Personality shapes the way a person is seen among society.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines personality as "the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual or a nation or group; especially: the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional characteristics." Based on this definition one can assume that personality is basically what distinguishes one person of another, and that is constitutes an essential trait in determining how a person is, and what his or her intentions are. Personality is how you present to the world, how others see and judge you on;

My name is tephanie !ones and " was born in mall Town, MB in #ugust $%&$. " am the eldest and my brother is three years younger. The two towns where " ha'e resided most of my life are mall Town and Middle Town, Manitoba. (ifferent e'ents in my li'e ha'e directed this path depending on the circumstances " found myself in. mall Town is a small town with a little o'er )*** residents. +owe'er, Middle Town is larger with appro,imately $-- *** residents. " grew up in a northern .rancophone family where the pro'ider, my father, was susceptible to layoffs e'ery year. " /uic0ly learned about the powers of an employer and a union1s 'isions. 2nemployment insurance, as it was called

bac0 then, was a subject of discussion o'er many dinners. This way of life, caused a great deal of stress for the family. " remember my mother limiting certain foods or e,tras such as outings to ma0e ends meet. 3ater as an adolescent, " was an acti'e member of my high school1s student council. (espite my future 'isions and good intentions to pursue post-secondary studies, many decisions and circumstances influenced my path. When " did not recei'e financial assistance to attend a post-secondary institution right after high school, " had to rethin0 my strategies. " was de'astated that " could not pursue my dreams of obtaining the education " had always desired.

elling your 0ills4 +ow your (egree has made you 5mployable
When you complete an application form for employment or a course, or write a 67, you will need to consider your s0ills 8sometimes called employability s0ills, or competencies9. :ou will need to demonstrate you ha'e the s0ills re/uired for the job by gi'ing e,amples of where you ha'e de'eloped and practised those s0ills, using e,amples from a range of situations, such as wor0 e,perience, hobbies and interests, 'oluntary wor0, your personal life, or academic study. This handout is intended to4
1. +elp

you identify the employability s0ills you ha'e

de'eloped and practised through your academic study and wider uni'ersity life whilst at MM2.
2. Pro'ide

you with a prompt list to help you identify your own e,amples of your s0ills to use on applications and your 67.

+ow your academic wor0 has gi'en you employability s0ills. MM2 encourages all students to become ;autonomous learners<. This means teaching is structured to encourage you to ta0e responsibility for your own learning i.e.

Wor0 independently Prioritise Manage your time efficiently Be self-moti'ating =now how to find and use resources effecti'ely >eflect on your personal de'elopment and understand the importance of continuing to de'elop your s0ills beyond uni'ersity and throughout life. 8P(P helps with this process9 :ou ha'e de'eloped and practised s0ills through the teaching methods used at MM24 "n 3ectures4 3istening and concentrating for e,tended periods orting, sifting and summarising information

>ecording and organising information efficiently "n 6lasses, eminars and Tutorials4 pea0ing clearly and fluently #rguing a case in a reasoned manner Ma0ing presentations Thin0ing on your feet 6onsidering differing 'iewpoints and responding appropriately "n 5ssay and >eport Writing4 .inding rele'ant information from a range of sources "dentifying 0ey issues Writing clearly and to the point 2nderstanding comple, arguments and theories =eeping an open mind Thin0ing logically

tructuring and de'eloping an argument 6ritically analysing and e'aluating e'idence and arguments "n Project Wor0 6reating and following a plan

Maintaining moti'ation =eeping to a time schedule #nticipating problems "n @roup Wor0 Managing your time (elegating Ta0ing responsibility upporting other team members 2nderstanding team dynamics and responding appropriately 2nderstanding your own role, strengths and wea0nesses in a team +olding your ground Being persuasi'e Aegotiating >especting and being sensiti'e to others 5mployers fre/uently as0 for some or all of the following s0ills. 3isted are e,amples of situations where you may ha'e used them in academic study or wider uni'ersity life. 2se it as a prompt list to identify your own e,amples to use in applications. 6ommercial awareness B understanding the 0ey factors that contribute to an organisation1s success e.g. pro'iding a /uality product; good customer ser'ice; well-trained, moti'ated staff; controlling costs.5,amples of e'idence4

