The graduate skill set
This is a chance to stop and reflect on your skills and any gaps you may need to fill.
Use this to consider what your course has given you in education, your work (paid or not), and what you have done as a course rep or within societies in experience.
The skills listed are the top skills graduate schemes talk about needing, but individual jobs will look for specific combinations of skills. You can research these using Prospects Job profiles: https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles
Motivation
What is it?
This is why you are applying, the reason you want this job and want to work for this company. It can be phrased in many ways but indicates what is ‘driving’ you and the ‘why’ and the ‘what’ you want from a career.
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Commercial Awareness:
What is it?
What do you know about the sector or company you want to work in? What do they do that interests you? What issues do they and their clients face? Are you aware of news stories?
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Communication:
What is it?
Here, this is broken down into separate types of communication. Think about how you write, listen, summarise, and present.
Verbal:
How do you communicate at meetings? Speaking to clients and colleagues.
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Written:
How do you write reports? Blog posts etc
-
Education
-
Work-based
-
Experience/knowledge
Listening Skills:
Communication is not just what you say but how you listen to others so that you know what they want
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Presentation Skills:
How do you engage your audience? What media do you use? PowerPoint, Prezi or Flip chart paper?
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Ability to Summarise:
It is vital to get to the heart of issues. Can you break down the key points from a report? Can you give feedback on what a client has asked?
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Ability to Question:
Can you get more information from people? Clarify understanding and avoid confusion. Can you do this in a pleasant, professional manner that gets you the information without being blunt?
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Teamwork
What is it?
How do you work in a team? What do you do? How do you draw others in?
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Persuasion
What is it?
How do you encourage others to do what you need? How do you explain?
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Negotiation
What is it?
Linked to persuasion and communication. Are you able to set out your arguments, offer a compromise, and get others to agree, too?
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Leadership (potential)
What is it?
Can you step in and take control of situations, motivate people, make decisions
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Organisation
What is it?
Plan what needs to be done, including coping when things don’t go to plan. If things do go wrong, are you able to research alternative options? Planning realistic timings for getting work done.
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Resilience
What is it?
Life throws a lot at us – demonstrate how you learn from experiences. Not being held back but keeping going and learning from the experience
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Self Belief and Awareness
What is it?
Know what you are good at and the areas you need to work on. This means being realistic about your strengths and weaknesses (or development gaps). Think about how you can develop and grow both personally and professionally. Nobody is, or can be, perfect. Strive to be as good as you can be but know you can always develop further.
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Diversity Awareness
What is it?
Understanding the benefits of a diverse society and workforce. Using non-discriminatory language. Being aware of difference and different needs how it contributes to a company’s efficiency and creates a competitive advantage.
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Intercultural Awareness
What is it?
Understanding the benefits of cultural knowledge, understanding, and being comfortable with cultural differences. Warwick is culturally diverse, with one-third of its students being international.
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Language Skills
What is it?
Speaking a language (and the level, e.g., beginner, fluent, etc.)
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Programming
What is it?
Languages in which you can code
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Technical Skills
What is it?
Packages you can use or practical use of your degree knowledge
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Social Media Awareness
What is it?
Use of LinkedIn, Twitter, etc, for promotion of a project
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge
Critical Thinking Skills
What is it?
Ability to take in and analyse information, data, and use resources to make better decisions
- Education
- Work-based
- Experience/knowledge