When adding skills to your claimed skills page, consider all the skills you've developed through different experiences. Some of your skills will be stronger than others but too often, people don't give themselves credit for the skills they have because they think their experience "doesn't count" if it wasn't in school or work. Think more broadly than that.

Here’s how to uncover and highlight your skills across different domains:

1. Curricular Experiences:
Think about your academic journey. How did your coursework contribute to skill development? Consider any projects, papers, or coursework demonstrating your skills such as research, written communication, time management, project management, stress management, etc.

Examples:

  • Research Projects: Creating a comprehensive research paper or presentation that demonstrates critical thinking, analysis, and writing skills.
  • STEM Competitions: Participating in science fairs, math competitions, or coding challenges, showcasing problem-solving and technical abilities.
  • Language Studies: Completing coursework in a foreign language, displaying communication and cultural understanding.

2. Co-curricular Experiences:
Beyond the classroom, what activities relate to your coursework but happen outside? Highlight experiences tied to your studies, such as clubs, workshops, or academic competitions, showcasing skills in action.

Examples:

  • Student Government: Serving as a class representative or club officer, displaying leadership, teamwork, and organizational skills.
  • Debate Club: Engaging in debates or public speaking events, showcasing communication, persuasion, and critical thinking.
  • Art/Music Groups: Participating in art exhibitions, theater productions, or music performances, exhibiting creativity and collaboration.

3. Extracurricular Experiences:
Explore activities outside formal education. How do hobbies, clubs, sports, or personal interests refine your skills? Gather evidence like photos, documents, or projects that reflect skill growth. Often, these experiences help people develop skills such as teamwork, leadership, goal setting, conflict management, etc.

Examples:

  • Sports Teams: Being part of a sports team, demonstrating teamwork, discipline, and resilience.
  • Coding Clubs or Hackathons: Involvement in coding clubs or attending hackathons, highlighting problem-solving and programming skills.
  • Blogging/Vlogging: Managing a blog or YouTube channel, showcasing content creation, digital literacy, and communication skills.

4. Professional Experiences:
In work experiences including jobs, internships, freelance, or even side hustles, which skills have you honed? Reflect on tasks or projects where you applied these skills. Consider how your experiences support skill development and gather evidence of your achievements.

Examples:

  • Internships or Part-Time Jobs: Working in internships or part-time jobs, displaying responsibility, time management, and adaptability.
  • Freelance Projects: Taking on freelance gigs in web design, writing, or social media management, demonstrating specialized skills.
  • Tutoring or Teaching Assistance: Assisting in tutoring or teaching roles, showcasing mentoring, communication, and subject expertise.

5. Life Experiences:
Personal experiences shape skills too. Reflect on challenges faced outside education or work. Highlight how these moments developed your abilities and gather evidence like personal projects or volunteer work.

Examples: 

  • Volunteering: Engaging in community service or volunteering for social causes, displaying empathy, leadership, and civic responsibility.
  • Travel and Cultural Immersion: Traveling or studying abroad, exhibiting adaptability, cultural awareness, and problem-solving in diverse settings.
  • Personal Projects: Initiating personal projects like writing and self-publishing a book, composing and producing music, developing a podcast or YouTube series, or organizing events, highlighting entrepreneurship, innovation, and initiative.

Tips for Showcasing Skills:

  • Capture tangible outcomes from each domain (photos, documents, videos, screenshots, slides).
  • Link these evidences to the specific skills you want to showcase.
  • Update and review your claimed skills page regularly to ensure it reflects your current skill set. 

By considering experiences from various domains and collecting evidence, you’ll build a robust "skill profile" that truly reflects your diverse skill set.