Value yourself

This Graduate Attribute aligns with the Queen Mary value 'Proud'. It is about understanding, identifying and being proud of the contribution you make and links to the top employability skill of self-awareness.

How can you develop and demonstrate this attribute at Queen Mary?

Student stands in front of a pillar

Create a personal development plan
Identify your own strengths and areas for development
Develop a portfolio
Receive feedback from tutors and peers
Reflect on your learning and identify areas for development

How might this attribute be assessed or evaluated?

Reflective tasks which require you to consider how you approached activities or pieces of work
Group assignments
Portfolio assignments
Cover letters / application forms / interviews

What kinds of interview questions could I be asked that relate to this attribute?

What is your proudest achievement?
What are the key strengths that you will bring to this role?

How can you use attributes and skills gained from your Queen Mary course, extra-curricular opportunities and work experience to answer these kinds of questions?

Case studies from our graduates

Profile picture of Janvi Solanki

My name is Janvi, I studied Biomedical Sciences at Queen Mary and graduated in 2021. I now work as an Associate Copywriter at a healthcare advertising agency in London.

The most important graduate attribute for my post-graduate life has to be recognising your individual worth and being specific about your contributions. It’s so important to have this skill as it helps avoid 'imposter syndrome' which is very common with new starters in the workforce. Knowing that your contributions bring value helps build confidence in your new role and also helps identify the values and contributions others bring to the team.

I did a lot of presentations as part of my coursework at Queen Mary. I’m not the best at public speaking so this was always nerve-wracking for me. A big turning point was when we’d split the presentation work amongst the team so everyone had a specific responsibility. We all contributed something and had to become an expert in our given area. This helped me be confident when presenting because I knew no-one in my team was as experienced as I was in a specific part of the presentation. The same thinking should be applied in the workspace; the more you’re able to pinpoint your skills and contribution, the more confident you’ll feel in your role.