Careers & Employability
My Skills Portfolio
A reflective portfolio to evidence your skills for future opportunities
Name: Ade Musa
Student Number: 12345678
Contents
1) Guidance ...............................................................................................................................................................2
2) Your reflection entries .......................................................................................................................................4
3) Record your transferable and technical skills ..........................................................................................13
3a) Transferable skills .........................................................................................................................................13
3b) Technical or subject-specific skills .............................................................................................................16
4) Appendix .............................................................................................................................................................17
4a) New reflection entry template......................................................................................................................18
4b) End of year evaluation template .................................................................................................................20
4c) Transferable skills table row ........................................................................................................................22
4d) Technical or subject-specific skills table row ............................................................................................22
1) Guidance
Why record your skills and experiences?

Documenting your skills is a vital part of recognising your progress.

It allows you to reflect on your development and accomplishments over time and develop goals
for future improvements.

You can use it as a bank of information for future applications to evidence that you have met the
criteria of the opportunity that you are applying for.
Accessing resources:

Your primary resource hub will be the Careers and Employability Blackboard site.

Supplementary materials are available here to guide you through each section.

This page also provides ways to gain further support with completing your portfolio.

The submission portal can be found on this page.
2
Guidance documents/videos:

Each section features a link to a short guidance document or video providing instructions.

We recommend reviewing these before starting each section to ensure clarity.
Review an example completed portfolio:

On the Careers and Employability Blackboard site, you'll find a completed example for reference.

This example showcases a number of reflection entries, a record of skills developed, and an endof-year evaluation for guidance.
How to complete your portfolio:

Simply follow the instructions within each section to complete the portfolio.

To add more entries, copy the template from the appendix section and paste into your reflection
entries section. Begin populating your portfolio with your experiences, thoughts, and reflections.

Record your skills in the relevant transferable skills or technical skills table

Draw inspiration from the accompanying completed example found on the Careers and
Employability Blackboard site and focus on providing depth and insight.

Remember to evaluate your progress at the end of each year.
Submitting your portfolio:

There is one submission point for MSP.


Submit your portfolio towards the end of your course and before the deadline.
Please refer to the Careers and Employability Blackboard site for further specific details of the
submission date/time.
Additional guidance:

When adding information into your portfolio, you are not expected to include any personal
information from your experiences, such as names of colleagues from previous work experience.

