Careers and Employability Service

The Skills, Qualities and Attributes RAG Report

A ‘RAG Report’ is actually used for Project Management, and stands for ‘Red - Amber- Green’. It’s a
really useful tool when you are putting an event together, or planning a piece of work. Basically, you list
all of the things you have to keep track of, and assign a RAG status to them – so
Career Destinations
Red is Not Good! Things are off track or behind schedule
-
Disclosing Disability/Marketing Dyslexia (Applications)
- Amber is ‘Be prepared – this might go either way’
- Green is ‘All going fine, thanks’

This exercise asks you to think about your skills and qualities, and assign a RAG status to them. Think
about the criteria you want to use – and add comments in the right hand column as you need to. You
might use the colours in a number of ways – just be clear about what you have chosen! E.g. Red might
mean I never want to do this, or I think I’m really bad at this? Amber might mean – I love doing this but
I’m not good at it, or perhaps, I don’t know – I’ve never done it, but maybe it’s worth looking at in more
detail?

Green could mean ‘Yep, that’s me!’ or Yep! I’m confident with this and want to keep doing it.

Skill RAG Comments?

Written Communication
Identify and use information sources: set clear search
objectives, locate the most appropriate sources and
extract information relevant to my needs.
Read effectively and to purpose: set clear objectives and
quickly locate and extract the relevant information from
reports, articles, primary and secondary sources.
Evaluate quality of information: evaluate against my
objectives the relevance and quality of the information,
concepts and ideas extracted.
Write coherently and grammatically: write coherently in a
way that uses recognised grammatical structures and
normal spelling.)
Persuading and explaining structure and present my
argument to persuade the reader to accept or
understand particular opinions or information.
Report writing: structure and present my argument to
persuade the reader to accept or understand particular
opinions or information.

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Verbal Communication
Listening and understanding: listen attentively and
encourage other people to talk to me and am sensitive
to the non-verbal cues that enhance understanding.
Communicating communicate with a variety of
audiences, speak fluently and confidently.
Contributing to discussions I engage in discussions,
listen and ask questions in order to move forward the
understanding of all participants.
Explaining: explain complex information and ideas
effectively to other people who may not have the same
knowledge or background as myself.
Presentations: give succinct verbal reports and argue
convincingly without extensive recourse to notes.
Negotiating: create ‘win-win’ agreements between
people with opposing standpoints so that all parties can
reach acceptable solutions.
Formal presentations: convey information and concepts
to a variety of audiences using appropriate visual aids
and

Problem Solving
Investigating a problem: take the steps necessary to
gather all the relevant information so that the problem
can be clearly identified.
Proposing solutions: identify a range of possible options
and assess the strengths and weaknesses of each one.
Develop a solution: identify the most likely solution and
define the steps needed to develop and implement it
taking into account time, cost and resources.
Test a solution: identify potential difficulties that might
bring about failure and rigorously test the solution to
ensure that it is robust.
Plan your strategy: define planning objectives, the final
outcomes and timescales and decide the type of action
required and who is to undertake it.
Implement a solution: liaise with a variety of people so
that the solution is implemented cleanly, effectively and
in accordance with expectations.
Review the solution: involve relevant parties in
evaluating the outcomes of the implemented solution
against the agreed requirements.

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Team Working & Leadership
Objective setting: As a member of a team, clarify group
and individual objectives, agree on timescales and plan
realistic ways to achieve them.
Meeting objectives: work co-operatively as an active
member of a team. I meet my own objectives and help
others to meet theirs.
Aiding effective teamwork: help to improve effective
communication. I get everyone involved and share
information and knowledge.
Aiding conflict resolution: defuse problem situations,
avoid apportioning blame, use negotiating techniques
and support others where necessary.
Teamwork appraisal: assess the effectiveness of the
team, see how it could be improved and help all its
members to learn from our mistakes
Leadership - take responsibility to ensure the team
meets its objectives:
Motivating: provide vision, structure and motivation with
tact and sensitivity.

Numeracy
Application of basic number skills: familiar with a variety
of numerical concepts and apply them effectively as
appropriate.
Estimating: use knowledge of numbers to determine
information from incomplete data.
Calculating: calculate, either mentally or with a
calculator, quickly and accurately.
Interpreting data: determine the significance and
meaning of numerical data.
Explaining and presenting data: explain the significance
of numerical data to a variety of audiences and present
it in a concise and instructive way.
Numerical reasoning: determine the implications of
numerical data through processes of deduction and
analysis.
Mathematical reasoning: identify complex mathematical
relationships that exist between data that may include
formulae, and, if necessary, explain them.

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Information Technology/systems and
operations
General IT skills: find a way around different types of
computers that you haven’t come across before.
Word processing: have accurate keyboard skills. I write
and edit text and produce well laid out, numbered
reports, memos and letters.
Spreadsheet skills: create, manipulate and interpret data
in a spreadsheet format.
Database skills: create, maintain and apply simple
databases.
Presentation and drawing skills: handle a range of
computer graphic packages.
Information and network service: fully exploit internet
services. I identify appropriate information providers
and can download files.
Advanced IT skills: have a good working knowledge of
one or more software packages and can sort out the
majority of software problems which occur.

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www.southampton.ac.uk/careers
 Personality: Who do you think you are?
Which of these attributes do you think sum you up?

Try to think of examples, particularly for attributes that you initially think you might lack. Are you sure?
How might others describe you? Would they think of examples that you might overlook?
Remember – you need to be fair on yourself in order to get a clear picture.

Use the blank column in whatever way suits you. You might use *** (this is really me, * I’m a bit like this,
or perhaps I for I think I am, and O for others think I am?

Able to concentrate Clear-thinking Sociable

Curious Intelligent Assertive
Meticulous Quick Friendly
Responsible Tough Persevering
Able to manage stress Competent Stable
Diplomatic Inventive Attention to details
Modest Quiet Good-natured
Risk-taking Trusting Persuasive
Accurate Competitive Supportive
Discreet Kind Business-like
Motivated Rational Helpful
Self-confident Trustworthy Poised
Adaptable Confident Tactful
Easy-going Likeable Calm
Open-minded Realistic Honest
Self-controlled Understanding Practical
Adventurous Conscientious Teachable
Efficient Logical Careful
Optimistic Reflective Humorous
Sensible Versatile Precise
Aggressive Conservative Tenacious
Emotional Loyal Cautious
Organized Reliable Imaginative
Sensitive Witty Progressive
Ambitious Consistent Thorough
Empathetic Mature Cheerful
Outgoing Reserved Independent
Sincere Creative Punctual
Analytical Methodical Thoughtful
Enthusiastic Resourceful Patient

Careers and Employability Service | 023 8059 3501 | careers@southampton.ac.uk

www.southampton.ac.uk/careers