York Strengths Professional skills

Source: https://www.york.ac.uk/students/work-volunteering-careers/skills/employability-skills/ Parent: https://www.york.ac.uk/study/international/counsellor-hub/

‘Professional skills’, ‘transferable skills’, ‘soft skills’, ‘employability skills’. These are terms you have likely come across before, as they are the skills that many employers look for when recruiting, so you will often find them in job descriptions.

Everything you do at university contributes to your development. You'll develop a wide range of different skills through your academic programme and wider student life, and have access to a range of activities and learning. Find out more through the University of York Skills Hub.

The York Strengths Professional Skills Framework provides a helpful introduction to some of the key professional skills that employers are looking for, as well as an opportunity to reflect on how you can use and develop these professional skills during your time at university and beyond.

Our Skills Development Programmes

• Want to explore these professional skills further and reflect on how you use them in practice and complete a personalised skills and strengths assessment? Our York Strengths Professional Skills Discovery provides a great opportunity to recognise and develop your professional skills*
• Capture Your Journey and Get Recognition - Discover York Award! Find out how you can get recognition for your personal and professional development journey with York Award.

*This link will take you to Blackboard VLE. If you are a distance learner, York Online student, research student or member of staff please email york-strengths@york.ac.uk to request access.

What is the York Strengths Professional Skills Framework?

The nine professional skills of the York Strengths Professional Skills Framework were identified in partnership and consultation with leading graduate employers, as well as feedback and insights from students and staff at York.

These nine professional skills broadly articulate the most important transferable or core skills employers are looking for in applicants for graduate-level roles. This gives you a well-researched and helpful starting point, and something concrete to work with as you explore your skills and strengths.

Agile Learner

Take on new information, learn from it, be adaptable

Agile learners have the capacity to quickly and effectively seek out, acquire, process and apply new information, knowledge and insights, adapting their approach where necessary.

Also referred to as…

Adaptability, versatility, flexibility, initiative, dynamic thinking, and it is closely related to change management and receiving feedback.

How might I develop this skill?

Try learning a new skill or adapting your approach to an existing task, reflecting consciously on your approach. 

• If you enjoy learning and can acquire new knowledge at pace, learn a new language?
• If you would like to improve your study skills to enhance your learning, try out some library skills sessions
• To enhance your knowledge around your degree subject or another topic or activity you are interested in, join a society and attend guest lectures put on by the society

You can start by watching Matt Cutts’ TED talk on trying something new for 30 days and consider how motivating you find this prospect. Your first reaction could tell you a lot about how much being an Agile Learner energises you.

Authentic Communicator

Communicate clearly, be yourself, get your message across

Authentic Communicators communicate professionally through different mediums, with different audiences, and with people of different backgrounds and cultures, in a constructive, respectful and effective manner, adapting their style but remaining true to who they are.

Also referred to as…

Diplomacy, speaking skills, interpersonal awareness, clarity, active listening, and it is closely related to emotional intelligence, presentation skills, and stakeholder management. 

How might I develop this skill?

Put yourself in situations where you are required to communicate with different people in different contexts. 

Some opportunities available through the University include:

• Taking part in the York Students in Schools programme.
• Volunteering for a YorkSU initiative, such as KEEN, Music Education Group or Tea and Coffee Club.
• Consider taking on a committee role for your college, a University sports team, or becoming a course, department or faculty rep, to listen to and represent the views of others, or a Student Ambassador to share your experience with prospective students and campus visitors whilst supporting them to get the most out of their time visiting the University.

You may also find it helpful to explore the materials under the ‘Create and Communicate’ and ‘Groupwork and Collaboration’ themes of the University Skills Guides, or the Writing and Language Skills Centre. There is also English Language support for study available.

Digitally Capable

Use technology to make things happen and solve problems

Digitally Capable individuals understand the opportunities in current and emerging technologies, and how data fuels a digital society. They are confident and effective in ethically adapting and using digital solutions across different contexts.

