Transferable Skills Case Study
Analysis
Analysis is the skill of breaking information into smaller parts to understand it better and see how everything fits together. You use analysis when looking at data, spotting patterns, figuring out why something happened, or deciding what evidence supports your ideas. It helps you think critically and make sense of complex topics, whether that’s understanding research, comparing different opinions or solving a problem.
Where can I find this in the skills language?
Cognition > Analyse context, information, data and evidence
Why does this skill matter?
Being able to analyse information helps you understand complex ideas and make better decisions. It supports success in essays, research, projects and problem-solving at university and is essential in everyday life and work for thinking critically, spotting trends and making evidence-based choices.
Where will you use this skill at university and beyond?
… as part of your degree
You practise analysis when interpreting research data, comparing theories, or evaluating arguments in essays. You use it to make sense of experimental results, assess sources critically or identify gaps in existing research.
… as part of the wider student experience
Analysis is used in clubs, societies, or volunteering when planning campaigns, evaluating the success of events, or solving logistical challenges. You use it when reviewing feedback from peers or assessing the impact of initiatives.
… as a professional in the future
At work, analysis can involve reviewing reports, interpreting data, or evaluating project results. You use it to make informed decisions, solve problems and provide evidence-based recommendations.
Student insight:
“Biochemistry has really developed my analytical skills because so much of the degree involves interpreting data, spotting patterns, and working out what the results actually mean. It has taught me to look beyond whether something “worked” and focus more on understanding why it happened.”
~ Student from the School of Molecular Biosciences
How can you evidence this skill?
You might be able to evidence this skill through:
- assessed work, where you evaluate evidence and draw conclusions
- making informed recommendations
- reviewing information, identifying patterns and presenting clear arguments
- applying insights to improve processes
- evaluating outcomes of events, campaigns or initiatives
How else might employers describe this skill?
You might also hear this skill described as…
- Critical thinking
- Problem-solving
- Data interpretation
- Evidence-based decision making
- Attention to detail
What are some example interview questions that feature this skill?
- Can you give an example of a time you analysed information or data to make a decision?
- Describe a situation where you had to review someone else’s work and identify strengths and weaknesses.
- Tell us about a project where you had to spot patterns, trends or gaps in the information available.
- Describe a time when your analysis helped solve a problem or improve a process.
What does a good response look like?
Question
Can you give an example of a time you analysed information or data to make a decision?
Response
Situation: While working at my old part-time job at a retail store, I had to work with the management team to decide on new products to market at the front of the store as a promotion to increase sales.
Task: I had to look at our stock and sales data to target products we had a lot of stock of, but with strong sales figures. The product would then get replaced near the front to increase exposure.
Action: I analysed our stock records to identify different products we had a lot of stock of, which had been decreasing very slowly, and put that together with information on where they were currently placed on the large shop floor. I also looked at sales numbers, particularly looking at which of these products, which were not selling enough, could be complemented with other products and increase our revenue at the store. In the end, we moved computer software and laptop cases beside the till as these were high-stock products which could benefit from our well-performing laptop sales.
Result: As a result of our laptop bundle promotions at the front of the store, our sales figures significantly increased for these products and freed up some space for other stock in our warehouse. I also felt more confident in analysing complex information on spreadsheets and identifying different patterns within these, such as sales and stock.