23 October 2023
5 Simple Ways To Show Off Your Skills In An Application
It’s deadline season – the months where career-hungry students like you descend on our website in search of amazing paid placement and internship roles.
Your application is KEY to landing that dream role. But we know it can be tough. Especially when you want to make sure yours stands out from the crowd.
Highlighting your strongest skills is crucial for getting noticed by employers. Struggling to think of yours? It’s time to look at your past experiences.
Read on to see 5 real life examples of how you can do just that…
- You’ve smashed your latest essay
- You’re working at the local pub
- You’re a committee member of a uni society
- You volunteer
- You’ve set up your own business
1. You’ve smashed your latest essay
Bagged yourself a great mark in your latest essay? Definitely include it in your application! It’s something to be proud of.
It shows you have some admirable skills, such as:
- Good time management
- Excellent written communication
- High determination
- Effective self-management abilities
- Research skills
Want to set yourself up for success in any future work experience application? Sign up to our FREE Career Coaching Course, a four-day virtual programme in October, to upskill yourself on CVs, applications and interviews.
2. You’re working at the local pub
We’ve all been there. You need a little extra cash so you’ve taken on a few weekly shifts at your local pub. Good for you!
As well as being financially beneficial, it means you’ve gained some actual work experience too.
Include this in your application to show you have:
- Levels of responsibility
- Autonomy
- High organisation
- Ability to work under pressure
- Great customer service
3. You’re a committee member of a uni society
Being a member of a society or club is a KEY part of university life. It introduces you to new friends, develops a passion and can even encourage you to try new things!
Have you taken on some extra responsibility by becoming President, Treasurer or Social Sec? You HAVE to include it in your application. Why? Because it highlights:
- You’re a leader
- Enjoy being part of a team
- Positive attitude
- High organisational skills
- Good communication
- Problem-solving skills
4. You volunteer
Volunteering has HUGE benefits. Not only for the cause or organisation you’re helping, but for you too. It allows you to meet new people, enhance your sense of purpose and build confidence.
So what are you waiting for? Include any examples of volunteering in your application and it’ll show prospective employers you have the following skills:
- Time management
- Excellent communication
- Customer service
- Delegation
- High organisation
- Problem-solving
5. You’ve set up your own business
So you’ve gone to uni and have decided to set up your own business on the side – amazing!
By including this in your application, it will show you have experience in the working world. Excellent. It will also highlight those all important skills you’ve developed, such as:
- Leadership
- Innovation
- Drive
- Passion
- Commercial awareness
- Networking
- Marketing and financial management
- Problem-solving
See! Showing off all those amazing skills you have is really as simple as that. Now you’re ready to go SMASH those applications.
Written by Ella
Ella is a content powerhouse who has an eye for all things creative. Having been in the game for over 7 years, she’s had the pleasure of writing for a huge range of businesses. Now she enjoys creating content that will help students land their dream placement roles. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she’s hanging out with her furry-friend Marshall.