Also referred to as…

Digital literacy, IT skills, technological proficiency, E-skills, software expertise, and it is closely related to digital marketing, using generative AI, cyber security and data analysis.

How might I develop this skill?

Explore opportunities to understand and apply new and emerging technologies or better use existing ones. 

• Take a look at the University of York Skills Guides and Practical Guides which include content on digital tools from coding to databases to using Google Suite.
• Try experimenting with some of the software and technologies available to students in the library’s Creativity Lab.
• You could take on a marketing role in a society or college committee, putting your digital skills to the test to better promote that society and engage its membership through digital means
• Jisc (the Joint Information Systems Committee, working with Higher Education) has a digital capabilities framework and training resources for university students and staff: see individual digital capabilities, discovery tool student guide
• Look at online courses with FutureLearn eg the Laws of digital data, content and AI, coding and programming courses
• You can find other free courses listed on the Institute of Coding website or freeCodeCamp

Start by checking out the DeepMind Podcast series exploring how AI could be the answer to a whole range of challenges. Whether you agree or disagree, your first reaction and your sense of alternative approaches could tell you a lot about both your capability and engagement for this skill.

Innovative Thinker

Generate fresh ideas and make things better

Innovative Thinkers are able to identify and harness new opportunities, and effectively approach challenges in creative, original and innovative ways.

Also referred to as…

Creativity, curiosity, initiative, ideation, design thinking, horizon scanning, pioneering thinking, and it is closely related to problem solving and entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills.

How might I develop this skill?

Explore opportunities where you can think creatively, or simply consider any existing challenges you face in different parts of your life and how you could approach those challenges in a new way. 

Some specific opportunities include:

• Engaging with the many initiatives offered by Enterprise at York to put your entrepreneurial skills to the test.
• Get involved with student-led initiatives such as York Student Think Tank to contribute to research, publish your writing and discuss your ideas, or York Community Consulting to generate ideas that small local businesses and charities can use to make a positive social impact.
• Have a go at some creative thinking exercises to hone your innovative thinking skills in a range of different ways.

Start by watching David Kelley’s TED talk on building your creative confidence to reflect on your self-perception of your innovative thinking skills.

Organisationally Aware

Know the environment you’re in to get things done

Organisationally Aware individuals are able to understand the culture and values of an organisation. They can identify how internal and external factors may influence the way organisations operate, and the measures of success that are important. They are able to use this insight to inform their own choices, approach and contribution.

Also referred to as…

Commercial awareness, market awareness, industry/sector knowledge, and it is closely related to strategic thinking and risk management.

How might I develop this skill?

Reflect critically on the values and practices of the organisations that you work for or engage with, considering how far that information helps you to identify the priorities of an organisation and how far your own values and preferences align with what you find. 

Some other practical steps you could take include:

• Reading this article on Developing Commercial Awareness, which explores how to understand the values and objectives of an organisation, and consider how you might fit in.
• Consider signing up to a YorkSU charity that you feel aligns with your personal values and vision.
• Use Handshake to search for upcoming employer events or fairs where you can find out more about individual employers or sectors you might be interested in.
• Research a sector that you are considering as a possible career avenue, identifying current trends and significant issues affecting how organisations within that sector operate and the opportunities and challenges that they might face.

Problem Solver

Break down tough problems and find a way to fix them

Problem Solvers use critical thinking and initiative to make sense of different kinds of problems. They can deal with complexity and uncertainty, evaluate options, and identify effective and viable solutions.

Also referred to as…

Critical thinking, decision making, situational judgement, prioritisation, reasoning, analytical thinking, and it is closely related to change management, resource management, organisational development/management, strategic thinking and time management.

How might I develop this skill?

Apply your problem-solving skills in different contexts to different kinds of problems, experimenting with different approaches and reflecting consciously on what goes well or not so well each time. 

