Ways to develop your skills

Explore the different ways your can develop your experience in each area below.

Research and inquiry

Your ability to take a problem and search for relevant information, suggest solutions and judge their merits is a very valuable skill to an employer. This could be as simple as finding the best price for a new piece of office equipment, or as complex as planning a scientific experiment to test a new theory.

How can you improve these skills?

• Take on a research project: many university schools and departments offer research projects in higher years, some during the summer months. Talk to your lecturers about possibilities in areas you find interesting.
• Get more involved: if you are part of a club, sporting team or some other organisation, you could get involved at a higher level and take part in running things. You'll get to practise many research skills, like problem solving, critical thinking and analysis (not to mention your communication skills!)

Communication

No one works completely by themselves — at some stage, everyone needs to interact with other people. Employers seek people who are able to express themselves clearly and confidently, in writing or verbally, in different situations with different audiences. They are interested in your ability to work in a team, to take control when required, and to forge strong partnerships with others.

How can you improve these skills?

• Practise your writing: you could submit an article for a union publication, like the Daily Bull or Honi Soit
• Do some public speaking: get involved in theatre productions or debating
• Find a course or workshop: check out courses at the Learning Centre, in oral communication or academic reading and writing. Not assertive enough? The Counselling Service offers workshops on assertive communication
• Get involved: the best way to build up your interpersonal skills is to do things that involve other people. Join a sporting team, get involved in union or local politics, find a club or society that interests you, and become a part of the team.
• Become a leader: many people tend to take the back seat — if a leadership role comes up, why not jump in? Become your sporting team's captain, or treasurer of the Sydney University Wine Society. It's not that hard ...

Personal and intellectual autonomy

Your ability to organise yourself, set and achieve goals and learn independently will make you a very useful member of any workplace. Your personal skills will also help you to figure out what you want to be doing in your life, what's important to you, and what you want to achieve.

How can you improve these skills?

• Take a course: the Counselling Service offers many workshops that develop your personal skills, like workshops on getting organised, or stress management
• Set yourself some goals: one good way to show you can aim high is to actually do it! Visit the library and read up on how to set some good, achievable goals for yourself, things you really want to do.

Information literacy

Can you recognise when information is needed and are able to find it, judge its quality and use it effectively at work?  This requires a basic level of IT skills, such as being able to effectively use databases,word processors, and spreadsheets, but involves more complex issues than technology alone such as the ability to analyse, the ability to think critically and to solve problems.

How can you improve these skills?

• The uni library people are the experts in searching for information. Do a library tour early in the year, preferably during o-week. Make sure you attend information classes which are part of your course work. If these are not available, attend some of the classes the library offers or learn online
• Or if you would like to talk to someone about searching for information, contact your Liaison librarian – there's one for every subject
• For IT skills, take a course: if you're not already comfortable with word processors, spreadsheets (such as Excel) and basic computer programs like email and internet software, go out and practise! Continuing Education offers IT courses, ranging from beginner to advanced level

Ethical, social and professional understanding

You probably don't want to be just another anonymous worker — when you get a job, you'd like to be recognised as an individual. It's important to understand your own values, and have a sense of where you stand in the world. Employers are looking for people who also understand how their profession works and how it fits into society. Some professions even have a specific code of practice. Employers want people with developed personal and professional perspectives.

How can you gain these perspectives?

• Is there a professional group or society in your field? Check out organizations like the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Psychological Society, the Australian Institute of Physics, the Institution of Engineers, the Royal Australian Chemical Institute ... most professional bodies will give discount memberships to students. See what you can find on this list from the Careers Centre.
• Go to a talk: most departments and schools at this university run seminar series — go along and see what's happening in your area. Keep an eye out at the University's events page for public talks, workshops and conferences.
• Get involved: if there's something you believe in — a political cause, a charity, an environmental issue, a social problem — get out there and help. Volunteer, attend meetings, offer your time or your skills, go to talks. The more exposure you have, the more chance you have of understanding the issues and forming your own perspectives.