How to update CV with workshop, blog and televised debate:
Conferences, Workshops and Presentations
2020: Project manager (or Presenter or Research Assistant), Environmental Challenges
Workshop, International Development Programme, University of Essex, Colchester, UK,
December 1st, 2020
Key skills from the workshop
 Leadership skills; delegating, motivating, supporting
 Team work or working in groups; working with others; communicating with others
 Planning and organizing; time management;
 Research skills
 Presentation skills; public speaking
 Technical skills
 Coming up with original ideas; creativity
The Benefits of Group Work
As stressful as group work is in college, it can actually be beneficial in the long run
because it closely parallels the group dynamics of participating on a committee, task
force, or on a collaborative team project found in many workplaces. Whatever form the
group assignment takes in your course, the opportunity to work with others, rather
than on your own, can provide distinct benefits. These include:
Increased productivity and performance -- groups that work well together can
achieve much more than individuals working on their own. A broader range of skills can
be applied to practical activities and the process of sharing and discussing ideas can
play a pivotal role in deepening your understanding of the research problem. This
process also enhances opportunities for applying strategies of critical inquiry and
creative or radical problem-solving to an issue.
Skills development -- being part of a team will help you develop your interpersonal
skills. This can include expressing your ideas clearly, listening carefully to others,
participating effectively in group deliberations, and clearly articulating to group
members the results of your research. Group work also helps develop collaborative
skills, such as, team-based leadership and effectively motivating others. These skills will
be useful throughout your academic career and all are highly sought after by employers.
Knowing more about yourself -- collaborating with others will help identify your own
strengths and weaknesses. For example, you may be a better leader than listener, or,
you might be good at coming up with the 'big idea' but not so good at developing a
specific plan of action. Enhanced self-awareness about the challenges you may have in
working with others will enhance learning experiences. Here again, this sense about
yourself will be invaluable when you enter the workforce.
Group skills
Creating enthusiasm and initiative to make things happen
Providing support and encouraging cohesion
Having clear and logical objectives
Making sure that everyone understands their role and tasks
Listening to others and giving and receiving constructive criticism
Making sure different skillsets are being used; understanding each individual’s talents
Learning from setbacks
Delegating tasks to people with the right skills
Accepting responsibility
Being able to coordinate
Skills as a student
Participation
Participates enthusiastically in discussion.
Actively influences events rather than passively accepting.
Acts on opportunities: originates action.
Spoken Expression
Expresses his/herself clearly and coherently.
Makes a clear persuasive presentation of ideas and facts
Originality of Ideas
Introduces new ideas.
Builds constructively an the ideas of others.
Brings a fresh approach to a problem.
Quality of Thought
Analyses the problem well.
Gets to the root of the problem: can recognise which information is important and which is
peripheral.
Can evaluate data and courses of action, draw sound inferences and reach logical decisions.
Influence on Others
Makes a point which is accepted by the other members.
Influences the direction and nature of the discussion.
Open Mindedness
Listens to carefully to other members' views.
Incorporates the points made by others into their own.
Shows tact and diplomacy
Facilitation of the Discussion
Makes a direct attempt to help another person.
Squashes a dominant interrupter to allow someone else to make a point.
Judgment
Discriminates clearly between the important and the trivial.
Does not allow his/her feelings to sway decisions: unbiased and rational.
Key skills to bring up in an interview:
Able to grasp complexity
Able to engage in analytic thinking
Innovative thinker
Possesses specialist knowledge
Decisive
Leadership skills
Strong social skills in working with others; respectful and empathetic in my connections
Able to think strategically
Visible across the organization
Open to criticism
Inspirational
Delegate appropriately
Willing to take on tasks; can execute a strategic plan; able to execute directives from superiors
Self starter
Decisive and make good judgements, when asked to
Always striving to improve
Knows how to juggle multiple tasks effectively
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: able to express
yourself clearly in writing
I have
this
skill
I'd like to
improve it
I have
this
Like to
improve
Thinking through in advance what you want to
say
Gathering, analysing and arranging your
information in a logical sequence.
