REFLECTING ON PAST EXPERIENCES
In our busy day-to-day lives we don’t often take time to recognize our accomplishments; we are too busy moving on to the next challenge. Developing a resume can actually be a gift, because it gives you a reason to stop and reflect back on your work, education and life experiences and take stock of your successes. Reflecting back will help you clarify the knowledge, skills, abilities and attributes you want to capture on your resume and in your letter, and it will help you decide what you want to tell an employer in a job interview.
Charts
Below, we have provided you with some questions to help guide your reflection. You will also find charts you can download if that is your preferred style. You can download all five charts, or you can select just the charts that are relevant. You don’t need to complete these steps to work with a resume writer, but it can help.
If you think identifying your accomplishments first might be a good place to start, you can visit our ‘Accomplishments’ Blog post first.
Steps
Employment and/or Volunteer Experience
Answer the questions below or download the Employment and Volunteer History chart.
Complete these steps for each of your past positions:
- Identify the knowledge you needed for success in the position (e.g. facts, theory, concepts, procedures, rules, credentials).
- List the skills you demonstrated while in this position (e.g. action, performance observed or measured).
- List the abilities that allowed you to be successful in this position (e.g. natural abilities or talents).
- List the attributes that allowed you to work successfully in this position (e.g. personality traits, characteristics, attitudes, interests, temperament and values).
- Describe the positive feedback you received from your employer, peers, customers or clients (e.g. performance appraisals, thank you emails, awards).
- List any measurable results (e.g. % of sales, # of staff, % of cost savings, # of years, # of clients, budgets).
- Describe your key accomplishments in the position.
Education
This step looks at formal education; education that resulted in a diploma or a degree. This usually includes education at a high school, private vocational school, college or university.
Answer the questions below or download the Educational History chart.
Complete these steps for each degree or diploma.
- List the degree or diploma. List any key courses, specifically, those related to your current job goal.
- List the knowledge and/or skills you gained or demonstrated.
- List your accomplishments related to this educational experience (e.g. special projects, assignments, placements, awards, positive feedback, extracurricular activities).
- List any measurable results (e.g. average grade, highest grade, number of hours).
- List any work or co-op placements or other hands-on experience.
Training
This step looks at training courses or programs that resulted in a certificate or license, such as First Aid and WHMIS training. Note: This training does not refer to On-the-Job Training, Professional Development Seminars, Workshops and One-On-One Training; these are captured on the Short Term Training chart below.
Answer the questions below or download the Training History chart.
Complete these steps for each of your past training programs/courses. If your training was less than a year in length, include the months.
- Describe the training and list the qualification, licence or certificate earned (including participation certificates).
- List the knowledge and/or skills you gained or demonstrated.
- List your accomplishments related to this training (include any positive feedback you received).
- List any measurable results (include grades/scores, number of hours).
- List any practical hands-on experience or on-the-job practice.
Short-Term Training
This step looks at short term training that may include on-the-job training and professional development (e.g. seminars, conferences, workshops, one-on-one training or volunteer training sessions).
Answer the questions below or download the Short Term Training History chart.
Complete these steps for each of your short-term training experiences.
- List all of the organizations, companies or trainers where you completed this training and include the method e.g. seminar.
- Describe the short-term training and the outcomes, including the knowledge and/or skills gained or demonstrated.
You can always contact us at Resume Pro Canada if you have any questions. You can also send us a message to or call us at (705)745-1607.