Skills Audit 2019

Name: Thomas Stafford

Date: 11/10/19
Course: Business Level 3
Competencies rating
1 - No experience
2 - Some experience
3 - An experienced student
4 - A competent and confident student
5 - A truly outstanding student – able to confidently enter the world of work
with a high level of competency.
TRANSFERABLE
SKILLS

Please see cover

page for
Be able to
More specifically how to rate Where and how have I developed this skill?
demonstrate:
yourself
My competence
•Be an effective member of a team I have gotten this skill from college when participating in
to achieve a successful outcome many different team projects. With each one i have
1 2 3 4 5 received feedback from teachers and students allowing
me to further develop this skill.

• Understand your individual role and
contribution to a team.
1 2
Teamwork
1 2
• I understand my behaviour and impact
on others when working in and contributing
to the success of formal and informal teams
• Able to listen, give and receive feedback
and respond perceptively to others.
1 2
I have gained and developed this skill whilst at industry
placement as i have had to work in a team and in a
professional setting you have to stick to your individual
3 4 5
role within the team as otherwise that work will not be
completed by anyone els.
I have gained and developed this skill through my
experiences at college as i have been in teems where
people have purposefully not come in to do presentations,
3 4 5
and this has shown me the impact of my behavior in a
team setting.
I have gained and developed this skill through
assignments at college where we have worked in teams
3 4 5
and have given and received feedback.
 • Able to produce a well-structured and well I have gained and developed this skill through experience
written report of substantial length. and my industrial placement as i have had to produce
1 2 3 4 5 multiple detailed, professional, reports for others working
there.
Communication -
written • Have confidence and control when writing I have gained and developed this skill through my
Write clearly and in a different types of document in various styles. experiences in school and college in which I have had to
style appropriate to produce lots of work in many different types of
purpose, e.g reports, 1 2 3 4 5
documents, which in turn has given me confidence and
assignments, letters. control when writing in these different documents.

• Able to demonstrate proficient report I have gained and developed this skill through writing
writing skills. 1 2 3 4 5 multiple reports for college and at industry placement.

Communication – • Able to communicate own ideas verbally, I have gained and developed this skill through doing many
verbal with proficiency and confidence. presentations throughout my life, in which I have received
Construct coherent 1 2 3 4 5 feedback and continuously worked upon this skill.
arguments and
articulate ideas
clearly to a range I have gained and developed this skill through having to
of audiences, formally talk to many different people where i used to work
and informally • Able to explain my ideas at a range of levels. 1 2 3 4 5 (colleges, customers, and the owner) allowing me to
through a variety of practice expressing my ideas to many different people.
techniques
• Able to construct arguments and present I have gained and developed this skill through doing
these to a range of audiences. practice debates in school, in which we were given topics
1 2 3 4 5 that we had to argue for, and then given time to prepare
for them.

Be able to
More specifically My competence Where and how have I developed this skill?
demonstrate:
 • Show evidence of presenting information
effectively to groups.
• Able to produce well-constructed clear
presentations and use audio-visual aids where
appropriate e.g. PowerPoint.
Presentation skills
• Able to present work fluently and
confidently, and able to respond clearly and
persuasively to questions and comments.
• Able to plan, organise and evaluate a
given project.
Project management
skills
Apply effective project
management through
• Able to execute a project plan which
the
follows a designated schedule to produce a
setting of goals,
finished piece of work within a given time
intermediate
period
milestones and
prioritisation of
activities
• Able to set and prioritise a number of
intermediate goals within an individual
or group project and to develop an effective
strategy and timetable for meeting them.
I have gained and developed this skill through my
education as i have had to explain and presenting many
1 2 3 4 5
things to groups of my peers.
I have gained and developed this skill through college as
we have had many guest speakers that have not only
showed me what presentations are meant to look like
from a professional perspective, but some that have come
1 2 3 4 5
in to specifically explain how good presentations are
constructed and what type of things to avoid when making
them.
I have gained and developed this skill through again my
time at college as i have had to present my work on many
1 2 3 4 5
occasions to others, and answer any questions they have.
I have gained and developed this skill through my time on
industry placement as i have had to help with multiple
projects so i have been able to see these process take
1 2 3 4 5 place.
I have gained and developed this skill through doing my
assignments at college as for them i have had to produce
1 2 3 4 5 pices of work in a given time period. This is in order to get
good grades, and progress at college.
I have gained and developed this skill throughout college
as we have had multiple assignments given out at once so i
1 2 3 4 5 have had to prioritise which to work on and when, i then
also had to think of a date in which to review my progress
to see if i need to change my priorities at all. Also this skill

