Certify cards

Problem solving

Creativity

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”

Albert Einstein

Creativity is one of the competences essential to problem solving. Rules, guidelines and best practice manuals are helpful and can get you a result but they are not always available. Furthermore, in order to achieve extraordinary results, everyone needs to sometimes think “outside the box”. Demonstrate your problem-solving skills by answering the questions below 👇

What problem-solving event are you most proud of? Why and what happened?
How do you ensure that after having dealt with problems they do not repeat? Have you developed a method/technique to solve similar problems?
Tell us about a situation where you used creative thinking to eliminate frustration with a product/situation or a process.
Describe a situation where you had to think “outside the box” and how did you go about it?

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Willingness to learn and teach

Collaboration

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Dr. Seuss

In order to stay relevant in our fast-paced world we must be willing to keep on learning and improving which, as a result, can enhance our ability to collaborate effectively. Here’s a couple of questions that you might consider answering in your video CV to demonstrate your teaching and learning skills:

Are you actively seeking to improve your skills and knowledge? Then apply it in the workplace? (give an example)
Do you use online learning platforms (Coursera, Futurelearn…) to hone your skills? Have you earned any certificates?
What do you do if you're stuck on assignments/tasks? Do you ask for your collegues' help?
If you see that your colleague is struggling with an assignment and you knew exactly how to do it, would you teach them how to achieve desired results or would you more often just offer to do it for them? (please give examples)
How do your teaching and learning skills help you collaborate with others?

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Don’t have professional equipment to film your video?

Execution

“I don't get tripped up in technology. I use technology as a tool.”

Spike Lee

Even if you do not own a camera and professional editing software, there’s plenty of resources that you consider. Here’s a couple of suggestions:

Visit your local library, Community center, youth center or contact NGOs that help people find employment
You can always rent or borrow equipment
Create a video using alternatives (ppt, online open-source tools, Blender, Google slides, iMovie ...)
Remember you do not have to use professional cameras to create a video, you can always record your video with your phone, tablet or your laptop.

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Self-motivation

Self-management

“You can have all the tools in the world but if you don't genuinely believe in yourself, it's useless.”

Ken Jeong

The ability to stay motivated, even if something goes wrong, is an important and sought-after skill. Here’s a couple of examples that might help you demonstrate this ability:

How do you stay motivated? What inspires you to keep going?
Do you set yourself SMART goals?
Do you practice positive self-talk?
Do you try to surround yourself with positive people?
How do you reward yourself?

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Empathy

Self-management

“The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound purpose larger than the self kind of understanding.”

Plato

Claire Cain Miller from The New York Times draws attention to recent research which shows "that empathy makes people better managers and workers, and better family members and friends. But it’s bigger than just its personal effect. We’re all in this together, and researchers say that connection and compassion are crucial to a sustainable and humane future. ". The ability to understand and share the feelings of another is a sought-after skill in all work environments. How do you cultivate empathy? How can you show your prospective employer? Here’s a couple of prompts that might help you get started:

Would you consider yourself empathetic?
Do you find it easy to understand other people’s feelings, emotions and problems?
Do you actively seek to develop empathy? How?(volunteering, reading books …)

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Filming

Execution

“Before you say ‘cut,’ wait five more seconds.”

Wim Wenders

Filming Checklist: audio

Film in a quiet place in order to avoid background noise and interruptions.
Make sure that you’re not talking too fast and that you’re making pauses after each sentence/section.
If you can, use an external microphone

Filming Checklist: video

Film in a bright room.
Avoid filming outdoors.
Put the camera between the source of light and the subject.
Place your subject in the center of the frame, looking directly into the camera, with the eyes on approximately ⅔ of the height of the image.
Leave a little bit of headroom above the top of the head but not too much.
Avoid cluttered backgrounds.
Place your camera at the eye level of the subject.
Use a tripod, or mount the camera to something stable.
Do NOT use the zoom of your mobile phone
Adjust resolution settings of your camera and record in Full HD (1080p)
Sit 0,6-1m away from the camera

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Multitasking

Self-management

“I like to juggle with one ball at a time. Then I put the ball down and do nothing for extended periods of time.”

Rowan Atkinson

Chances are that you will have to work on different projects simultaneously. If you’re able to effectively manage multiple assignments and ensure that all of them get the attention they deserve, you should consider mentioning this skill in your video CV. You could answer questions such as:

Are you able to prioritise? How?
How do you simultaneously work on different projects?
How do you adjust project schedules to maximize productivity?

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Getting out of your comfort zone

Flexibility

“Comfort can be dangerous. Comfort provides a floor but also a ceiling.”

Trevor Noah

Most people are nervous about getting out of their comfort zone but that’s probably one of the best ways to learn and improve. You could show your potential employer how you do it and handle situations in which stepping out of your comfort zone is necessary. Here’s a couple of things you might cover when describing how you get out of your comfort zone:

List 5 things that push you out of your comfort zone. When did you experience these?
Do you actively seek new ways and opportunities that would get you out of your comfort zone?

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