All the stories you’ve heard about university are true. Between classes, joining clubs, cheering on sports teams, working on-campus jobs, field placements and making lifelong friends along the way, you’re in for a busy time. And all those opportunities to “get involved” will rack up to a long list of transferable skills and leadership experience your future employers are definitely going to want to hear about. But how will you keep track of it all?
This is where the ³Ô¹ÏÍø Experience Record, or LER, comes in. The first of its kind in Canada, the LER is your online comprehensive record of everything you’ve learned and done at ³Ô¹ÏÍø, both in and outside the classroom It allows you to easily keep track of and reflect on your involvement and how much time you put into each commitment. It can include:
Think of it as a one-of-a-kind university life resume, that gives you the ultimate, inspiring edge when launching your career.
“I’m seeing students who have 25, 30 or even 35 entries on their Experience Record,” says Katherine St. Louis, associate director of resources and operations – experiential learning and career development. “That’s a lot to keep track of, so the LER is a nice way to have this record of all they did while they were here.”
Be interview-ready. With so much on the go, it can be hard to remember all the things you’ve accomplished and been involved in over the years. Pull up your LER when prepping for a job interview and remind yourself (and your interviewer) why you’re perfect for the position.
Sync or share with a click of a button. Sync to your professional LinkedIn profile and tell the world what you’ve been up to with one simple click. Or include the link on your cover letters or personal bio.
Graduate with verified skills. Planning to apply to med school, law school or a Master’s degree? With your LER, all of your experiences are verified before being added to your official record, so no need to pin down professors, employers or staff members to vouch for you. When the time comes, take a quick glance at your LER to remind yourself of potential references you can reach out to for that final stage of hiring.
Build lifelong skills. Co-curricular activities require you to reflect on and write about the experience and what you’ve learned. Over time that process gives you the skills to articulate your strengths and feel more confident in what you’ve learned, led and been inspired by.
“There are so many ah-ha moments,” says St. Louis. “Students open their ³Ô¹ÏÍø Experience Record and just say, “Wow, I’ve done a lot of things.’ It’s really nice to have this whole record of everything.”
With so many different opportunities available, it can be overwhelming to choose which path to take. But rest assured, no matter what you choose, we’ll make it easy to track and reflect on each opportunity that comes your way (and how they can help you score your dream job post-grad). As you plan for first year, check out our experience catalogue and experience guides to get an idea of how you can customize your own university experience. We can’t wait to see what you decide!