• Able to make plans and balance competing
demands on time effectively.
• Build and maintain cooperative networks
and relationships with tutors, peers and
corporate representatives.
Networking
• Able to promote my unique selling points
in a networking situation with prospective
employers.
Be able to
More specifically
demonstrate:
• Understand what effective negotiation
requires.
Negotiation skills
has been further developed when i have been the leader
of a team and i have had to prioritise work for everyone
and again set dates for us to meet and review progress.
I have gained and developed this skill through college and
part time employment as i have had to balance doing my
college work when i am not working in order to ensure i
1 2 3 4 5 complete my set assignments. I know this has been
effective as last year at college i got distinctions for every
unit.
I have gained and developed this skill through my parents
as they have taught me how to maintain good
1 2 3 4 5 relationships with different people no matter who they
are, or what they do.
I have gained and developed this skill through from doing
ral and mock interviews in which i have had to try and “sell
my self” to employers, and through this practice and
1 2 3 4 5
feedback i have noe improved on this skill and have
managed to get employment from it.
My competence Where and how have I developed this skill?
I have gained and developed this skill through trying to
negotiate with people in my life about many things and
1 2 3 4 5
then learing from my failures.
 • Demonstrate where I have carefully
explored my position and the other person’s
position, with the goal of finding a mutually
acceptable compromise, that gives us both as
much of what we want as possible.
• Have negotiated in a situation where you
have found what the other person wants
matches what you are prepared to trade, and
that you are prepared to give what the other
person wants.
• Able to demonstrate my awareness of the
power dynamic in a negotiating situation and
how this can impact on me winning or losing a
negotiation.
• Able to work effectively unsupervised.
• Able to manage competing demands on your
time.
Managing self
• Able to efficiently prioritise tasks
I have not gained and developed this skill yet however, i
plan to practice and ask for advice on how to gain this skill
1 2 3 4 5 whilst at industry placement.
I have not gained and developed this skill yet however
again i plan on getting my industry placement to help me
1 2 3 4 5 with this skill/
I have gained and developed this skill through employers
1 2 3 4 5 that have come into college and have explained how these
things contribute in a negotiation.
I have gained and developed this skill through many years
of education, as if you do not put in the effort then you
1 2 3 4 5
will not be able to progress, which i have.
I have gained and developed this skill through being at
college and working part time as assignments needed for
1 2 3 4 5 college have had to be organised in a way that i can work
and still have time to complete them.
Again I have gained and developed this skill through
college as we often get multiple assignments at once and
1 2 3 4 5 we have to be able to prioritise them in order to get them
all completed and handed in on time.
Managing others • Understand the skills and attributes of a I have gained and developed this skill through previous
leader. experiences in being a leader in group assignments in
1 2 3 4 5 college, but also through presentations by employers wich
state the attributes of a leader.

• Have experience of managing or leading As previously stated i have been a team leader on multiple
another team or group. occasions at college so this has given me the experience in
1 2 3 4 5
leading a team.

• Have experience of motivating a group and I have gained and developed this skill through being a part
giving them responsibility. of teams in college in which no one really wants to do any
1 2 3 4 5 work so i have managed to motivate and deligate work to
them in order to get work completed.

