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Oh The Places �You’ll Go

SCA DOSSIERS TO MODERN RESUMES

WRITTEN AND PRESENTED BY BARONESS ANA DE LA SARA

Graphic by

Logia Merch

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Part 1: Creation of an SCA Dossier

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What is a dossier? Why is it important?

An SCA dossier is a self made document, created to serve a similar function within the Society as a Resume/CV does in the modern world.

This document allows you to keep track of your volunteered time and activities,

It allows Branch officers, Kingdom Officers, Royalty and others to see what you have done (often behind the scenes)

This can assist if you would like to apply for positions such as Baron or Baroness, Seneschal, Exchequer or even a position on or reporting to the BOD.

This can also be VERY important tool if you are working towards a peerage. (In An Tir particularly we have a very large Kingdom geographically and this aides Peers and Counsels to know you from afar if needed.)

Lastly- this can be a great tool and reference for you to use to pump up your Modern Resume

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Your SCA Name: You may choose whether to include any titles if you’d like

A photo of you: Preferably in garb.

This is important particularly if you would like to make this document available to your Peer or Peer counsels.

Your Location: What branch are you from?

Your Contact Info: How can someone find you with questions? (I would highly recommend you also include any blogs or websites to which you post SCA related content)

Your Fealty: To whom are you sworn? Who represents you? Full titles here are courteous

Areas of Focus: You may choose whether to include this section, I find it helps people to know what I’m about

Offices You’ve held: This section is the most likely to change as your time in the Society goes on.

** Please make a note of what YOU did in this office. I’ve found that many have a general idea of what each officer does, but often the scopes of work are much larger..

NOTE: This is one example of format and contents, if you find that you need more or less or prefer other formats, please experiment with what you (and your Peer) like best.

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Your Arms: This is in no way required, but it does represent you and shows your commitment to the society, its an additional representation of you.

Your Experience: These are further titles and dates of service, I started by listing my event stewarding experience in chronological order, and then listed the other positions I’ve held, that are not officer ships.

Projects, Publications: The heading here says most of what you’ll need. If you have papers/blogs/articles published somewhere, I recommend you list links here so they can be followed to that work. If you head up a special project for the Society that isn’t encompassed in an office or other experience already listed, at least list a brief title and estimated hours volunteered.

Teaching: List all classes you’ve taught. A brief description if not evident and dates.

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FAQs

  • Do I include all service from Shire/Kingdom or corporate?
      • I would say yes! Just make sure your experience is laid out in an easy to read fashion.
  • Does this look different for a Pelican/apprentice vs a Laurel/Protégé?
      • I would say definitely yes, as the emphasis and bodies of work will vary dramatically. And remember, the format should be clean and succinct but can otherwise be whatever arrangement best suites you and your work.
  • Is there a recommended page limit for this document?
      • My hope is that these are living documents, they are edited and updated as your life in the SCA develops and goes on. In that case, again, if well organized, the page count shouldn’t matter.
  • Should I make this viewable by the Public?
      • At the very least, I would say, publish it to a google drive or something similar from where you can share it to specific people. Or, if you're comfortable with the idea, you can put it on your SCA Kingdom’s wiki or household pages, etc.
  • What other questions do you have?

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Part 2: Translation of an SCA Dossier to Modern Resume

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How could my SCA experience help with my Resume?

The pendulum on modern resumes length has once again swung back to over a page- assuming the information given is pertinent and easy to read

The SCA is an *International Non-Profit Educational Organization* and when you volunteer, you’re working for them!

*Many* of our jobs within the society can be translated to real world skills and qualifications (more to come on this)

Volunteer listings on your resume not only make you philanthropic, they can fill in critical skill gaps from modern employment limitations.

You can also use your SCA peers and co-officers as references for the sake of a job interview. Often you’ve known them longer than modern co-workers.

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Web minister for Barony Maintaining 2 kingdom and 1 household page.

Kingdom Event Coordinator. Editor of Baronial Customary.

