Communication Skills
A candidate that has good communication skills is essential to employers and graduate schools. Good communication is not just about writing or speaking well. It includes presenting your ideas in an organized and concise manner. It also includes how persuasive, enthusiastic, and engaging you can be. Communication skills involve active listening as well. You could have picked up communication skills through giving lectures or presentations, writing letters or proposals, being a member of a debate team, tutoring a student, and more.
Transferable skill/Core competencies: Speaking to capture attention; Teaching or training
Persuading or debating; Working in a team; Making presentations; Thinking on one's feet; Providing appropriate feedback; Facilitating discussion; Perceiving non-verbal messages
Written Communication
The ability to develop your ideas in writing is important for most jobs and all graduate programs. Communicating through writing is vastly different than communicating in person, therefore writing must be clear, and concise at the very least. Written communication allows for more fluent and graceful use of language which is a highly sought-after skill.
Transferable skill/Core competencies: Writing for appropriate audience; Using graceful language; Writing with fluency and clarity; Incorporating original metaphors; Utilizing appropriate style; Utilizing reliable sources; Editing; Proof-reading
Organization
Employers and graduate schools want to know that you can focus, prioritize work, and finish tasks on time. The more organized you can be, the more efficient you are at the work you do. Organization skills can be picked up in several ways; planning events, stocking and organizing products, or creating schedules, to name a few.
Transferable skill/Core competencies: Meeting deadlines; Multi-tasking; Coordinating tasks; Setting priorities; Setting and keeping schedules
Quantitative Literacy
Some professions demand a high level of data analysis. While others may not be data heavy, it is still important to be well versed in analyzing data. It is also helpful to be able to take information and arrange it into various graphs or charts. Utilizing this skill can help your boss, co-workers, or professors easily access information visually.
Transferable skill/Core competencies: Explaining mathematical data/charts; Converting information into charts or mathematical forms; Producing accurate and comprehensive calculations; Making judgments based on quantitative analysis of data
Problem Solving/Analytical skills
The ability to solve problems efficiently is a key skill in the workplace. Clients often have problems to solve and many companies gain revenue in solving these problems. Graduate schools also want to see you can tackle problems and provide creative solutions. You may have gained this skill in group projects, service industry jobs, or even in your own home.
Transferable skill/Core competencies: Utilizing cause and effect reasoning; Calculating and comparing; Anticipating problems before they occur; Developing plans; Selecting most appropriate solutions to resolve problems; Decision making; Forming independent conclusions; Testing possible solutions; Comprehending large amounts of data
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves researching, analyzing, and looking at different viewpoints before drawing a formal opinion or conclusion. It can be something as simple as checking the sources of an article or as complex as formulating and testing a hypothesis.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Explaining issues; Critically examining/exploring problems; Questioning various viewpoints on one issue; Stating position on an issue; Acknowledging limits and complexities of viewpoint
Creative Thinking
Creative thinking involves curiosity and innovation. Many people believe creativity mostly relates to art, but creative thinking also involves assessing problems and finding fresh and innovative strategies to solve those problems. Graduate programs are looking for students with new, exciting ideas and a unique outlook on the future.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Considering alternative directions or methods; Embracing contradictions; Exploring controversial topics; Working outside the boundaries of an assignment or project; Utilizing unique or novel ideas; Organizing in a visually appealing way
Flexibility
It is important now more than ever to be flexible. New technologies are making it possible to work on multiple projects and tasks at once. However, technologies can fail, and projects can become complicated. Employers want to know you can handle change and make appropriate adaptations.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Adapting to change; Open-minded to new ideas; Facilitating change to new rules/environments
Initiative/Self-Starting
Often there will not be a supervisor constantly telling you what your next task should be. Employers value someone that recognizes a task that needs done and begins working on it. Professors also value students that bring new ideas to a class and can implement those ideas on their own.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Anticipating problems; Brainstorming new ideas; Improvising; Anticipating consequences of actions; Creating ideas; Anticipating needs of others
Leadership
Leadership skills are also highly sought after. Being a good leader demonstrates an ability to work with people, accomplish goals, and critical thinking. When speaking about your role as a leader, focus on what your team accomplished under your leadership. You could have picked up leadership skills in a campus club, sports team, internship, or group project.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Motivating colleagues; Delegating tasks; Receptiveness to new ideas; Teaching
Setting priorities; Resolving conflicts; Assuming responsibility; Facilitating discussion
Teamwork
Teamwork is invaluable in the workplace and graduate school. Employers want to know they can rely on you to work with people in achieving a common goal. You should be able to communicate your role within a group, as well as how you helped to achieve set goals. This skill appears in many experiences such as volunteer work, student organizations, sports teams, performances, projects and more.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Listening and offering opinions; Working to attain goals; Sharing responsibilities; Willingness to accomplish delegated tasks; Working with others; Assisting team members; Ability to lead when appropriate; Ability to support when appropriate
Human Relations
The ability to form good relationships with people is valuable in all aspects of your life; however, it is a key ability in the workplace. Having good human relations means you can influence people in positive ways, recover gracefully from setbacks, and promote harmony and efficiency in your work environment.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Creating positive, hospitable environment; Utilizing appropriate humor; Communicating with diverse groups; Expressing feelings appropriately; Listening and being empathetic
Ethical Reasoning
While it is not appropriate to speak at length about your ethical views in the office, employers want to know that their employees have good ethics. Professors in graduate programs may instigate an ethical discussion. It is helpful to know how to solve problems but solving problems unethically will not help your company nor will it help fellow classmates. Ethical reasoning helps facilitate empathy, self-awareness, and fair solutions.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Analysis of core beliefs; Analysis of origin of beliefs; Understanding of other ethical perspectives; Recognition of complex, multi-layered ethical issues; Consideration of implications applying ethical solutions
Local Community Skills
Caring about your local community shows employers and graduate schools that you can work toward goals that benefit everyone. It also illustrates that you can consider other opinions and work well with people. Good community skills will benefit you in many aspects of your life.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Considering your role in the community; Assisting others in the local community;
Connecting learning to the local community; Generating ideas that benefit the community;
Listening and adapting to others’ ideas
Global Connections
More and more domestic companies are becoming global entities. Now more than ever it is important to be well informed on global issues and have the skills to work with diverse clientele or coworkers. You can pick up global learning skills in foreign language classes, study abroad programs, and much more.
Transferable skill/Core competencies:
Assessing cultural differences and similarities; Understanding local global cause and effect;
Connecting or extending experiences to different cultures or countries; Utilizing diverse perspectives; Adapting to new world views; Using problem solving skills for global issues;
Addressing social, economic, or ethical world issues