• Listen to team members and encourage This skill has again been gained from my time at college as
involvement. in order to motivate some people first i had to listen and
understand why they were not motivated to do work,
1 2 3 4 5 through doing this i then managed to encourage them to
be a part of the team and contribute to it, giving me
experience with this skill.

• Experience of training or coaching people to I have gained and developed this skill through industry
equip them to succeed placement as when someone new started to work there I
taught them how to make delivery notes so that goods
1 2 3 4 5 could be delivered by TNT, this then helped him to
properly do this job with little assistance and few
mistakes.

• Plan the work of a team, considering all that I have gained and developed this skill through doing team
must be accomplished, the various deadlines projects a college where i have had to delegate work to
or timeframes to be met, and the work steps 1 2 3 4 5 each member and make a schedule for when this work has
required. to be done in inorder to hit certain deadlines.
 • Delegate tasks and review progress to
achieve goals.
• Able to demonstrate awareness of
individuals in a team, learn their strengths and
weaknesses and challenge them to achieve to
the best of their abilities.
• Can demonstrate fairness and impartiality
and be consistent when holding everyone to
the same standards and expectations.
• Have proven ability to challenge and/or
discipline a team member for failing to adhere
to standards and expectations
Be able to
More specifically
demonstrate:
Application of IT • Effective use of Microsoft Office including
Word and Powerpoint.
• Able to use Excel and develop and
manipulate spreadsheets.
I have gained and developed this skill through again
college as when completing the projects progressed has to
be reviewed as otherwise by the time the deadline comes
you will not know exactly what is done or if it is done
1 2 3 4 5
correctly so when i was a team leader I schedule many
review points for progress in order to help us achieve our
shared goal.
When working with groups in college i had to understand
everyone's strengths and weaknesses in order to better
1 2 3 4 5 give them work to do, as otherwise they will not be
working to the best of their abilities, which could hurt the
teams progress.
I have gained this skill from college again as when we do
group tasks everyone is encouraged to contribute with
1 2 3 4 5
their own ideas and thoughts.
I have gotten this skill as when doing group projects some
people haven't showed up, and as a result i have had to
1 2 3 4 5 challenge them about this as it damages the progress of
the team.
My competence Where and how have I developed this skill?
I have gained this skill throughout my education as
through school i had to use this software to do work on
1 2 3 4 5
inorder to get good grades.
I have gained this skill through industry placement as i
have had to do multiple projects surrounding excel and
1 2 3 4 5
putting information on it and making formulas.
 • Proficient in the use of email and Internet.
• Knowledge of computer hardware and how
to troubleshoot.
• Can use printer and photocopier efficiently.
• Able to access online research databases
Be able to
More specifically
demonstrate:
• Able to raise vital questions and problems,
formulating them clearly and precisely.
Critical thinking
• Gather and assess relevant information,
using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively.
I have gained this skill through my time at industry
placement as i have had to email many suppliers asking
1 2 3 4 5 them various questions, and i have had to use the internet
in order to find these emails sometimes.
I understand computer hardware, however when it goes
wrong i only know basic solutions that you try before
1 2 3 4 5
asking others for elp (such as turning it on and off).
I have gained this skill through my time in education as i
have had many projects, assignments, posters, documents
1 2 3 4 5 etc that have had to be printed or photocopied giving me
this skill and allowing me to develop it over the years.
I have gained this skill through mainly college as i have had
to do a lot more online research than school, so through
1 2 3 4 5 many assignments that I have been able to develop and
practice this skill.
My competence Where and how have I developed this skill?
I have gained this skill through doing my industry
placement as when i first arrived i had no experience of
even being in an office let alone working in a purchasing
1 2 3 4 5 department, so i had to be able to ask questions and point
out problems in a clear precise manner as to better
understand and work there.
I have gained this skill through college as this is how you
conduct research in order to complete many of the tasks
1 2 3 4 5 set, as without this skill you don't know hat you are talking
about.
 • Come to well-reasoned conclusions and
solutions, testing them against relevant
criteria and standards.
• Think open-mindedly within alternative
systems of thought, recognising and assessing,
as need be, your assumptions, implications,
and practical consequences.
• Communicate effectively with others in
figuring out solutions to complex problems,
without being unduly influenced by others'
thinking on the topic.
Problem solving • Able to identify, clarify and describe a
problem (s).
• Ability to analyse the causes of a given
problem(s).
• Ability to identify and assess alternative
solutions.
I have gained this skill through industry placement when i
was carrying out a project, as the original method that this
project was meant to be completed in did not work so i
1 2 3 4 5 had to find a solution to this and then make sure that this
still meant the project had the correct criteria and
standards as with the previous methods.
I have gained this skill through general education as you
are encouraged, and almost forced with some work, to
1 2 3 4 5 think alternatively and to ue this skill in order to complete
work and progress.
I have gained this skill through college as we have had
many group discussions in order to solve complex
problems, however as individuals we have had to stick
1 2 3 4 5
with our own views and ideas regardless of what others
have said.
I have gained this skill through education as this has had to
be done as part of work for almost every year i have been
1 2 3 4 5
taught.
I have gained this skill through industry placement as
when completing projects if anything goes wrong i have to
1 2 3 4 5
find out why in order to fix the problem.
I have gained this skill through learning how to do maths
as many methods did not make sense to me so i had to
1 2 3 4 5
identify different solutions that worked.
 • Able to choose a solution and implement it. I have gained this skill through again working on projects
at industry place as once solutions are found they then
1 2 3 4 5 have to be picked and put in place in order for them to be
effective.

