Introduction to employability skills

What is employability? Employability has been defined as “the capability for gaining and maintaining employment.”

What are employability skills? Employability skills are the skills you have developed inside and outside of school that you can transfer to the workplace Knowledge and abilities relating to a particular job The ability to identify suitable job opportunities and self presentation for applications and interviews. You can’t rely on your academics alone to automatically open doors for you after school Many students already have the employability skills companies are looking for – but they don’t realise it!

Employability skills are also known as: Key behaviours Competencies Soft skills Transferrable skills Personal skills Generic skills Basic skills

Coaching Time Management Motivation Commercial Awareness Driven Team Player Leader Good Communicator Honesty Good sportsmanship Positive personal image Problem-Solving Flexibility Literacy Reliable Numeracy Committed Resilient Disciplined Patience Loyalty Respectful Self-Aware Goal-Orientated Prioritising Wants to learn Networks and Builds Relationships Guides Others

What are the top skills that employers want? Written communication Verbal communication Flexibility Commercial awareness Teamwork Planning and organising Investigating and analysing Drive Numeracy Self awareness Computing Professionalism

SWOT - Activity A SWOT analysis is useful for identifying areas for development You can analyse your strengths and weaknesses as well as the opportunities and threats that you face This helps you focus on your strengths, minimize your weaknesses, and take the greatest possible advantage of opportunities available to you

SWOT Analysis Strengths Threats Opportunities I communicate well within in a team. I am completely committed to my studies. Weaknesses Presenting makes me feel very nervous. I focus too much on the detail and sometimes this effects how I manage my time. I’m doing a presentation as part of an assignment. This will help to start to build my confidence public speaking. Apply for a part time job. This will help develop my customer service skills. Opportunities Stronger candidates applying for the job Threats September 2011

The outcome you want from the SWOT analysis: Strengths What strengths you should consider making stronger to further enhance your ability to pursue your goals Weaknesses What weaknesses you need to improve on, or manage, so that they don’t impede your goal setting What opportunities are best for you to pursue What internal strengths you can use to enhance your pursuit of these opportunities Opportunities What threats you need to eliminate/ minimise What internal strengths you can use to overcome these threats Threats September 2011

Sports clubs / Team Sports / Societies Positions of responsibility, motivation, relationships Think of teams you play in or clubs you are in involved with. You may have developed skills such as: Teamwork Communication Time management / organisation Leadership

Work Experience Work experience, even part time work at a restaurant, as a customer assistant as a shop, in a call centre or at a hairdressers would have helped you develop a number of skills employers look for: Communication Problem solving Teamwork Time management Planning and organising

Ask yourself some questions… What skills are required for the position? Do I have these skills? How have I developed the skills that are required? What do I need to do in the future to develop these skills? If I’m interested in the profession I want to join , what do I know about the profession commercially? Is this the career for you? Then start to research how you might apply…

What employers look for? Can you do the job? Are you motivated? Do you fit with the organisation?

What to do when at school Get actively involved in school life Develop personal skills Build up your work experience Find out about the careers open to you Research careers that interest you Prepare and keep your CV up-to-date Practice filling out application forms

Reflection Activity Reflect on what things you have done and achieved that make you a good employee of the future. Write down 3 things you have done that you can put on your CV. After this session, complete the SWOT analysis and try to identify 3 things that you will do going forward to develop.

Summary - Top Tips Find out about the careers open to you and the skills you need Assess your own employability skill level Start to develop personal skills – get involved!