Some practical ways in which you can do this include: 

• For developing your numerical reasoning skills, explore the support available through the University of York Maths Skills Centre and related Skills Guides.
• The Careers & Placements web pages provide a range of tests exploring situational judgement, numerical, diagrammatic, verbal and critical reasoning, many of which are used by employers or represent a similar format to tests commonly used by employers.
• Sign up to a Sustainability Clinic multi-disciplinary module to engage your problem-solving skills on real-world problems.

Read this article on Managing Ambiguity to find out how managing ambiguous problems in the workplace is increasingly being identified as a key graduate skill, as well as how you can develop capability in this area.

Relationship Builder

Work effectively with others, bringing out their best

Relationship Builders build strong relationships with others, collaborating effectively at all levels, growing networks and acknowledging and respecting differences.

Also referred to as…

Interpersonal skills, network building, team building, collaboration, diplomacy, influencing and building rapport, and it is closely related to team work, interdisciplinary working, managing up, and giving and receiving feedback.

How might I develop this skill?

Seek out opportunities to foster and grow your relationships with others in different contexts, reflecting consciously on how your understanding of others and the nature of your relationships can enable you to collaborate more effectively. 

Some practical ways in which you can do this include:

• Exploring the resources available under the ‘Groupwork and Collaboration’ section of the University of York Skills Guides.
• Consider joining a society or volunteering for a YorkSU charity where you can meet new people and build relationships around a shared passion or area of interest.

Consider taking on a committee role for your college, a University sports team, or becoming a course, department or faculty rep, building relationships with fellow students to collaborate on improving their experience of these areas of university life.

Resilient Achiever

Bounce back from setbacks and keep going

Resilient Achievers adopt positive strategies to work through challenges and setbacks, using these as learning opportunities to move them towards achieving their goals.

Also referred to as…

Adaptability, versatility, flexibility, grit, and it is closely related to prioritisation, problem solving, change management and receiving feedback.

How might I develop this skill?

Attempt an activity that places you slightly out of your comfort zone or requires a different approach or skill set to those that you would generally adopt, all the time consciously reflecting on what helps, or hinders you, in maintaining motivation and what different tactics you could apply to support you in that. 

Some practical steps you can take to do this include: 

• Learning a new skill or taking up a hobby that you might have some interest in but little practical experience. This could include learning a language or a musical instrument.
• Gaining work experience through an internship or placement year to put your skills to the test in a new, real-world context.
• Look at external resources, such as the Robertson Cooper iResilience questionnaire to reflect on what your results could tell you about the resources you draw on to be resilient, or the Open University’s free Developing Career Resilience course.

Consider how you can look after yourself and maintain your health and wellbeing when your resilience is tested by exploring these University wellbeing resources, as well as wellbeing workshops and support groups.

Self Improver

Know yourself, look for ways to grow, take action to improve

Self Improvers have a good level of self-awareness. They understand their capabilities, values and preferences, what they have to offer and where they can develop. They seek out constructive feedback and take proactive steps to support their personal and professional development.

Also referred to as…

Self-understanding, self-knowledge, self-efficacy, proactivity, initiative, self-motivation, and it is closely related to managing continuous professional development, emotional intelligence, lifelong learning, and giving and receiving feedback.

How might I develop this skill?

Build active reflection into your daily life, taking moments to reflect on significant experiences through methods such as journaling or socially in conversation with friends or family. 

• You can start by looking at the University’s Reflective Practice Skills Guide to support you with engaging in meaningful self-reflection.
• You could try learning a new skill or taking up a hobby. This could include learning a language or a musical instrument.

To enhance your knowledge around your degree subject or another topic or activity you are interested in, why not join a department society and attend guest lectures put on by the society, volunteer for a YorkSU charity where you can explore a shared passion or area of interest, or gain work experience through an internship, placement year or part-time work.

What about leadership skills?

Rather than thinking of leadership as a distinct skill, it can be more useful to recognise that all of the above skills can contribute to effective leadership.