Whilst this information won't be shared and is for you and your development, we recommend you
don't share anything personal or private.
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2) Your reflection entries
In this first section, you will engage in structured self-reflection, documenting your experiences, insights, and skills demonstrated. Through this process, you
will enhance your self-awareness and gain valuable insights into your personal and professional development. The experiences that you can reflect on may
come from any aspect of your life. For example, you can reflect on a specific project you completed within an academic module; skills developed at home by
caring for family members; or work-related experiences through part-time work or a placement.
Complete the reflection entries below and add more from the appendix when required. You can add as many entries as you wish (minimum of four). At the
end of your academic year, complete the end of year evaluation to bring together your reflections and create an action plan for your next steps. The first
evaluation has been added for you below. If your course is longer than one academic year (for example you undertake an industrial placement), you can add
additional end of year evaluations using the template from the appendix.
Entry #1 Date: 10/07/2023 – 21/07/2023
Name of activity: Micro-internship
Follow the instructions within each row of the reflection table below to record what your experience or situation was; what you felt during it and how it affected
you; and finally, what steps you will take from this to inform your future actions.
For more guidance, visit the My Skills Portfolio Blackboard page, click on the “How to…” guides section and access the “How to…reflect” support resource.
Reflection
Component of
reflection model
What?
So what?
Guidance for each component
Your reflections…
Over these two weeks, I worked as a social media intern at a local amateur football
club. During this micro-internship, I was tasked with various responsibilities aimed
at enhancing the club's online presence and engagement. My primary duties
Description of the experience: In this stage, you
included creating and curating content for their social media platforms, such as
describe the specific situation or experience you are
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I also assisted in developing a content calendar,
reflecting upon. What happened? What were the key
conducting competitor analysis, and engaging with the club's followers through
events, actions, or interactions that took place?
comments and messages. In addition, I collaborated with the club's marketing team
to brainstorm ideas for online campaigns to promote upcoming matches and
events.
Analysis and interpretation: Here, you delve deeper This micro-internship provided me with invaluable insights into the practical aspects
into the experience and try to understand its
of managing social media for a sports organization. I gained a deeper
significance. What thoughts and feelings did you
understanding of the strategic thinking required to maintain a consistent and
have during the experience? What were the
engaging online presence. Collaborating with the marketing team allowed me to
underlying factors, assumptions, or influences at
witness how effective communication and teamwork play a pivotal role in achieving
4
Now what?
play? How did the experience affect you and others the club's promotional goals. I realised that engaging with the audience goes
involved?
beyond just posting content; it's about fostering a sense of community and
responding promptly to inquiries and comments. Furthermore, the experience
highlighted the importance of tailoring content to different platforms and
demographics, as each platform has its own unique user base and communication
style.
Building on this experience, I intend to refine my skills further by actively seeking
out opportunities to continue working in social media management and content
creation roles. I will leverage the knowledge gained during this micro-internship to
Action and future planning: In this final stage, you
improve my content planning and creation process, ensuring that I create diverse
consider the implications of your analysis and decide
and engaging posts that resonate with different target audiences. I plan to continue
on potential courses of action for the future. What
learning about the latest trends and best practices in social media marketing to stay
have you learned from the experience and what skills
ahead in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Moreover, I will explore additional
have you developed? How might you approach
courses and workshops that can enhance my skills in areas such as data analytics
similar situations differently in the future? What steps
for measuring social media performance and running targeted ad campaigns.
could you take to improve your practice or address
any issues that arose?
In the long term, I aim to use this experience to contribute to the marketing efforts of
Record your skills – did you use or develop
larger sports organisations, perhaps even turning my passion for sports and social
a transferable skill, a technical skill, or both?
media into a full-time career. This micro-internship has reinforced my commitment
to pursuing a path in digital marketing, and I am excited to take the lessons learned
and apply them to my future endeavours.
Entry #2 Date: 12/08/2023
Name of activity: Part-time work
Follow the instructions within each row of the reflection table below to record what the experience or situation was; what you felt during it and how it affected
you; and finally, what steps you will take from this to inform your future actions.
For more guidance, visit the My Skills Portfolio Blackboard page, click on the “How to…” guides section and access the “How to…reflect” support resource.
Reflection
Component of
reflection model
Guidance for each component
Your reflections…
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What?
So what?
Now what?
During a recent evening shift at the bar where I work part-time, I encountered an
unexpected challenge that put my teamwork skills to the test. Several colleagues
Description of the experience: In this stage, you
