Managing Information

Behavioural indicators include:-

• Store and organise gathered information effectively and consistently.
• Record the sources of the information accurately and in a consistent format.
• Understand the contexts in which the information will be used.
• Identify the potential users of the information.
• Evaluate the information against the objectives.
• Identify irrelevant information and dispose of appropriately.
• Recognise the key points without distraction from detail or volume.
• Recognise and present the interconnections between various elements of the information.
• Recognise and deal with conflicting information.
• Recognise deficiencies in the information.
• Understand standard and expected formats for presenting the information.
• Use a variety of presentation tools and techniques e.g. graphs, statistics etc., selecting with potential users in mind.
• Accurately assess what is achievable/expected in the time available.
• Ascertain the level of detail appropriate to the task.
• Structure the information in a logical, clear and concise user-friendly manner.
• Formulate reasonable conclusions from the information.

Do I Have This Skill?

You'll need to be able to prove to employers that you actually have the skills they want for the job. In applications and interviews they will ask 'competency questions' that begin with phrases such as 'tell me a time when ............. ' or 'give me an example of .............. ' Your answers are the evidence that you have what it takes.

To find out how well developed your skills are already you could try this simple exercise:

Rate yourself on each of the behaviours:

• 1 = I do this very well. I am consistent and successful in it
• 2 = I am good at this. With some practice I can make it perfect!
• 3 = I am getting better, but still need to work on this a bit more.
• 4 = I am not particularly good at this - yet!

Revisit this exercise several times through your years of study - you'll want to have as many skills as possible at 1 and 2 before you apply for graduate jobs.

And, think about all the life situations you've been in - university, work, leisure, travel, social - and identify incidents and examples from them that show that you have already used the skill.