EVIDENCE OF SKILLS

• Academic studies
• Achievements
• Extra-curricular activities
• Gap year experience
• Interests
• Personal life
• Sport
• Voluntary work
• Work experience

• Academic studies may have provided you with specific subject knowledge for use in your profession, useful background knowledge or skills that will be transferable to the working world.
  Examples: evaluating complex data, research from varied sources, written and verbal communication, legal knowledge
  See also section on Work experience
   

• Achievements could include things such as gaining sporting or academic success, but could be purely personal to you.
  Examples: overcoming poor exam results, coping with health problems or disability, fighting fear of water in learning to swim, persevering to learn to play violin and achieving Grade 8 certificate
  See also section on Personal life

• Extra-curricular activities undertaken while you were a student will provide you with evidence of skills.Examples: organising fashion show with friends to raise funds for charity (organisation, teamwork, using initiative, adaptability), course representative on course staff / student committee (verbal communication, negotiation, problem solving), Treasurer of Debating Society (numeracy, taking responsibility)
  See also sections on Interests, Sport and Voluntary Work

• Gap year experience can provide skills through travelling, work experience or doing community work.
  Examples: independence, detailed planning, financing trip on tight budget, knowledge of other cultures and countries and improved language ability, broader work experience
  See also sections on Voluntary work and Work experience

• Interests are important in revealing the real you, because you choose to do them. Try to show a balance of activities and check that they match the requirements of the occupation.
  Examples: learning languages from tapes (persevering, setting goals, but solitary), rebuilding old VW Beetle (practical, organisation, problem solving), managing front of house for amateur theatrical group (organisation, teamwork, interpersonal skills)
  See also section on Extra-curricular activities, Sport and Voluntary work

• Personal life may provide you with evidence of skills, but don't raise an issue that you are not prepared to talk about at interview.
  Examples: running a student house, organising the cleaning rota and payment of bills (organising, problem solving), managing a home and family and working part-time (organising, time management), handling family difficulties (problem solving, working under pressure)
  See also section on Achievements

• Sport whether played competitively, for fitness, enjoyment or the social aspects, you gain skills.
  Examples: playing football in Sunday league, organising team fixtures and travel arrangements (teamwork, organising, verbal communication), going to gym regularly to maintain personal fitness (perseverance), Captain of departmental hockey team (teamwork, motivating people, interpersonal skills)
  See also sections on Achievements, Gap year experience and Interests

• Voluntary work can provide valuable work experience and evidence for skills.
  Examples: member of Red Cross, offering first aid at events (teamwork, working under pressure, practical skills), visiting elderly lady weekly, doing shopping and helping with payment of bills (interpersonal skills, listening, problem solving), holding fund-raising events for cancer charity (organisation, numeracy, adaptability)
  See also sections on Interests and Work experience

• Work experience includes part-time work during your studies, vacation jobs, gap year work or self-employment and may be paid or voluntary.
  Examples: bar work (interpersonal skills, teamwork, planning, problem solving), office administration (computer literacy, interpersonal skills, planning, adaptability), packing lettuces (planning, teamwork, stamina), work-shadowing teacher (insight into work involved), playing guitar in band (teamwork, attention to detail, small business experience)
  See also section on Interests and Voluntary work