were off sick, leaving us short-staffed on what turned out to be an unusually busy
describe the specific situation or experience you are
night. My responsibilities included taking orders, preparing drinks, serving
reflecting upon. What happened? What were the key
customers, and handling payments. In addition, I had to step in to help clear tables
events, actions, or interactions that took place?
and ensure a smooth flow of service. The pressure was intense as the bar was
packed with customers who were eager to enjoy drinks and socialise.
This experience highlighted the critical role that teamwork plays in the service
industry, especially during high-pressure situations. Despite the challenging
circumstances, I quickly realised that effective communication and collaboration
were essential to ensuring a positive customer experience. I had to adapt to a
Analysis and interpretation: Here, you delve deeper
constantly changing environment, prioritise tasks, and assist my colleagues
into the experience and try to understand its
whenever and wherever needed. I found myself coordinating with the remaining
significance. What thoughts and feelings did you
staff, sharing information about order statuses, and helping to organise the
have during the experience? What were the
workload. Working closely with my team members allowed us to distribute tasks
underlying factors, assumptions, or influences at
efficiently and ensure that customers were served promptly.
play? How did the experience affect you and others
involved?
Additionally, this experience underscored the importance of maintaining composure
under pressure. Remaining calm not only helped me make better decisions but also
had a positive impact on the overall atmosphere of the bar. I saw first-hand how my
attitude and actions influenced the morale of both customers and colleagues.
Moving forward, I plan to build on the lessons learned during this challenging shift to
further enhance my teamwork and adaptability skills. I will actively seek out
opportunities to practice effective communication and collaboration, whether it's
through my part-time job, academic group projects, or extracurricular activities. I
Action and future planning: In this final stage, you
also recognise the value of being prepared for unexpected situations, and I will work
consider the implications of your analysis and decide
on developing strategies to manage stress and maintain a clear focus even during
on potential courses of action for the future. What
demanding times.
have you learned from the experience and what skills
have you developed? How might you approach
In the long term, I intend to apply these skills to my career pursuits that require
similar situations differently in the future? What steps
strong teamwork abilities. I will continue seeking experiences that allow me to
could you take to improve your practice or address
contribute to and thrive within diverse teams, leveraging my newfound skills to
any issues that arose?
enhance overall productivity and cohesiveness.
Record your skills – did you use or develop
a transferable skill, a technical skill, or both?
Reflecting on this specific evening at the bar, I am reminded that challenges can
serve as valuable learning opportunities. This experience reinforced my belief in the
power of teamwork and adaptability, and I will carry these lessons forward as I
navigate my personal and professional journey.
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Entry #3 Date: 12/09/2023
Name of activity: Volunteering
Follow the instructions within each row of the reflection table below to record what the experience or situation was; what you felt during it and how it affected
you; and finally, what steps you will take from this to inform your future actions.
For more guidance, visit the My Skills Portfolio Blackboard page, click on the “How to…” guides section and access the “How to…reflect” support resource.
Reflection
Component of
reflection model
Guidance for each component
Your reflections…
In the recent past I have volunteered within a group organising a community
fundraising event for a family in my local area to raise money for extra
physiotherapy for their child recovering from a serious illness. This event took place
at a local football club who donated the hire of the premises for free. I was
responsible for organising the set-up of the marquees and stage for all those
organisations who were performing at or attending the event.
What?
So what?
Description of the experience: In this stage, you
On the day of the event, we arrived to set up only to find that a community football
describe the specific situation or experience you are
match was still in progress and that they had not been informed that they would
reflecting upon. What happened? What were the key
need to vacate the premises so we could set up for the event.
events, actions, or interactions that took place?
I spoke to the manager of the football team to ask if there was any way the match
could finish early so we would have enough time to set up before the event started
but there was not. However, as this meant that we would be struggling to complete
the set up in time I explained this to the manager and asked if the team would be
willing to help, which they were, and I was able to co-ordinate them assisting to set
up the event, so it was able to start on time.
Initially when we all realised that the football team were there, we did start to panic,
Analysis and interpretation: Here, you delve deeper
and we felt really pressurised because the person responsible for organising the
into the experience and try to understand its
match to start and finish earlier hadn’t done so. I also felt a lack of confidence
significance. What thoughts and feelings did you
about speaking to someone I had never met and asking them for a favour.
have during the experience? What were the
However, I did summon the confidence to speak to them and the outcome was
underlying factors, assumptions, or influences at
successful.
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Now what?
play? How did the experience affect you and others
involved?
The experience was positive for all those involved and raised nearly £2000 as well
as bringing the local community together. It has helped me to realise that when you
