What skills and experience do you have?

Think about the skills and experience you have gained through your academic studies, achievements, extra-curricular activities, gap year experience, interests, personal life, sport, voluntary work and work experience.

The skills listed below are those required by most graduate recruiters and for most graduate professions, together with an indication of the sorts of activities that could provide evidence.

Adaptability: able to fit in rapidly to different situations and work effectively with different people

Computer literacy: demonstrating at least basic computer literacy in basic software packages, ideally with evidence of a qualification

Creativity: thinking up new ideas or solutions to problems whether by ideas or artistic ability

Driving licence: full clean driving licence

Interpersonal skills: ability to get on with other people such as members of staff or customers to work effectively together

Languages: using foreign languages in speech or writing – remember that evidence should show your current level of competence

Leadership: taking responsibility for a group of people and managing their actions

Numeracy: making calculations, doing percentages and interpreting information in tabular format

Perseverance: setting personal goals, planning and working towards that aim and possibly overcoming difficulties in the process

Planning and organising: arranging events or projects or prioritising multiple activities, managing time effectively

Practical skills: technical, artistic, scientific, engineering or specific knowledge

Problem solving: considering a problem, finding, evaluating and implementing a solution

Teamwork: working effectively with a group of people in a formal team or unstructured group – remember that your evidence must show your individual contribution, in addition to explaining the team role

Using initiative: implementing action to overcome problem or take advantage of opportunity

Verbal communication: talking clearly, making presentations, listening and talking effectively

Written communication: producing reports and essays, using appropriate language, good grammar and spelling

Working under pressure: ability to cope with deadlines, multiple tasks, thinking on your feet to handle problems