Lesson 1
Mapping Your Existing Skills
Identify strengths from non-work experiences that align with typical entry-level job descriptions.
Identify Transferable Skills
Start by listing every activity you have participated in, including sports, school projects, or volunteering. For each, identify a core skill: teamwork from sports, time management from projects, or customer care from retail work. Do not worry if these seem small. Employers look for evidence of reliability and a willingness to learn.
Translate Experience
Convert these activities into professional bullet points. Instead of saying 'volunteered at a dog shelter', write 'managed animal care schedules and maintained hygienic facilities for 20+ animals daily'. Use action verbs like 'managed', 'organised', 'developed', or 'resolved'. Focus on the outcome rather than the task itself. If you helped solve a problem, detail the impact you had. This shift in language moves your profile from 'student' to 'professional candidate' in the eyes of hiring managers. Review three entry-level job descriptions to find matching keywords to use in your CV.