work as part of an effective team that shares ideas and communicates effectively
you can accomplish great things.
Reflecting on the experience I realise that I have developed numerous skills through
Action and future planning: In this final stage, you
participating in volunteering. I have gained an understanding of event
consider the implications of your analysis and decide
management, have improved my communication and organisational skills as I had
on potential courses of action for the future. What
to liaise with the variety of organisations attending the event, as well as developing
have you learned from the experience and what skills
my confidence to problem solve when under pressure.
have you developed? How might you approach
similar situations differently in the future? What steps
Having undertaken this experience, in the future in a similar situation, I would have
could you take to improve your practice or address
more confidence that I can solve any problems that may arise as well as being
any issues that arose?
more confident to ask for help from others if I am unsure about the best course of
Record your skills – did you use or develop
action. It has emphasised to me the importance of collaboration between people as
a transferable skill, a technical skill, or both?
a key attribute for the workplace.
Entry #4 Date: 25/09/23
Name of activity: Group research project
Follow the instructions within each row of the reflection table below to record what the experience or situation was; what you felt during it and how it affected
you; and finally, what steps you will take from this to inform your future actions.
For more guidance, visit the My Skills Portfolio Blackboard page, click on the “How to…” guides section and access the “How to…reflect” support resource.
Reflection
Component of
reflection model
Guidance for each component
What?
Whilst working as a member of a team tasked with completing a group research
Description of the experience: In this stage, you
project for human geography, I found the team dynamics quite challenging. Some
describe the specific situation or experience you are
members of the group did not plan and organise their time effectively to meet
reflecting upon. What happened? What were the key
deadlines which had an impact on the work that I was responsible for.
events, actions, or interactions that took place?
Your reflections…
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I was tasked with collating all the data the group had gathered as well as presenting
the conclusions of the research. This lack of organisation impacted on the group's
efficiency, and we struggled to meet the key deadlines we had set ourselves.
I was very frustrated, as were other members of the group, at our lack of progress
so after discussion with other group members I took on a leadership role. This
involved co-ordinating all the key tasks that needed to be undertaken as well as
arranging group meetings to monitor progress and ensure that deadlines would be
met.
So what?
Now what?
Analysis and interpretation: Here, you delve deeper
into the experience and try to understand its
significance. What thoughts and feelings did you
have during the experience? What were the
underlying factors, assumptions, or influences at
play? How did the experience affect you and others
involved?
This was very helpful as it transpired that some members of the group were unclear
around their roles and responsibilities and once these were clarified the team
worked more harmoniously together as everyone was clear about their role. This
meant that the research project progressed smoothly.
The experience made me reflect on the importance of everyone in a team being
clear about their team role and the responsibilities they have as well as the
importance of clear and effective communication when working in a team. Once I
took on the leadership role within the team everyone worked more effectively as we
had a co-ordinated focus, and everyone was happier as a result.
In the future when the opportunity presents itself to take a leadership role, I will take
Action and future planning: In this final stage, you
it as I realised that I enjoy offering support to others and am able to motivate them
consider the implications of your analysis and decide
to achieve. The supportive, communication and leadership skills I have developed
on potential courses of action for the future. What
throughout the group project would be useful in any future role I may consider.
have you learned from the experience and what skills
have you developed? How might you approach
When working in a group situation in the future I will be more confident on taking on
similar situations differently in the future? What steps
a leadership role and will suggest that the group should be clear on everyone’s
could you take to improve your practice or address
roles and responsibilities before the work commences. Reflecting on this
any issues that arose?
experience has made me realise that clear communication and leadership are
Record your skills – did you use or develop
essential skills for the world of work.
a transferable skill, a technical skill, or both?
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End of year evaluation
Follow the instructions within each row of the end of year evaluation table below to bring all your reflections from the year together and action plan your next
steps, using SMART goals, for the year ahead.
For more guidance, visit the Careers and Employability Blackboard site, click on the My Skills Portfolio section and access the “How to…action plan” support
resource.
Overall growth and
achievements
Use your reflections
from the year to
identify some key
skills or insights you
have gained.
Through the micro-internship as a social media intern at a local amateur football club, I developed a range of
valuable skills. Crafting and tailoring content for different platforms honed my strategic thinking, while
engaging with followers taught me the significance of building a sense of community. Collaborating with the
marketing team underscored the power of teamwork in generating creative campaigns. This experience also
highlighted the need to adapt content for specific platforms to effectively engage diverse audiences. Similarly,
