TMAF Farm Manager David Jones set himself and the participants of the January 2026 John Forrest Communications Skills a challenge. Choose three words that best describe who you are. The choices are interesting.
David Jones, TMAF Farm Manager
A friend of mine had a job interview. One of the questions he was asked was “Give me three words that represent you”. I’m not interested in a new job but I thought that’s an interesting question. What are my three words?
This question is as much about the process of choosing each word rather than the actual words themselves. There is no wrong answer. There must be a job for someone that is lazy, rude and illiterate!
I decided to think about the three words that I think describe me. So what? Well, I’m about to start a master’s degree and in the application I had to write a personal statement. I used my three words and made a paragraph around them. Selecting my three words turned out to be not a pointless task after all.
At the John Forrest Award Communication Skills course in January, I asked the class of 2026 which three words represent them and why. They produced these explanations. P.S. If you’re interested my three words are creative, reliable and determined.
JFA Class of 2026
Rebecca Lee: Field Operation Manager, John Innes Centre
Organised, supportive and adaptable
Jacob Stirling: IT Project Co-ordinator, RNAA
Customer‑driven, flexible and approachable
The John Forrest Award communication course is a three-day residential training to help people in rural, agricultural and research industries be better at communicating about their work. Subjects include chairing meeting, presenting to target audience(s), being interviewed on TV and radio, making short film professional use of social media and AI. It is funded by TMAF and the Felix Thornley Cobbold Agricultural Trust and the course is provided by Green Shoots Productions.