I have gained this skill through common sense as to see if a

problem was solved or not all you need to do is check to
• Able to evaluate whether the problem(s) 1 2 3 4 5 see if the problem is still there. If it is then its not solved, if
was solved or not. it isn't then it is solved.

Be able to
More specifically My competence Where and how have I developed this skill?
demonstrate:
• Able to generate new ideas and approaches. I have gained this skill through general education as to be
able to succeed and progress at a high level unique ideas
1 2 3 4 5
and approaches to things are needed.

• Able to develop new methodologies as I have gained this skill through industry placement as i
required. have helped them do develop new ways of doing things
1 2 3 4 5 such as they way they use labels, which required me to
Creativity
develop new methodologies.

• Able to find and implement solutions to I have gained this skill through again industry placement
difficult problems. whilst working on a project as there was a problem
1 2 3 4 5 jeopardising the entire project so i had to implement a
solution to this very difficult problem.

• Demonstrate self-awareness and the ability I have gained this skill through industry placement as i
to identify own training needs. have previously asked for training/advice with certain
Lifelong learning 1 2 3 4 5
things as i did not know how to do them.
 • Pursue appropriate training to develop skills
and knowledge.
Ethics and social • Have a clear understanding of
responsibility the theoretical meaning and reference
of moral propositions and how their “truth
values” (if any) may be determined.
• Familiar with the practical means
of determining a moral course of action.
• Are aware how moral outcomes
can be achieved in specific situations.
• Understand ethics in a business
context.
• Understand corporate social
responsibility (CSR).
• Have freely contributed to the
community through activities such as
volunteer work.
CAREER
MANAGEMENT
I have gained this skill through as i have said above at
industry placement i have asked to be taught things as i
1 2 3 4 5
have not know how to do them.
I do not posses this skill as i have no experience in dealing
ith this, so in order to improve i will research how to get a
1 2 3 4 5
better understanding of what this skill is.
I do not posses this skill in a “practical” sense however i
1 2 3 4 5 can, and have, determine a moral corse of action.
I have gained this skill through watching things like the
news and following politics, as although it often doesn't
work, a lot of the times this is what politicians try to
1 2 3 4 5
achieve so by following that it allows me to see a basic
idea of what to do in a situation like this.
I have gained this skill as we haven't learnt about it in
1 2 3 4 5 college and completed research tasks on this subject.
I have again gained this skill through college as it has been
taught to us and we have completed research tasks
1 2 3 4 5
surrounding the subject
I have gained this skill through NCS in which i not only
helped to raise money for a charity but also volunteered
1 2 3 4 5 there to help with many things they needed doing such as
making a new sign.
Be able to
More specifically My competence Where and how have I developed this skill?
demonstrate:
Appreciate the need for • Active member of a professional
and show commitment institution or body. 1 2 3 4 5 I am a part of shipley college as i am a student there.
to
continued professional
development. • Regularly attend seminars or I currently do not attend seminars outside of college so i
presentations outside formal 1 2 3 4 5 do not posses this skill
curriculum timetable.
• Have ownership of, update and I have gained this skill through college as this is where i
regularly review a Personal Development 1 2 3 4 5 have created this plan to help me in the future.
Plan (PDP)