during a demanding bar shift with unexpected staff shortages, I further cultivated my adaptability by staying
composed under pressure, demonstrating effective communication, and prioritising tasks. These combined
experiences have not only enhanced my communication, collaboration, and adaptability skills but also
deepened my understanding of the profound impact these qualities can have in delivering exceptional results
in various situations.
Throughout both the group research project and the volunteering I participated in I have gained insights into
how an effective team operates, realising that for a team to be successful everyone needs to have a clear
understanding of their roles and responsibilities. Also, that effective communication and close collaboration
are also key in making a team function effectively.
Challenges and
learning
opportunities
Identify some
significant
challenges you
faced during the
year. How did you
navigate them and
what did you learn
from them?
One significant challenge I faced during the year was during a particularly busy evening shift at the bar where
I work part-time. Due to unexpected staff shortages, the bar was crowded with customers, and the pressure
was intense. To navigate this challenge, I drew upon the teamwork skills I had developed during my microinternship as a social media intern. Just as I learned to collaborate effectively with my marketing team to
brainstorm ideas and execute campaigns, I applied a similar approach to the bar situation. I initiated
communication with my colleagues, sharing information about order statuses and coordinating tasks to
ensure efficient service. I also remained composed under pressure, echoing the calm demeanour I had
learned to maintain during high-stress social media campaigns. By applying these skills, I helped maintain a
smooth flow of service despite the challenging circumstances. This experience taught me that effective
communication, adaptability, and teamwork are transferable skills that can be applied across diverse
situations, reinforcing the idea that challenges are opportunities for growth and skill refinement.
Another significant challenge I faced was working as part of an ineffective team in my group research
project. However, I was able to communicate effectively with other members of the group to discuss the
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challenges we were facing and take on a leadership role to co-ordinate the team’s work. By being willing to
take on a leadership role I challenged myself and developed my confidence in this area. I realised that
effective management is necessary in all businesses and that I have skills in this area I can develop further.
My experiences so far, particularly the micro-internship as a social media intern, have provided me with
several skills that align directly with my future career goals in digital marketing. Crafting and curating content
for different platforms have enhanced my ability to tailor messaging for specific audiences, a crucial skill in
digital marketing campaigns. Engaging with followers through comments and messages has honed my
communication skills, vital for fostering online community engagement.
Skill development
Have you developed
skills that align with
your future career
goals? Are there still
skills that require
development?
Furthermore, collaborating with the marketing team during the internship and with different organisations
throughout my volunteering has given me insights into teamwork and idea generation as well as essential
aspects of effective marketing strategies. Learning to adapt content for different platforms has also deepened
my understanding of the importance of platform-specific strategies in digital marketing.
While I've made significant progress, there are still areas that require further development. One such area is
data analytics and performance measurement. Understanding how to analyse engagement metrics, track
campaign success, and extract insights from data is critical for refining marketing strategies. Additionally,
honing my skills in running targeted ad campaigns and optimising them for maximum reach and conversion
would be valuable for my digital marketing skill set.
Next steps…
Goal identification
Based on your
reflections, what is
one area or skill that
you want to further
develop in the next
year. Use the
SMART goal
framework to help
you.
Specific:
Enhance my proficiency in data analytics within the realm of digital marketing to make
informed decisions and optimise campaign strategies.
Measurable:
Successfully complete an online course on data analytics for digital marketing, achieving a
minimum score of 90% on the final assessment.
Attainable:
Allocate at least 5 hours per week to the course material, practice exercises, and
assignments, ensuring a focused and consistent effort.
Realistic:
Developing strong data analytics skills is directly aligned with my future career goals in digital
marketing, as it will enable me to analyse campaign performance, make data-driven
decisions, and demonstrate value to potential employers.
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Time-bound:
Key objectives
Break down your
goal into 2-3 key
objectives that
represent the main
steps toward how
you will achieve
your goal.
Complete the online course and achieve the goal within the next three months, allowing me
to apply the acquired skills to upcoming projects and campaigns.
Research and select a reputable online course that focuses on data analytics for digital marketing.
Enrol in the chosen course and review the syllabus to understand the topics covered.
Engage actively in discussions, forums, and Q&A sessions to clarify doubts and deepen understanding to
successfully complete the assessments within the specified timeframe.
Resources and
support
Identify any
resources, tools, or
support you need to
successfully achieve
your objectives.
Online Course Platform: Select a reputable online platform that offers a comprehensive data analytics
course focused on digital marketing.
Note-taking Tools: Prepare notebooks, digital note-taking applications, or stationery for taking organised
notes during study sessions.
Internet Connection: Ensure a stable internet connection to access course materials, participate in
discussions, and engage with the content.