Cuantify any role you ha'e had in raising or handling money e.g. fundraising for an e'ent or charity, acting as treasurer for a society. .or e,ample, ;" acted as treasurer for an e'ent that raised D$*** to help support ....< >eading the business sections of the press on a regular basis Wor0 e,perience in customer ser'ice >aising sponsorship for any purpose from commercial organisations "n wor0 e,perience, ma0ing suggestions that ha'e impro'ed a ser'ice or increased efficiency (issertation B any references to commercial applications or rele'ance. =ey words for the application form4.orward thin0er; ris0 ta0er; entrepreneurial; professional; strategic Teamwor0 wor0ing effecti'ely with other people 5,amples of e'idence4 #ny situation where you wor0 alongside others to achie'e an agreed outcome e.g. committees, e'ents organising, music-ma0ing 8bands, choirs etc9, drama, sports !ust about any paidE'oluntary wor0 in'ol'es wor0ing in a team. #cademic group wor0 B see abo'e

) =ey words for the application form4 upporti'e; facilitator;

open-minded; diplomatic; tolerant; reasonable; constructi'e; leadership; influencing; co-ordinating; 6ommitmentEmoti'ation B demonstrating a determination to be successful. 5,amples of e'idence4

F'ercoming difficulties to come to uni'ersity 2sing P(P effecti'ely to impro'e your s0ills B academic s0ills or preparing for a particular career or employment sector would be good e,amples to use. (u0e of 5dinburgh4 :oung 5nterprise4 any competition successes or priGes. 6ampaigningEfundraising Training, or wor0ing on a s0ill, o'er the long term to achie'e an ambition or goal e.g. training from scratch to run a marathon. =ey words for the application form4>eliable; conscientious; proacti'e; initiati'e; fle,ible; adaptable; determined; positi'e Problem sol'ingEcreati'ity B ha'ing a ;can do< attitude by finding solutions to problems. 5,amples of e'idence4 #nticipating problems and resol'ing them through planning e.g. project wor0, planning tra'el o'erseas, >esol'ing financial problems B personal, or fundraising for a club, raising money to fund an acti'ity e.g. to participate in charity wor0 o'erseas. ol'ing problems through negotiation or representation B acting as student rep; resol'ing problems o'er accommodation with landlord or

flatmates; resol'ing disagreements in group wor0

.inding no'el or inno'ati'e solutions to problems e.g. de'ising new methods of fundraising; new ideas for promoting an acti'ity, or encouraging participation in an academic acti'ity; ideas leading to greater efficiency in your wor0place 8paid or 'oluntary9; no'el ways of promoting yourself to find wor0 placements. =ey words for the application form4 #chie'er; practical; astute; open-minded; resilient; imaginati'e; reflecti'e; initiator 6ommunication B ensuring you are understood by writing or spea0ing in a clear and articulate manner.5,amples of e'idence4 Ma0ing presentations; introducing spea0ers or self; reading out loud in class Teaching; training; selling; dealing with the public at wor0; campaigning 6aring or mentoring acti'ities Written B student journalism; producing publicity materials; designing a web-site; projectsEdissertations #cting as a student ambassador =ey words for application forms4Presenter; influencer; articulate; empathetic; persuasi'e; target dri'en; 3eadershipE ta0ing responsibility for others 5,amples of e'idence4 chairing a committee running a campaign

organising an acti'ity B producing a play; coordinating a team; editing a paper

wor0ing with young people B summer camps; runningEorganising a youth acti'ity leading a team B sport1s team captain; teaching or training others e.g. at wor0; teaching musicEartEgym etc =ey words for the application form4Moti'ator; capable; dynamic; asserti'e; approachable; decisi'e; proacti'e; responsibility; Aumeracy B ha'ing the ability to handle e'eryday arithmetic calculations, and being competent in using the numerical concepts necessary for the job you are doing.The 6areers er'ice gi'es you the opportunity to practise an online numeracy test 8plus other psychometric and personality tests9. 7isit www.mmu.ac.u0Ecareers and clic0 on ;.inding a job<, then ;+ow we can help<, and then the psychometric tests lin0. 5,amples; chartsEgraphsEtablesEpercentagesEstatistics you ha'e produced in academic wor0 +andling money, balancing up or handling any numeric data as part of a part-time job. =ey words for the application form4#ccurate; analytical; thorough; methodical; attention to detail; logical; proficient; FrganisedE elf-directed B able to plan and carry out a wor0load efficiently and effecti'ely 5,amples of e'idence4 # holiday, field trip, or independent tra'el, you

organised for yourself or a group.

