1. Developing A Brilliant You
This chapter details several aspects of Developing oneself to a wider career opportunities and utilising Employability skills:
The I Brand Employability Model and its three layers – Degree, Generic Skills and individual contributions
Updating one’s skills
Elevator Pitch work
Reasoning for acquiring a mentor
Created by Andrei and Johnny

2. I Brand Employability Model
The Core – The Degree (In our Case Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance
Generic Employability Skills we’ve gained from the course –
Leadership
Team-working
Positive attitude
Communication
Problem- Solving
Commercial Awareness
Numeracy
Computer Literacy
Cultural Sensitivity
Other individual contributions –
Experience
Network
Enterprise
Marketing

3. Core Degree Degree is the heart of experience gained at University
Degree provides a technical and generic skill set which in itself makes one proficient within the field of study
extra-curriculum activities can provide a broaden experience and portfolio of skills
degree allows an understanding but one’s involvement in development relevant employability skills that will differentiate one’s self from the competition

4. Generic Employability Skills
Core generic skills outline gives students an indication of graduate recruiter’s expectations
form the basis of standard requirements expected from graduates
students must be able to provide a practical demonstration of how they’re developed these skills through extra-curricular activities and work experience
list of skills and the ability to rate oneself with the skills:
Leadership
Team-working
Positive Attitude
Communication
Problem – solving
Commercial Awareness
Numeracy
Computer Literacy
Cultural Sensitivity

5. Individual Contribution
individual elements of the model recognise the students’ individuality
student have different experiences, therefore no two students can have the same experience
I Experience
Individual experiences will impact on developing ones employability skills, a student cannot ignore their personal story, their goals, ambition and drive will dictate to what extent these skills are ingrained into their profile
I Network
networking helps to identify possible job opportunities
success of the network will vary for every individual, based upon who the students know and their wider network, some students have the added benefit of using relations network, friends or family.
The extent of their network is also dependent upon their individual connections
building a network includes both traditional face-to-face networking and social networking online
Examples include – LinkedIn, which will highlight the student’s experience and provide greater career opportunities.

6. Individual Contribution Continued
I Enterprise
Entrepreneurial ability to find solutions or make recommendations that projects a company or product beyond its current constraints is an unmeasurable talent
individual characteristic are important for a student to recognise that despite the opportunities to develop employability skills, students many or may not be entrepreneurial in their approach
I Marketing
Presenting oneself to potential employers, both through written and verbal communication, will determine one’s ability to secure a position
Ranging from choice of words, presenting oneself even the way one walks, all these choices reflect their individual preference and cannot be replicated by another candidate
important to recognise despite candidates having the same employability skills they will be adopted in different ways and conveyed different experiences to reflect their individuality
I Brand
Once a position is secure it’s essential to keep their position updating one’s skills in an essential part of the current employability climate.
increase their employability skills while at university include acquiring a part-time job, using careers services, going to skills session run by the university, going to careers fairs and getting internships while studying

7. Elevator Pitch
An elevator pitch state who students are and includes interesting facts about one’s self.
It denotes the time it takes to allow students to make an impression between the ground floor and the top floor on an elevator ride.
students should be able to introduce oneself within one minute and convey interesting facts about their skills, which in turn makes them unique

8. Mentors
Mentors are valuable assets who can provide insightful insight to possible career options, advice prior to interviews and sounding board for all major decisions
To make the most of a mentoring relationship they must establish clear goals and aims at the start and schedule all meetings for the duration of the programme.
Having an experienced mentor can be a benefit both during and after the programme and even become part of the student’s personal network.

9. Recapping
The I Brand Employability Model defines three layers to developing a student’s Employability – The Degree, generic employability skills and individual contribution
Employability is a continuous cycle, as a student will need to continually update their skills
Developing an action plan to identify the skills a student need to develop
Finding a mentor to help navigate both the student’s degree and career
Networking is an excellent way to increase opportunities