What are analytical skills?
Analytical skills are the thought processes required to evaluate information effectively. Examining a problem thoroughly requires attention to detail, perseverance and maintaining your focus.
Application form and interview questions
Some examples of application form and interview questions which are designed to test analytical skills:
- Describe the last time you had to analyse a lot of information or data. What sort of information did this involve? What did you learn from the analysis?
- Critically analyse the effects of the credit crunch on our sector.
- Demonstrate how you have developed your analytical skills whilst at university.
If you are unsure how to structure an answer for either application or interview questions, visit the application and interviews section of our website and find out about the CAR (context, action, result) and STAR (situation, task, action, result) models. Our recommendations are based on feedback from employers.
Assessment centres
Business case studies often require high level of analytical skills in order to generate proposals to put before the assessors. In this instance your powers of analysis are tested under a time pressure.
Activities where you could develop your analytical skills
The following activities, which may be undertaken as part of or alongside your studies, can be good ways to develop your analytical skills:
- Enterprise modules Gain a practical insight into self-employment and help develop business skills.
- Talks, workshops and skills training sessions Run by employers or careers consultants watch out for activities like business games, assessment centres and commercial awareness.
- Work Experience Develop a range of skills and build up your experience whilst at university.
- My Learning Essentials workshops and resources Critical reasoning and analytical skills.
