Personal Development Planning
Skills Audit
Skill/Ability
definition
Examples
written
communication
The ability to
produce concise,
grammatical and
well expressed text
in a manner
appropriate to
different readers,
presenting a
persuasive
argument.
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Oral
communication
using speech to
express ideas and
give information or
explanations
effectively
The ability to
verbally express
ideas to others or
give a presentation
in a clear and
ordered manner,
including use of
audio equipment
and overhead
projector. Perhaps,
simply, giving
accurate
instructions, or,
more influentially,
being a
spokesperson.
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problem solving
identifying and
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Essay/report
writing
poster designing
writing for
(student)
newspaper
secretary of
societies recording
minutes of
meeting
giving a
presentation as
part of course
work
working on a
reception desk
participation in
tutorial
groups/seminar
s/workshops
presentations to
other students
and academics
committee work
in societies
debating
work on
Nightline
Community
Interaction
Volunteers S.U.
Community
Service
Volunteers national group
presentation
Skills
Workshops
offered by
Employers/AIES
EC
developing
a
new product or
Your current
evidence of this
skill
An example of
how you will
develop this skill
further
using an
appropriate
method or
technique to arrive
at a solution
The ability to
identify the key
issues of a
problem, and to
then use your
knowledge and
understanding to
find a creative and
appropriate
solution. This may
involve conceptual
thinking, analytical
thinking, strategic
thinking, thinking
on your feet,
innovativeness and
improvisation.
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decision making
identifying options,
evaluating them,
and then choosing
the most
appropriate
Evaluating
available
information,
identifying options
and reaching
effective
conclusions.
Making decisions
which can be
realistically
implemented and
taking
responsibility for
them.
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negotiating
holding discussions
with people in
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service during a
vacation
work
placement
workshops and
tutorials
attending
employers'
vacation
placement/work
shops
management
business games
organising
(social) events
for Hall or
Society
dealing with
accommodation
problems or
travel plans
work-based
projects in
vacations
Community
Interaction
Volunteers - S.U
secretary of a
Hall Committee
deciding which
events
you
should organise
with the funds
available
participating in
employers'
vacation
placements/wor
kshops
completing your
action plans for
skills
development in
the SPD
holding office
with
responsibility for
events or
budgets
making career
decisions
choosing
optional courses
Student Rep. on
Staff/Student
committee
order to reach a
position of mutual
satisfaction and
agreement
The ability to
influence another
person and reach
agreement on a
contentious topic,
through mediation
or bargaining.
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team working
ability to work
effectively with
others to achieve
objectives
Working with
others to
effectively achieve
a goal; involving
co-operation,
being sensitive,
listening to other
team members,
sharing ideas.
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leadership being
able to lead and
motivate, set
direction, and win
the commitment of
others
The ability to
organise and
motivate others,
requiring initiative
and acceptance of
responsibility.
Overcoming
problems through
a positive attitude.
Project
management
The ability to set
objectives and
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settling
accommodation
problems with
landlord
bargaining over
prices
negotiating on
behalf of
Societies/Halls
project work sharing
observations
and analysis
vacation work
voluntary work
Teambuilding
Course
management
business game
team sports
committee work
- Students
Union,
Societies, Halls
charity fundraising
leading a group
project or sports
team
 training or
supervising and
instructing
others, e.g.
through vac.
work, voluntary
work
 vacation
schemes, e.g.
STEP
programme
(Shell's Vacation
Placement
Scheme) where
you devise and
manage a
project
chairing discussions or
leading group
 vacation project
work e.g. STEP
(Shell's Vacation
Placement
time scales, to
monitor them and
see them through
to completion.
Working under
pressure to meet
deadlines.
planning
working out how to
schedule available
resources and
activities in order
to meet an
objective
Reflecting and
setting attainable
goals; scheduling
the sequence of
work to achieve
your goals.
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researching
information
finding information
appropriate to an
issue from a
variety of sources
Locating,
collecting,
classifying and
summarising
information
(including data) in
a systematic way.
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ICT literacy
understanding and
being able to use a
range of software
such as word
processing,
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Scheme)
voluntary
project work e.g. through
committees or
S.U. work
arranging a
summer
vacation trip
abroad for a
group of friends,
including finding
ways to raise
the finance
planning course
work and leisure
activities
planning skills
development
and completing
your SPD action
plans
setting longterm goals e.g.
planning your
career,
organising
overseas travel
or a year out
preparing for
writing a
dissertation
researching and
reading for
essays, course
work, tutorial
assignments
and projects
using
information
databases
including the
Web
vac work e.g. in
research or
information
management
using databases
in your
academic work;
doing a society's
accounts on a
spreadsheet
spreadsheets and
databases
Knowing how to
use a popular word
processing,
spreadsheet and
database package,
and how to use
email and the
Web.
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numeracy ability
to use and
understand
numbers
The ability to
understand and
interpret facts or
ideas expressed in
figures and nonverbal data.
Enables you to
estimate, spot
accounting errors
and manage a
budget.
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business
awareness
interest in and
knowledge of the
commercial
environment
Having an interest
in and
understanding of
some of the
economic
considerations in
business.
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computer
packages in
workshops
wordprocess
academic work
learn new
computer
packages
through
academic
studies, vac.
work or
independently
use email
analysing data
for a project
acting as
treasurer for a
fund-raising
event
processing
laboratory data
tutorial and
workshop
problems
numerical
reasoning tests
available in
Careers
Advisory
Services
managing your
own finances
treasurer of
Societies/Halls
committee
charity
fundraising
reading the
business pages
of quality
newspapers to
demonstrate a
knowledge of
the economic
climate
use vacation
work to find out
about how
businesses are
run
use Networking
and the Web to
find out
information on
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companies
reading
newspapers, the
Economist, The
Finanacial Times