Cambridge students
Think about where you want to get to and then work backwards to build the skills that you need by joining societies, committees, and so on. Cambridge offers so many opportunities, so make the most of it!
Abir, Mathematics student and President of CU Bangla Society
A skill is an ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practised it. Skills development is the process of building your capabilities by practicing existing skills or learning new ones. This will help you achieve your personal and professional goals, build confidence, and adapt to change.
High skills proficiency is associated with higher income and job satisfaction. An openness to learning and developing skills allows you to adapt to the ever-changing employment and economic landscape. It is also a quality that employers look for.
However, skills aren't just about employment. Skills development is personal to you - you might want to learn graphic design skills to promote an event you are running or improve your presentation skills to take part in an academic conference. Building your skills can be useful in all areas of your life, from professional roles to passion projects.
You can find the 9 broad skill categories here. Each category includes a number of skills that you could develop. These capture the broad range of skills that are valuable to the current and future needs of the labour market, and to your personal development.
You don't need to be an expert at every skill! Think about your personal, academic and career goals: which skills would be most useful for achieving these? Understanding your current skillset could also help you identify areas for development.
You've already been developing skills throughout your life, whether through studying, extracurriculars, employment, volunteering, or hobbies.
Understanding your current skillset helps you:
Use the Skills Discovery Tool to evaluate your current skills and create a personalised development plan.
When you are studying at Cambridge, your academic studies are a priority. Through this, you will be developing valuable skills including critical thinking, research, analysis, and communication.
Cambridge also offers extensive opportunities to build skills through societies, sports, volunteering and leadership roles. You can explore options through the Cambridge SU societies directory, or by visiting the Freshers' Fair in Michaelmas and the Refreshers' Fair in Lent. You could also join College-based societies, which may advertise events through your JCR/MCR or on social media.
Find out more information about which skills you can develop through different opportunities on the activities page.
Skills development doesn't have to be about doing more. Simply reflecting on the skills you are building through your studies and existing activities is valuable - take a look at the activities page or use the Skills Discovery Tool to help with this.
Learning new skills can actually save time by improving efficiency. For example, using new digital tools could help you find and cite sources faster, while joining a sports team could improve your time management. Getting out and engaging with new activities can also improve your wellbeing and make you feel more connected to your community, giving you the best starting point for academic success.
Some roles will come with a lot of responsibilities. Leadership or committee positions, for example, can be very enriching but may be time intensive. Think about what you already have on before committing to new activities or roles that might stretch your time and energy. Equally, if you are ready for more responsibility, go for it!
Choose activities strategically based on your interests, goals, and current commitments. There are involvement options ranging from online courses to recreational societies to leadership positions. There is no 'right' way of developing your skills, so find out what works best for you.
Your skills development will be influenced by your background, responsibilities, learning style and personality.
If you are neurodiverse, have caring responsibilities, a disability or health condition, you may feel developing certain skills is more difficult, or face barriers to engaging with skills development. You could start by reflecting on all the skills you will have developed through your circumstances. This could include time management, advocacy skills, persistence and problem-solving.
Consider flexible options, such as online courses and webinars, if you have limitations on your time or energy. This could also be a great place to start if you need to build confidence. Many societies and activities will provide accessibility statements for their events or can produce them on request.
For additional support, have a chat with a friend, careers consultant, your ADRC advisor or mentor, or your tutor about making a skills development plan that works for you. Access to 1-to-1 study skills support may be available through your ADRC advisor.
If you would like to take the Skills Discovery evaluation with a person, rather than via the online platform, please do book an appointment with a Careers Consultant.
Get started by taking a look at the resources you can access through your University account. There are courses available for every skill!
Engage in all that Cambridge has to offer: societies, clubs, and scholarships. These experiences help develop character – something no one can take away from you.
Emil, Natural Sciences student and Varsity Boxer
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