Using ‘Me in a Minute’ to promote skills in articulating employability strengths

Evidence indicates that undergraduate students value the Me in a Minute video strategy as a mechanism for developing employability articulation skills. However, an in-depth analysis of students’ ability to create a Me in a Minute video that effectively communicates employability strengths has not yet been conducted.

To address this gap, an assessed Me in a Minute module was implemented in a third-year capstone subject within undergraduate non-specialist health science degrees. The module aimed to support students in developing their employability articulation skills through a structured assessment process. This included a preparatory mid-semester self-evaluation, the creation of a Me in a Minute video, and an end-of-semester reflection comprising Likert-scale and open-ended responses.

The study sought to determine students’ ability to produce an effective and professionally delivered video, as well as their perceptions of their employability skills and the module activities. Student submissions—including the evaluation task, video, and reflection—were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Mid-semester evaluations revealed that students rated their discipline knowledge, transferable skills, and personal attributes highly. Video analysis showed that while students demonstrated aptitude in referencing relevant experiences, many struggled to substantiate their claims with tangible evidence. Fewer than half of the videos were assessed as professional artefacts.

Despite these challenges, students expressed strong appreciation for the module and felt that the activities supported their development in articulating employability strengths. In conclusion, the Me in a Minute video strategy is positively received by health science students, though further support is needed to help them evidence achievements and present themselves professionally.