The Ramez G. Chagoury Faculty of Architecture, Arts, and Design (FAAD) at Notre Dame University-Louaize’s (NDU) North Lebanon Campus (NLC) organized a communication skills workshop titled, “Empowering NDU Graduates: A Pathway to Strategic Interviewing and Personal Growth.” Presented by Dr. Gilbert Mouawad, a Ph.D. holder in Music, founder of École d’Art et de Musique, and an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience, the workshop aimed to bolster the academic and professional development of all NDU students, transcending beyond the FAAD. Present at the event was FAAD Interim Dean, Dr. Karen BouJaoude, Coordinator of the FAAD at the NLC, Ms. Tamara Ibrahim Saad, Chairperson of the Department of Architecture, Dr. Hani Zgheib, Chairperson of the Department of Design, Mr. Salim Akl, and Chairperson of the Department of Music, Ms. Dolcy Lawoun.
The workshop was divided into seven topics, the first titled, “Crafting Impressive Résumés and Cover Letters,” tackling creating tailored, concise CVs that highlighted relevant skills and achievements. Moreover, participants were provided with templates to learn the essentials of a Cover Letter, ensuring they used compelling language that targeted their desired job position. Topic 2 then moved to the job application process, introducing online job portals and how to navigate them; specifically, online job hunting entails using the correct search filters and alerts, in addition to being on the lookout for and participating in networking opportunities.
Topic 3 covered essential tools when being interviewed by a potential employer. The session included practicing common interview questions and their appropriate responses, emphasizing the importance of researching a company’s values, culture, and vision beforehand in order to demonstrate one’s suitability for the job position. In a similar vein, the fourth topic focused on enhancing communication skills, particularly professional communication and active listening in both interviews, in-office interactions, and digital means of communication.
As job hunting has largely become digitized, the students were instructed in Topic 5 to build a strong online presence via LinkedIn, optimizing their profiles and personal branding to display an appropriate image that highlights their experience and skills to attract potential employers. Since companies often expect their employees to deliver quality work and to excel in their roles, Topic 6 covered continuous learning to encourage personal skill development and adaptability via online courses and other certifications to stay ahead of an ever-evolving job market.
Finally, Topic 7, the foundation of all previous points of discussion, involved confidence building in the participants, motivating them not only to recognize their strengths and achievements, but also to capitalize on them wherever possible. Moreover, as the job market is competitive, the students were reassured that rejections were not necessarily a reflection of their lack of qualifications; turning rejections into opportunities for growth, not being disheartened is key in developing one’s career and resilience.
The workshop proved valuable, resonating well with students who expressed a desire for more sessions that would further benefit them. This positive response underscores the need for ongoing initiatives to meet the evolving educational needs of our students and their aspirations beyond graduation.