your major or career objective.

Make another list of ALL jobs and internships you’ve had since high-school graduation.

List all the public-speaking experiences and coursework you’ve had. Any time you’ve had to formally speak in front of other people counts.

- Academic: speech courses, presentations etc.

- Civic and church related.

- Living group.

- Leadership training.

List all languages, other than English (unless relevant) in which you are proficient. Describe specific levels and experience (reading, writing, travel abroad, number of years formal study etc.)

List major types of reports you have had to write; describe specific length and content, especially if related to your career objective or major.

List advanced writing courses you have taken.

List all the experiences you’ve had directing the activities of other people or working in professional settings. Include:

~ coaching and team-work

~ jobs (sales, cashiering, phone soliciting)

~ civic (including Ag., FFA, 4H)

~ military experience or training, especially any that is leadership or team oriented

~ volunteer or political work

~ church group or missionary work

~ Living group (i.e. Greek, dorms) committee and board work.

List any management or leadership related courses, workshops or seminars.

List specific computer programs you have used. Include specific computer languages and specific names of programs (ex: not "Word" but "Word 7.2 for Windows); list Mac and PC skills separately.

List any other specific skills directly related to your field (computer programming skills, inoculating livestock for specific diseases, falling trees up to specific diameters) -- main thing is to be extremely specific.

Make a list of at least four people you can list as references. This list should:

~ Not include people personally related to you.

~ Show a mix that includes work-related (supervisors) and academic (professors and advisors).

~ Include mailing addresses, email addresses and phone numbers.

(Even if you don't list these people on you resume, print a copy to keep in your wallet as you will likely need it each time you fill out a job application for even the simplest jobs.)