Discussion Forums: Actively participate in discussion forums or online communities related to the course to
seek clarification and engage in peer learning.
Instructor Interaction: Utilise available opportunities for direct interaction with the instructor, such as Q&A
sessions.
Study Environment: Create a comfortable and distraction-free study environment to enhance focus and
concentration.
Time Management: Develop a study schedule that allocates dedicated time to thoroughly understand the
course content, including foundational concepts of data analytics in the context of digital marketing.
Evaluation and
reflection
How will you assess
your progress
towards each
objective? Integrate
regular reflection
moments into your
action plan. How
often will you reflect
on your progress
and adjust your plan
if needed?
I will assess my progress by completing self-assessment quizzes, module assessments, and active
participation in online discussions. Regular reflections after completing each module will help me summarise
concepts, clarify doubts, and gauge my comprehension. I will adjust my study plan every two weeks based
on feedback and uncertainties to ensure an even understanding of the content. This ongoing process of
assessment, reflection, and adjustment will guide me towards achieving a thorough understanding of the
course material.
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3) Record your transferable and technical skills
3a) Transferable skills
Provide evidence to demonstrate the transferable skills you have used. This will be helpful to refer to when completing future applications and interviews for
job opportunities or further education when faced with competency or skill-based questions.
For more guidance on using the STARS technique to evidence transferable skills, visit the Careers and Employability Blackboard site, click on the My Skills
Portfolio section and access the “How to…use STARS” support resource.
Which transferable
skill did you
demonstrate?
Evidence using the STARS technique:
Situation:
Task:
Communication
Action:
Result:
Self-reflection:
In June 2023 I successfully secured a 2-week micro-internship as the Social Media Intern for a local amateur
football club, with responsibility for enhancing the club's online presence and engagement. My primary duties
involved the creation and curation of content for their social media platforms: when I started my internship,
the club only used Facebook.
I collaborated with the club's marketing team to brainstorm ideas and, recognising that each platform has its
own unique user base and communication style, I suggested both Instagram and TikTok would be ideal for
attracting a ‘younger’ audience. This was enthusiastically received by the team and I was encouraged to set
up the accounts and start posting.
By the end of the first week there had been little interaction with my posts and I couldn’t understand why. By
reviewing the club’s Facebook account, I could see that the most effective communication came from
responding to the comments and queries coming in from club members and the public, which created a
sense of community and encouraged people to revisit the page and share the posts. I adjusted my strategy
to factor this in, taking the time to read each comment and create a tailored response. I conducted some
research into audience demographics for each platform, and used language appropriate to them, often
changing a word or two or even the style of writing completely, to maintain a consistent brand for the club.
Daily assessment of which posts received ‘likes’ and re-posts enabled me to plan whether to continue a
conversation thread or introduce new content.
By the end of the second week, visits to the two new platforms had risen by 80% and of those visits,
approximately half were from new, unique visitors. The marketing team were thrilled and congratulated me
on this success, and I received a £50 voucher from the club director.
The internship has taught me that whilst I thought I was a good communicator already as I find it easy to get
along with people, there is always a new approach to be tried and that no one method of communication
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Situation:
Task:
Teamworking
Action:
Result:
Self-reflection:
Situation:
Planning and
Organising
Task:
works for everyone. By being flexible to others’ needs and asking the right questions, I am better able to
respond effectively and achieve positive results.
Alongside my studies I work part-time Tuesday to Thursday evenings in a city centre bar and find most
weeks to have a steady flow of customers throughout my shift. There are seven members of the team
including the bar manager and kitchen staff, but on one particular occasion when I arrived for my shift, I was
told the manager had sprained their ankle, plus one of kitchen staff and one of the bar staff were off sick.
This would normally still be enough to run the bar smoothly, but due to a series of events that week in the
city, the bar was unusually busy.
The chef, who was the most senior member of staff, gave my colleague deputy manager responsibilities,
which I was disappointed about as I was hoping to be made leader. But I knew that I still had an important
role to play within the team, supporting my colleagues in addition to completing my own tasks. As the bar
was already getting busy, I asked if there were any specific areas that needed prioritising and was given two
roles: one was to clear the tables of any glasses and crockery and the second to act as waiter, bringing food
out from the kitchen.
By liaising with the chef, I knew I had some time in which to tidy up and each time I visited the kitchen I would
check whether food needed to come out. Understanding my role in relation to others in the team and being
aware of what they were doing enabled me to co-ordinate my tasks and share information at appropriate and
necessary times.
I noticed that one of my colleagues was struggling with the constant demands of customers at the bar, so I
quickly jumped in to help them and between us we managed to reduce the queue without anyone getting
annoyed at having to wait too long to be served. This did mean that my task of clearing glasses had to wait,
but I knew it wouldn't take long for me to catch up with the cleaning and it meant that my colleague was able
