Transferable Skills Developed On-Campus: Organizational

Many valuable transferable skills can be gained through common on-campus jobs and activities. This series of articles, “Transferable Skills Developed On-Campus” highlights some common positions found on many university campuses (not an exhaustive list of campus positions). Each article will feature a different transferable skill and provide examples of resume phrases that coincide with the campus positions.

ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS

Library worker

• Sorted and reshelved books and media
• Processed faculty and graduate student requests for interlibrary loans
• Labeled, stamped and sorted hundreds of books with 100% accuracy

Food service/catering worker

• Conducted daily inventories of stock, paying close attention to detail so manager knew what to re-order
• Worked closely with fellow staff to make sure catering deliveries arrived on time for all events
• Coordinated staff schedules, including proper timing of breaks for balanced floor coverage

Tutor/educator

• Organized weekly lesson plans for 8 music students
• Coordinated tutoring schedules for 2 college students and 4 high school students
• Facilitated workshops on “Time Management for College Students”

Office worker/desk clerk

• Coordinated large-scale mailings to 60+ student organizations
• Re-arranged shared work space to improve student workers’ access to different office equipment and materials
• Suggested and implemented new cataloging system for Sociology department’s books, magazines and media

Residence advisor

• Organized 6 in-service events covering wide range of educational and social topics, including “Managing Exam Stress,” “Connecting Face to Face with Your Facebook Community,” and “Athlete Meet Artist”
• Helped coordinate resident’s involvement in Habitat for Humanity build, including publicizing activity, reserving transportation, and arranging dining plans
• Documented and reported housekeeping and maintenance requirements

Research/lab assistant

• Planned extensive data collection schedule, including participant interviews, securing recording equipment, and reserving venues
• Performed data entry and analysis of 50 item survey completed by 350 participants
• Maintained laboratory including, ensuring all reagents are properly stored, supplies are replenished, chemical waste and non-hazardous waste are properly collected and discarded

IT help desk/computer lab assistant

• Assisted over 150 first year students set up personal computers and establish network connections during Welcome Week
• Helped IT department upgrade computers (both pc and Mac) in 3 labs
• Maintained lab printers, including managing computer printouts and restocking paper supplies

Greek or student organization officer

• Implemented campus-wide marketing campaign resulting in 34% increase in pledges
• Coordinated all organization trips, including reserving transportation, submitting travel waivers, and collecting fees
• Organized “Denim Drive,” successfully collecting 2000+ pairs of jeans to raise money for local domestic abuse shelter

Campus newspaper/magazine worker

• Collected, sorted and labeled 200+ photos for magazine’s annual photo contest
• Edited and published weekly college newspaper
• Scheduled interviews regularly with students, administrators, faculty, alumni and community members

Admissions staff worker

• Entered confidential applicant information and inquiries into electronic database; sorted paper files
• Organized weekly mass mailings to prospective and admitted students
• Developed and implemented calling schedule for student workers

Keep in mind that the phrases above are just examples. Revise, edit and tailor the phrases as your needs require.
The next article will highlight DIVERSITY/CULTURAL AWARENESS skills.