Head of Baronial Retinue

Baroness, Deputy seneschal, Teacher, Kingdom Officer

Event Steward

Web minister, Event Steward and Kingdom Event Deputy

Retinue!

Baroness

Let‘s play a quick game:

Based on this description- what job do you think corresponds in the SCA?

Baronial and Royal Scribe Deputy

Basically any officer in the SCA!

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Every Job/Officer in the SCA has a real world application

So let’s talk vocabulary…

It’s pretty obvious that telling someone outside the society that you are a branch Exchequer, doesn’t really mean much to them, so now- we translate to business lingo.

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  • Served for 2 years as a financial officer for a regional branch of an International Education Non-Profit Organization.
  • - Maintained master ledger, processing credits and debits, receipt reconciliation and accurate record filings.
  • BAM- Exchequer is now SO much more pertinent to a career in finance.

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So what other lingo translation magic can we get up to?

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SCA= International, 501C3, Educational Organization

Kingdom= Regional Branch

Barony, Shire or College = Local Branch

Kingdom Seneschal = Regional branch president/Legal representative

Baronial/Shire Seneschal = Local branch President/Legal Representative

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King/Queen/Prince/Princess- Regional Head or VP of Regional Branch, Meeting facilitator, managing staff of up to x# individuals, public speaker, inspiration

Baron/Baroness-

Ceremonial head or VP of Local branch, talent recruitment, meeting facilitator, Managing staff of up to x# individuals

Peerage-

Lifetime achievement award, Subject Matter Experts, Mentor, Trainer, Meeting Facilitator, Leadership development, Diversity Development, Talent recruitment

Event Steward-

Project Manager, Maintains staff of X# individuals, balances budget for large meetings/events

Scribe-

Awards and recognitions Manager/Developer, Maintains ceremonies, scripts, budget and workforce (other scribes painting?)

Sergeants-

Subject Matter Experts, Leadership council, personal assistants to regional heads

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Champion-

Community outreach, Regional SME, Point of contact in area of expertise

Herald-

Regional managing director of research and protocol, public speaking/relations, Ceremony and award scripts, etc.

Exchequer-

Accounting, Bookkeeping, CFO with reporting responsibilities, Signatory on regional/local accounts

Web Minister- Database/Systems Admin, Resource specialist, Communications specialist, Web Management (List your tools!– WordPress, Dreamweaver, etc.)

Marshall-

SME’s, safety officer, mentor, trainer, coach, class/demo coordinator, Equipment Maintenance

Minister of A&S-

Regional Education/demo coordinator, event coordinator, teacher, judicial management

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Chronicler/Librarian-

Regional keeper of records, communications specialist, archivist, historian, Editor in Chief (record publications, hours spent, etc.)

Chatelain-

Community point of contact, Recruitment specialist, community outreach, regional membership retention

Head of Retinue-

Personal assistant to regional president, calendaring, logistics, inter-regional correspondence, travel arrangements, etc.

Gentle in Waiting/Guard

Temporary personal assistant to regional head.

Court Coordinator-

Awards and recognitions Manager, Maintains scripts, budget and workforce, logistics of regional ceremonies, oversaw x# if staff

Chamberlain-

Physical asset management, storage and maintenance. Travel coordination and logistics. Maintains x# of staff. And manages budget/catalogs items

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Can you think of any others?

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Closing Reminders:

Modern hiring managers like clear, concise details.

Bullet points are a great tool to achieve this.

Use your good work to get the job you want!

You can tailor your volunteer experience to highlight your capabilities without having “prior experience” professionally

NUMBERS

Use them to your benefit:

How many people did you manage?

How many hours did you spend?

What budget did you manage?

If you can’t come up with a good description on your own, send me a message or ask a friend.

Whisket14@gmail.com

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Thank you for your time!

I hope you enjoyed our time together, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or wish to use this presentation in your area.

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I wish you happiness and success,

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Baroness Ana de la Sara,

Dragon’s Mist, An Tir

“Use your superpowers for Awesome!”

- Baroness Svava in Litla