What skills should I develop?

Oral communication:

  • Presenting ideas and information clearly, concisely and convincingly to another person or group.

Written communication:

  • Presenting information clearly and concisely.
  • Presenting information in a logical sequence.
  • Ability to combine scientific rigour with a fluent style.
  • Ability to correctly reference scientific work.
  • Using technology and software for effective presentation.

Organisation and planning:

  • Setting objectives and priorities.
  • Optimising time and making effective use of resources.
  • Planning, setting milestones and meeting deadlines.

Gathering information:

  • Knowing what resources are available, and how to use them.
  • Evaluating sources of information critically.
  • Reading flexibly and with purpose.
  • Extracting key points from text and other media.

Teamwork skills:

  • Working effectively as part of a team.
  • Relating easily to a wide range of people.
  • Giving and receiving feedback or criticism in a positive and constructive manner.
  • Playing a leadership role, where appropriate.

Initiative and resourcefulness:

  • Initiating action.
  • Seeking out opportunities.
  • Taking decisions and accepting responsibility.
  • Creative thinking.
  • Responding positively to difficulties.

Critical thinking:

  • Assimilating information from a number of sources.
  • Identifying relevant and irrelevant information.
  • Presenting a critical analysis of the situation.
  • Spotting muddled or misleading arguments.

Self and peer evaluation:

  • Identifying your own strengths and weaknesses.
  • Evaluating work against given criteria.
  • Spotting mistakes and logical weaknesses.

Personal and interpersonal skills:

  • Playing a full part in activities.
  • Having confidence in your own abilities and judgements.
  • Being able to state your position and defend it.
  • Being sensitive to the ideas, attitudes and feelings of others.

Computing and IT:

  • Effective use of word processing, graphics, spreadsheets, databases and other software packages.
  • Programming.
  • Use of internet and email.

Problem solving:

  • Understanding problems and breaking them down into parts.
  • Making approximations.
  • Applying relevant physics and maths.
  • Checking solutions.
  • Coping with unfamiliar settings.

Business and enterprise:

  • Generating ideas.
  • Promoting yourself and your ideas.
  • Finance, accounting and business plans.
  • Legal issues and intellectual property.