Take ownership of and • Aware of potential employers, general I have gained this skill through college as many employers
manage one’s recruitment practices and effective have come in ad talk to us about these things.
1 2 3 4 5
career progression, set job hunting techniques.
realistic and achievable
goals, and identify I have gained this skill through college as that is where I
and develop ways to • Have considered own career direction created my five year plan which has SMART targets.
1 2 3 4 5
improve employability post-graduation and set realistic and
achievable career goals.
• Have identified ways to improve your I have gained this skill through college as gain many
employability and acted upon them. 1 2 3 4 5 employers have given talks to us about this exact skill.

Be able to
More specifically My competence Where and how have I developed this skill?
demonstrate:
Demonstrate an • Aware of the range of career I have gained this skill through college as the head of the
insight into the opportunities within and outside careers department has given us many presentations
1 2 3 4 5
transferable nature the property sector. showing us exactly what career opportunities we have.
of skills developed
as part of your degree • Fully able to demonstrate the
to other work transferable nature of the skills developed I have this skill as through research i have fond out many
environments and the as part of your degree to other work skills that i have gained through industry placement are
1 2 3 4 5
range of career environments. relevant to the jo that i wish to pursue after university,
opportunities within and obviously this skill apply to university as well.
and outside the sector.

Present one’s skills, • A broad knowledge of types of CV's, I have gained this skill through college as we have had
personal interview techniques and standard many employers come in to give presentations to us bout
attributes and 1 2 3 4 5
questions and recruitment techniques this.
experiences through such as psychometric testing.
effective CVs, • Able to create a targeted CV which I have gained this skill through college as we have been
applications and effectively presents your skills, attributes and given lessons and guidance on how to crete a CV that fits
interviews experiences. 1 2 3 4 5 this criteria, we have even had employers give feedback
on my CV which helped a lot.

• Able to present your skills, attributes and I have gained this skill through college as they have given
experiences effectively in a job interview us many opportunities to have mock interviews with
situation. 1 2 3 4 5 employers which has allowed me to better prepare for real
interviews.

• Know where to look to find what channels

exist so I can keep up to date within my I have gained this skill through college as we have done a
1 2 3 4 5
specialism. lot of research on sources of information, in order to keep
up to date with our specialised subjects.
Commercial
• Research events within organisations I have gained this skill through college as we have gone on
Awareness
which offer students opportunities trips to business in which they have given talks on what
to get involved. 1 2 3 4 5 opportunities they have for students like u in college and
beyond when finishing university.
• Aware of membership bodies which I am I have gained this skill through college as again we have
able to join or get support from. done lots of research on where to go to get this support,
1 2 3 4 5 also guest speakers have come into college in the past to
talk to us about where to go for support.

• Use social networking to keep in touch with I have gained this skill through just generally being online
latest trends within my specialism. in the first place and then rearching how to access more
1 2 3 4 5 information about my specialism through social
networking.