#n e'ent, such as a fundraiser or social, that you initiated andEorganised yourself. #ny project that in'ol'ed ma0ing, and 0eeping to, a plan, and staying moti'ated, o'er an e,tended period e.g. your dissertation; an action plan for P(P. =ey words for the application form4.orward thin0er; planner; negotiator; uses initiati'e; moti'ated; efficient; punctual; self-starter; elf reliantE6onfident B being positi'e about your abilities and relationships. 5,amples of e'idence; ituations which you ha'e found difficult, but perse'ered and ha'e grown in confidence as a result e.g. ma0ing presentations, networ0ing with strangers; independent tra'el 5,amples where you ha'e persisted and o'ercome a problem e.g. gi'ing up smo0ing F'ercoming a significant set-bac0 e.g. an injury; berea'ement; low e,am grades =ey words for the application form4.ocused; self-belief; resilient; reflecti'e; tenacity; persistence; perse'erance .le,ibleE#daptable B willing to respond positi'ely to changing circumstances 5,amples of e'idence4 #dapting to a new system or wor0ing practice in your job Wor0ing shift patterns and being on call Persuading others to be positi'e in a changing or uncertain situation.

#c0nowledging another person1s particular ability by ta0ing a subordinate role when you are used to being the team leader =ey words for the application form4 Willing; 'ersatile; positi'e; enthusiastic;

"nitiati'eEProacti'e B can spot opportunities and potential problems, and ta0e action to get the best outcome4 Wor0s without constant super'ision.5,amples of e'idence4

etting up a club, society, or business from scratch >aising a matter of concern, or potential concern, at a 6ourse 6ommittee, and persuading staff to ta0e action. .inding people already wor0ing in your chosen job, and networ0ing with them to get ad'ice and information. =ey words for the application form4 elfstarter; proacti'e; focused; self-reliant; problem sol'er; 'ersatile; "nfluence "nterpersonal 0ills B the ability to wor0 for, with and alongside others. 5,amples of e'idence4 !obs that in'ol'e customer relations e.g. telephone sales, receptionE waiting on tablesE bar wor0; student ambassador. #cti'ities that in'ol'e building and maintaining relationships e.g. mentoring, manning a help des0; manning a phone helpline; negotiating or acting as an ad'ocate on behalf of someone else. =ey words for the application forms4>elationship builder;

constructi'e; listener; initiator; mediator; communicator; personable; target dri'en; +ow can " loo0 at de'eloping these s0ills furtherI MM2 .utures # great way for students to get more out of uni'ersity, gain new e,periences and de'elop s0ills and networ0s is to get in'ol'ed in MM2 .utures. +ere, your uni'ersity based e,tra-curricular acti'ities are recognised and rewarded. MM2 .utures has awards at BronGe, il'er and @old, and the s0ills and insights you de'elop as you progress will enhance your employability and job see0ing during and beyond uni'ersity. (etails a'ailable at www.mmu.ac.u0EstudentsEfutures Wor0 >eady "s a course, deli'ered by MM2 6areers J 5mployability er'ice that loo0s at how you apply 0ey employability s0ills in your future graduate andEor placements jobs. The course co'ers the 0ey wor0 based s0ills of Team Wor0, 6ommunication J "nfluencing, Project Management and 3eadership. (etails are a'ailable at www.mmu.ac.u0EcareersEe'ents We hope you ha'e found this guide useful. The 6areers J 5mployability er'ice offer a wide range of different support to help you ma0e a career choice, prepare for your future, impro'e your employability s0ills and find employment. 5,plore our e,tensi'e web-site at www.mmu.ac.u0Ecareers, or ring us on *$K$ ?H& )HL). K