The Skills University Helped Me Build (And Why They Matter)
From public speaking to teamwork and technical skills, here are the key strengths I built at university, and how they shaped my confidence and career journey.
Me (middle) in London with the Collinson team, and some colleagues from UoB
During my time at university, I’ve had the chance to develop a wide range of skills through my degree, part‑time work and volunteering. Some of these skills grew naturally through my course, while others came from stepping into new roles, meeting new people and challenging myself in unfamiliar environments. Here are the key skills that have shaped my journey so far, and why I think every student should focus on building them.
My top 3 tips for students
1. You will find time to do extra work experience or volunteering outside your course. Start by applying and exploring opportunities, and once you’re committed, time planning becomes easier – especially because most on-campus roles are designed to be flexible around students’ timetables.
2. If you get a job or role, make the most of it. Practise your skills, ask questions and actively build your network. Every shift or event is a chance to grow.
3. Take hardships as a challenge for growth. Treat differences of opinion as new perspectives to explore, and view your roles as spaces to learn, not just to perform.
Presentation and public speaking skills
This is an essential skill that you’ll need in almost any job and throughout your degree. Strong presentation skills help you deliver your ideas clearly, allowing your audience to understand who you are, recognise your strengths and stay engaged with what you’re saying. The only way to build this skill is through consistent practice, and my roles have given me plenty of opportunities to do that.
The day I attended the annual School of Psychology Poster Presentation conference for my graduation project.
Communication skills
Communication is the skill that can take you further than you might imagine. In all the roles I’ve mentioned, I made sure to communicate well with the teams I worked with and the services I supported. Over time, this transformed me from having no LinkedIn profile, with 0 connections and little belief in myself, to having an active profile with 240 connections (still growing!) who support me, believe in me, and are excited to see my daily achievements. They also regularly share interesting opportunities with me, which has opened even more doors.
Teamwork skills
Teamwork allows you to volunteer or work in almost any environment. Being flexible enough to listen to new perspectives and collaborate with people you’ve never met before is a real flex. Developing this, alongside my presentation skills, led to some proud moments, such as representing the Careers Network at a Council meeting at the University and winning “Best Team and Presentation” at an insight day with Collinson in London.
In London with the Collinson team and my colleagues from University of Birmingham.
Presenting to the Collinson team in London
Representing the Career's Network at a University Council Meeting
Technical skills
For our generation (I’m a Gen Z by the way), technical skills can arguably be the easiest to build because we already use a lot of digital tools day-to-day. At university, we naturally learn how to use Microsoft Office, but it’s worth going a bit deeper and learning more advanced features when you can. Canva is also becoming increasingly important in many roles, and the Careers Network has recently given all UoB students access to Canva Pro – so it’s a great chance to experiment and practise your creativity.
You can also learn a wide range of technical skills online at your own pace, and you can make use of the free LinkedIn Learning access that the Careers Network (they are just amazing at this point) provides to students. The most important thing here is to stay open to learning new systems and practise becoming a quick learner with strong attention to detail. These are the qualities that help you stand out.
These are not all the skills I’ve developed, but they are the ones that stand out the most to me and also helped me get a minimum of 2:1 at all group work/presentation assignments that I have done. I started building many of them through my course and then strengthened them further through my various roles.
Final reflections – what I’ve learned
If you’re thinking about working while studying, go for it, it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made. You won’t know what you enjoy or what you’re good at unless you try different things and see where you excel.
There is no such thing as a “template” career journey or a single correct path. I’ve seen and heard about all kinds of successful career stories, often with unexpected roles along the way. You’ll find what suits you and what you truly want, even if your degree doesn’t seem directly related, as long as you keep taking small, patient steps towards your goals.
Career shifts are always an option, so don’t tie your identity solely to your degree. For me, Psychology can lead almost anywhere, which is something I’m very grateful for.
At the end of the day, it’s your life and your journey.