Can you demonstrate the most widely requested workplace skill in Scotland?
University of Glasgow Careers, Employability & Opportunity
By Jess Henderson
Whilst looking into labour market intelligence (LMI) data might not be everyone’s idea of fun, staying up to date with such trends is a key component of my role and something that I—luckily—find infinitely interesting.
Geeking out on the SDS Sectoral Skills Assessments recently, I noticed that ‘teamwork/collaboration’ was the most widely requested specialist skill in job adverts across all sectors. It placed top in ten out of the sixteen sectors covered and highly in all remaining ones.
This wasn’t necessarily a surprise; I spend a lot of my professional life talking about the value of transferable skills. However, I thought it worth highlighting, particularly as I often see students struggle with how best to articulate or evidence teamwork.
Why are teamwork and collaboration needed?
Nothing happens in the workplace without working with others. Regardless of your job, sector and type of employer (including self-employment), you will need to work with others in some way at some point.
You will need to work with people from diverse backgrounds—with different personalities, priorities and perspectives—to negotiate, agree, and complete work. This is not always easy, and challenges will occur, but such challenges are also healthy. It's therefore important that you can demonstrate the ability to consider and take account of these differing opinions or perspectives, work through issues and get things done.
How to develop and evidence teamwork and collaboration
Your degree is a great place to do this. Yes, everyone dreads group work assignments, but they are included precisely to enable you to practice, develop and improve your teamworking and collaborative skills.
Think about any other setting where you’ve had to work with others. This might be part-time jobs, voluntary work, social activities or other interests and hobbies. All of these can be great sources of experience.
Top tips for evidencing teamwork in selection processes
Use examples
Have examples and highlight how you individually contributed to the team. Some of the best examples emerge where there were problems or challenges. Such occasions give you the opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of effective teamwork and to clearly articulate how you contributed to their resolution.
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Focus on teamwork
Many students try to use examples when they’ve led a team, but this isn’t necessarily the best direction to go as you inevitably end up discussing leadership more than teamwork.
Consider what makes teams successful and try to reference these qualities, where applicable, in your examples. You can find countless articles online about what makes teams successful, but broadly speaking, it comes down to effective communication, having clear goals and being supportive, balanced and diverse.
Understand yourself
In addition to understanding what makes teams successful, try to understand the value that you bring to team situations. Are you an ideas person? Are you the one who ensures things stay on track? Do you focus more on group dynamics and maintaining effective relationships? Are you ensuring things are clearly communicated and documented?
You will likely contribute in several ways and exactly how may be impacted by circumstances and the rest of the group. However, having that self-awareness, borne out of experience and supported with examples, is the most powerful way you can evidence this.?
What examples do you have?
Now is a great time to take stock, regardless of whether you are currently applying for opportunities.
Do you have multiple examples you could draw on to demonstrate your teamworking and collaborative abilities?
Are these recent and examples that enable you to best demonstrate the points covered above? If not, how can you gain these experiences?
Further resources