Want to know what Agile skills are and how they relate to getting a job? Read on to find out.
In simple terms, Agile skills are all about being adaptable, working well with others, and delivering results quickly and efficiently.
Originally developed for software teams, these skills are now sought after in many industries because they help teams complete projects faster and adjust to changes easily. Learning Agile skills will make you more employable whether you’re a developer, a project manager, or looking for any role.
Definition
What is Agile in simple words?
Agile is a way of working where tasks are completed in small steps or “sprints.” This approach allows teams to quickly respond to changes and deliver parts of a project in stages, rather than all at once. Agile focuses on collaboration, flexibility, and continuous improvement.
Core Agile Skills for Graduates
The following list of skills is based on research from Postgraduate Futures and the helpful resource Defining Skill Sets Requirements for Agile Scrum Team Formation. These are the top skills graduates need to succeed in flexible, fast-paced workplaces.
1. Collaboration and communication
Working well with others is essential. Teams function by sharing ideas, listening to feedback, and making decisions together.
2. Adaptability and flexibility
Are you able to quickly adjust your approach when tasks or priorities change? This helps you keep pace with evolving project needs.
3. Problem-solving skills
Projects often face unexpected challenges. Quick, creative problem-solving keeps progress moving without delays.
4. Time management
Managing your time effectively allows you to complete tasks within short work cycles and meet deadlines.
5. Self-management
Teams often work with minimal supervision, so you need to be able work work independently. Organise your own tasks and stay on track.
6. Task prioritisation
Focus on the most impactful tasks first. Learning how to prioritise work means you’ll deliver value consistently.
7. Continuous improvement
Looking for ways to improve is part of the job. After each project phase, teams review what worked and what could be refined.
8. Cross-functional skills
Contributing to multiple areas of a project, such as coding, testing, or design, makes you more versatile and valuable.
9. Data-driven decision making
Using real data and feedback guides decisions, helping you stay focused on what will deliver the best results.
10. Customer focus
Understanding the end user’s needs shapes your decisions, leading to improvements in the final product for the customer.
11. Risk management
Identifying potential problems early and planning solutions helps projects run smoothly and reduces setbacks.
12. Leadership and team building
Good leadership involves guiding your team, keeping them focused, and fostering a positive work environment.
Building Skills via Industry Connections
Jump-start a stellar career and build Agile skills by forging industry links early. Let’s be honest, studying can feel like a long slog, but that investment could lead to a rewarding career.
According to Australia’s Postgraduate Destinations survey, more than a third (38.3%) of postgraduates find work in the private sector. Another 25.5% work in education, 15.8% in health, and 11.8% in government. No matter the industry, the workplace is shifting towards Agile environments where flexibility and responsiveness are highly valued.
Being ‘T-shaped’
Employers are looking for graduates who are “T-shaped”—people with deep knowledge in a specific field but who can also apply their skills across other areas. While postgraduate studies often focus on specialisation, you’ll also develop valuable Agile skills in areas like communication, project management, and teamwork.
Andrew Purchas, national account manager at GradConnection, says that employers value postgraduates’ deep analytical skills. “Many students present themselves with transferable skills like time management, organisation, and research,” he explains.
Industry connections lead to agile skills
Building industry connections early can help you hone your Agile skills. For example, during her Master of Sustainability at the University of Sydney, Michelle Senerman Finkelstein worked with Edge Environment, helping develop an app that assesses product lifecycles by scanning barcodes. This hands-on experience allowed her to apply Agile skills like collaboration and problem-solving.
Adding to Your Resume
Listing Agile as a skill
Yes, Agile can be listed as a technical skill on a developer’s resume, especially if you’ve worked with Agile frameworks like Scrum or Kanban. Here’s a sample line you can use under the “Technical Skills” section:
Technical Skills: Agile methodologies (Scrum, Kanban), project management tools (Jira, Trello), sprint planning, backlog management, daily stand-ups.
Showing you have these skills
Even if Agile isn’t the focus of your role, you can showcase Agile skills by pointing to key elements of your experience. These skills are about being adaptable, collaborative, and organised. Here are examples of lines you can include:
Self-management and collaboration: Successfully completed multiple projects in team environments by managing personal tasks and coordinating with team members to meet tight deadlines.
Problem-solving and adaptability: Quickly resolved unexpected challenges during project development by adjusting workflows and suggesting alternative solutions that kept the project on track.
These lines highlight the Agile mindset without directly naming it, showcasing that you can work effectively in dynamic and collaborative environments.
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