Are you ready to communicate your professional and academic skills to employers? Do you need to quickly update your cover letter, resume, or career portfolio to send to professional contacts in your field? SkillsFirst is Career Planning and Development’s new, signature career management tool, and it can help you save time and effort in creating your documents!
The following FAQs can help you get started:
How do I access SkillsFirst?
The SkillsFirst system is available to all Walden students and alumni.
If you are a Walden student, use your Walden email and password to log in to SkillsFirst directly or log in from the Career Planning and Development website.
If you are a Walden graduate who no longer has access to your Walden credentials, reach out to the Career Planning and Development team at careerservices@mail.waldenu.edu, and we will send you a special Alumni Access code to use the system.
What can SkillsFirst offer me?
SkillsFirst has over 500+ resume samples, cover letter templates, a portfolio builder tool, over 12,000+ interview questions to prepare for interviews, and much more! The system also includes 60+ custom samples that were developed with academic leaders across the university for specific Walden programs. You can preview these samples on the Custom Samples page.
When you are ready to dive in, follow these step-by-step guides to help you navigate the SkillsFirst system:
- SkillsFirst Resume and Letter Guide
- SkillsFirst Portfolio Guide
- SkillsFirst Interview Questions Guide
If you are exploring career options, take the O*Net Interest Profiler self-assessment in SkillsFirst to identify potential occupations that align with your interests. Read the blog article, Career Exploration Using O*Net, to learn more about the benefits of O*Net.
Other SkillsFirst tools include examples of sought-after skills and competencies, a Pitch Builder to practice your introduction or elevator pitch, and short career videos focusing on the job search process.
Where can I find additional resources?
Career Planning and Development’s Resumes & More tab has additional resume and letter writing tips, examples, outlines, action verbs, and short videos to build quality application materials that are tailored toward your job target. The Interviews tab also includes advice on interviewing best practices and etiquette to help you bring your best self forward.
SkillsFirst is an important tool to use as you move through your Walden program and after graduation. Consider the academic knowledge and skills you are gaining or have gained in your program; it is never too early (or too late) to showcase them, along with your professional experience, leadership roles, recognitions, community activities, and much more! Let others know about what you are learning and how you are growing or have grown academically and professionally through your Walden experience. Take the first step today by signing in to SkillsFirst.
If you need additional support, schedule a career advising appointment to receive feedback on your SkillsFirst documents or products.
Written by Dina Bergren, Associate Director, Department of Career Planning and Development
Do you have a career success story to share with other Walden students and graduates? Submit an article to the Career Planning and Development blog