to take a step back and regain their composure.
At the end of the evening, my colleague thanked me for stepping in and the chef said they would let the bar
manager know that I had taken the initiative and been adaptable when most needed. I was pleased about
this as the manager has been known to give out 'employee of the month' awards, which often have a cash
value.
This experience boosted my self-confidence and emphasised the value of being adaptable in unexpected
situations. I surprised myself with my ability to stay calm and almost enjoy the experience of being in a
pressured environment. It also taught me that being a team member can be just as instrumental as being a
team leader.
Last Spring, my church wanted to organise a fundraising event for a local family whose child was recovering
from a serious illness and needed extra physiotherapy. This event was to take place at a local football club
who donated the hire of the premises for free.
As a regular volunteer, I was eager to support this, and at the first event meeting when the roles were
discussed and assigned, I was given responsibility for organising the set-up of the marquee for people to buy
food and crafts, plus a stage for music and dance performances.
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Action:
Result:
Self-reflection:
From the initial meeting there was a 5-month window, so I set myself the task of developing a list of
companies closest to the venue and then a secondary list of those further away but within reasonable travel
distance. I collected all the necessary information such as timings of the event, location and access and
diarised the event planning meetings so I could work towards updating the event group on what was
happening. However, on the day of the event, we arrived to set up only to find that a community football
match was still in progress and that they had not been informed that they would need to vacate the premises
so we could set up for the event. When the marquee company arrived, they informed me that they had
another event to attend so had only a limited amount of time to set-up. I asked the football team managers if
the two teams would be willing to help because with more people the set-up could be completed quicker, and
due to the nature of the event, everyone was willing to help.
With not much time to spare, the event opened, and we raised nearly £2,000. The family were overwhelmed
and thanked every one of the event team, for which I felt very proud.
At the start of my planning process, everything went smoothly and I felt in control and capable of fulfilling my
responsibilities. This changed on the day of the event and I realised that you can't plan for everything that will
happen, but having some kind of plan is better than no plan at all.
Copy and paste more blank skill entries above this line when necessary. These can also be found in the appendix section.
(Highlight one whole STARS entry row in the above table, copy it, and paste it on the line below the table as “Keep Original Table Formatting”)
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3b) Technical or subject-specific skills
Provide evidence to demonstrate the technical or subject-specific skills you have used. Record skills here that are specific to a job role or sector, for example
using computer programming languages (Python, Java, etc.), various lab-based skills, or creating content for social media. This will be helpful to refer to when
completing future applications and interviews for job opportunities or further education when faced with questions relating to those specific skills required for
the role.
Which technical, or
subject-specific
skill did you
demonstrate?
Microsoft Office
365
Guidance
Consider how you used the
skill and what the outcome of
the situation was.
Evidence of using the technical or subject-specific skill:
Microsoft Office is used by lots of organisations and employers expect some knowledge of how to
use the programmes.
Use of Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word and Teams throughout degree coursework, specifically in
group projects for data collecting and evaluation (Excel), email correspondence and regular
communication with peers and tutors (Outlook and Teams), presentation creation for end of module
assessment (PowerPoint), writing reports and essays (Word).
I have a basic knowledge of Excel, so the data evaluation took a long time and wasn’t fully
comprehensive as I couldn’t work out all the functions.
Realising the difference between communicating on Teams vs emails was enlightening and I learnt
how each can be used most effectively, for example emails are best when providing lots of
information and instruction whereas Teams is better for quick queries.
PowerPoint skills have developed over time, so I feel I can create presentations with a good
balance between content and design.
Able to confidently use Word for long documents.
Digital marketing
Consider how you used the
skill and what the outcome of
the situation was.
My career aim is to go into digital marketing, so I need to have a good understanding of the
different social media platforms and the best writing techniques in order to achieve excellent
results, such as increasing views and users.
I can use Facebook, Instagram and TikTok successfully, as demonstrated during my internship
when I set up new Instagram and TikTok accounts and managed the initial content, including
creating interesting posts, responding to questions in a timely and appropriate manner, tailoring the
style of writing depending on the audience.
Copy and paste more blank skill entries above this line when necessary. These can also be found in the appendix section.
(Highlight one whole skill entry row in the above table, copy it, and paste it on the line below the table as “Keep Original Table Formatting”)
16
4) Appendix
Choose the section you want to add to your portfolio from the list below. When you have decided, hold “Ctrl” on the keyboard and click (using your mouse) on
the required section title below. This will take you to the template, where you can highlight all the text and copy it into your reflection entries section.
Alternatively, scroll down further to see each section template.
4a) New reflection entry