Developing your argument in a logical way.
Being able to condense information/produce
concise summary notes.
Adapting your writing style for different
audiences.
Avoiding jargon.
VERBAL COMMUNICATION: expressing your
ideas clearly and confidently in speech
Listening carefully to what others are saying.
Able to clarify and summarise what others are
communicating.
Helping others to define their problems. Not
interrupting.
Being sensitive to body language as well as
verbal information.
Making the right impression by making effective
use of dress, conduct and speech.
Keeping business telephone calls to the point.
Thinking up an interesting way to put across
your message to groups.
Successfully building a rapport with your
audience when speaking to groups.
FLEXIBILITY: adapting successfully to
changing situations and environments
I have
this
Like to
improve
I have
this
Like to
improve
I have
this
Like to
improve
Keeping calm in the face of difficulties
Planning ahead, but having alternative options
in case things go wrong
Thinking quickly to respond to sudden changes
in circumstances
Persisting in the face of unexpected difficulties
PERSUADING: able to convince others, to
discuss and reach agreement
Putting your points across in a reasoned way.
Emphasising the positive aspects of your
argument.
Understanding the needs of the person you are
dealing with.
Handling objections to your arguments.
Making concessions to reach agreement.
Using tact and diplomacy.
TEAMWORK: working confidently within a
group
Working cooperatively towards a common goal.
Contributing your own ideas effectively in a
group.
Listening to others' opinions.
Taking a share of the responsibility.
Being assertive - rather than passive or
aggressive.
Accepting & learning from constructive
criticism. Giving positive, constructive
feedback
LEADERSHIP: able to motivate and direct
others
I have
this
Like to
improve
I have
this
Like to
improve
I have
this
Like to
improve
Taking the initiative.
Organising and motivating others.
Making decisions and seeing them through.
Taking a positive attitude to failure:
persevering when things are not working out.
Accepting responsibility for mistakes/wrong
decisions.
Being flexible - prepared to adapt goals in the
light of changing situations.
PLANNING AND ORGANISING: able to plan
activities & carry them through effectively
Setting objectives which are achievable.
Managing your time effectively/using action
planning skills.
Setting priorities - most important/most
urgent.
Identifying the steps needed to achieve your
goals.
Being able to work effectively when under
pressure.
Completing work to a deadline.
INVESTIGATING, ANALYSING
AND PROBLEM SOLVING:
gathering information systematically to
establish facts and principles
Clarifying the nature of a problem before
deciding action.
Collecting, collating, classifying and
summarising data systematically.
Analysing the factors involved in a
problem & being able to identify the key ones.
Recognising inconsistencies in reasoning.
Using creativity/initiative in the generation
of alternative solutions to a problem.
Differentiating between practical and
impractical solutions.
NUMERACY: able to carry out arithmetic
operations/understand data
I have
this
Like to
improve
I have
this
Like to
improve
I have
this
Like to
improve
Multiplying and dividing accurately.
Calculating percentages.
Using a calculator.
Reading and interpreting graphs and tables.
Using statistics.
Planning and organising your personal finances
effectively. Managing a limited budget.
COMPUTING SKILLS
Word-processing skills.
Using databases (e.g. Access)
Using spreadsheets (e.g. Excel)
Using the Internet and email.
Designing web pages.
Programming skills.
DEVELOPING PROFESSIONALISM
Accepting responsibility for your views and
actions.
Showing the ability to work under your own
direction and initiative.
Making choices based on your own judgement.
Paying care and attention to quality in all your
work.
Taking the opportunity to learn new skills.
Developing the drive and enthusiasm to achieve
your goals.
Interview questions:
Why are you applying for this position?
What do you know about this company?
Why are you a good fit for this company/job?
What is your greatest strength?
What is your greatest weakness?
How have you dealt with a conflict at work and learned from it?
How do you deal with a difficult person on your team?
In what way have you been able to have a positive impact on others?
What is your leadership style?