Communication

There aren't many jobs that don't require good communication skills and we have lots of opportunities to develop our communication skills at school. We may think of communication just as speaking, for example public speaking, but we can't communicate properly without writing, reading, listening and clear understanding.

How you're developing your Communication skills

You may not notice it, but you're probably already doing a lot of things that show you're a great communicator. If you're not, then here are some suggestions of how and when you can start developing your communication skills.

  • Each time you clearly express yourself to a team member, a partner in class or a group of people

  • Each time you clearly express yourself to a group of people you don't know (this is harder than with people you know)

  • Each time you make points in a logical order

  • Each time you use appropriate language according to your audience and the setting

  • Each time you use facts and examples to support your points

  • Using visual aids to support your key messages

  • Using language to engage and persuade your listeners

  • Changing your tone, content and approach depending on the reaction of your listeners or their profile

  • Listening without interrupting

  • Repeating what you have understood back to someone before making your points

  • Being able to pass on the information you received after listening to someone

  • Recording key information as you listen

  • Picking out the key information in a text or in speech

  • Using eye contact and body language to show you're listening

  • Being aware of how a speaker/writer might be trying to influence you through their tone and language

  • Listening critically and considering where any differences in perspective may come from

  • Listening critically and identifying any potential biais in the person speaking, for example, your French teacher probably likes French food so when they describe it to you, they'll be encouraging you to eat it and telling you it's the best...

  • Being able to rephrase and summarise information you've received

develop your communication skills

By using online courses, you can better understand employability skills and take extra steps to develop any skills you need work on.

To develop your communication skills, try these sessions by Barclays Life Skills (you will need to make a free account)

You can keep track of anything you do to develop your employability skills on UNIFROG.

Understanding communication

Sophie takes the communication challenge

Communication and interpersonal skills

Build your evidence

You need to be able to prove to future employers or universities that you have the skills they want. Try preparing an example answer to the question: "Can you tell us about a time you've used your communication skills successfully"

Situation

  • Explain the situation you were in.

  • Aim to answer the questions ‘what/where/when’, for example, “In the third year of my business studies degree” or “when I was working as a retail assistant in a shop last summer”.

Task

  • What did you do, and what did the task or role involve?

  • Explain your tasks and responsibilities briefly.

Action

  • What did YOU do to meet the objective of/complete the task?

  • You might want to cover what you did and how you did it, including what skills you used.

Result

  • What was the outcome?

  • Did you make a difference?

  • Can you quantify this?

Reflection

  • What did you do well?

  • What didn’t go as well as you’d hoped?

Strengthen

  • After reflection, what would you have done differently?

  • What could have been improved to achieve an even greater success?