Add a new one of these for each experience/activity/event/situation that you want to document.

This type of entry allows you to reflect on what you did, what skills you developed, and what your next steps will be.

The “further comments” box is an optional section.

Use this to add further details or reflections that you wish to record in your own style.

This may include additional reflections or thoughts following on from your experience, e.g. actions you wish to follow up on, insights
you’ve gained or interesting points that you want to record.
4b) End of year evaluation

Add a new one of these at the end of each year of your study to evaluate all your reflection entries for that year.

Evaluating reflections from the year provides valuable insights into personal growth, identifies areas for improvement, and guides more
informed decisions for the future.
4c) Transferable skills table row

Add a new one of these to the end of the transferable skills table to extend the table, when required.
4d) Technical or subject-specific skills table row

Add a new one of these to the end of the technical or subject-specific skills table to extend the table, when required.
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4a) New reflection entry template
Entry #1. Date: _________
Name of activity: _________________________
Follow the instructions within each row of the reflection table below to record what the experience or situation was; what you felt during it and how it affected
you; and finally, what steps you will take from this to inform your future actions.
For more guidance, visit the Careers and Employability Blackboard site, click on the My Skills Portfolio section and access the “How to…reflect” support
resource.
Reflection
Component of
reflection model
Guidance for each component
What?
Description of the experience: In this stage, you
describe the specific situation or experience you
are reflecting upon. What happened? What were
the key events, actions, or interactions that took
place?
So what?
Analysis and interpretation: Here, you delve deeper
into the experience and try to understand its
significance. What thoughts and feelings did you
have during the experience? What were the
underlying factors, assumptions, or influences at
play? How did the experience affect you and others
involved?
Now what?
Action and future planning: In this final stage, you
consider the implications of your analysis and
decide on potential courses of action for the future.
What have you learned from the experience and
what skills have you developed? How might you
approach similar situations differently in the future?
Your reflections…
18
What steps could you take to improve your practice
or address any issues that arose?
Record your skills – did you use or develop a
transferable skill, a technical skill, or both?
Further comments
19
4b) End of year evaluation template
End of year evaluation
Follow the instructions within each row of the end of year evaluation table below to bring all of your reflections from the year together and action plan your next
steps, using SMART goals, for the year ahead.
For more guidance, visit the Careers and Employability Blackboard site, click on the My Skills Portfolio section and access the “How to…action plan” support
resource.
Overall growth and
achievements
Use your reflections
from the year to
identify some key
skills or insights you
have gained.
Challenges and
learning
opportunities
Identify some
significant
challenges you
faced during the
year. How did you
navigate them and
what did you learn
from them?
Skill development
Have you developed
skills that align with
your future career
goals? Are there still
skills that require
development?
Next steps…
Goal identification
Specific:
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Based on your
reflections, what is
one area or skill that
you want to further
develop in the next
year. Use the
SMART goal
framework to help
you.
Key objectives
Break down your
goal into 2-3 key
objectives that
represent the main
steps toward how
you will achieve
your goal.
Resources and
support
Identify any
resources, tools, or
support you need to
successfully achieve
your objectives.
Evaluation and
reflection
How will you assess
your progress
towards each
objective? Integrate
regular reflection
moments into your
action plan. How
often will you reflect
on your progress
and adjust your plan
if needed?
Measurable:
Attainable:
Realistic:
Time-bound:
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4c) Transferable skills table row
Situation:
Task:
Action:
Result:
Self-reflection:
4d) Technical or subject-specific skills table row
Consider how you used the skill
and what the outcome of the
situation was.
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