A few years ago when you were asked what you intend to do after school; you probably would have replied "go to university". Well, congrats, you made it! But what next? With more students graduating from university each year than ever before and an economy that is still blindly stumbling its way out of recession, modern graduates face unprecedented pressures and severe competition. Nowadays employability has become a key focus. Employability skills are the traits and talents that make you an attractive candidate for a job. Improving your employability skills through education, training and practical applications can give you an edge in the job market. In addition to giving you an advantage in your job search, these employability skills may also position you for higher-earning roles with greater growth potential. With sharp employability skills you can climb up the ladder of success easily in your career.
To be employed is to be at risk, to be employable is to be secure.
Employability skills are important because:
- It helps you perform better in the workplace.
- It can be used in any future job you take up.
- It helps your organisation achieve more of its goals.
- It helps develop team spirit.
The following are the required employability skills
Initiative and enterprise
Compare your life today with the way your grandparents lived. What's changed? Transport, communications, food, jobs… all these changes happened in our society because of people who took initiative and who enterprised. They thought of creative solutions to fulfil the needs. Initiative and enterprise involve things like:
• Adapting to new situations.
• Developing a long-term vision.
• Being creative.
• Identifying opportunities not obvious to others.
• Translating ideas into action.
• Generating a range of options.
• Developing innovative solutions.
• Developing self confidence.
• Assisting colleagues in their difficult time.
Learning
Learning contributes to ongoing improvement and expansion in employee and company operations and outcomes. Learning is lifelong! You might plan to finish your formal education soon, but you will never stop learning.
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Learning is very complex. In employment, it involves:
• Managing your own learning.
• Contributing to the learning community at the workplace.
• Using a range of mediums to learn - mentoring, peer support, networking, IT courses.
• Applying learning to technical issues (e.g. products) and people issues (e.g. teams).
• Having enthusiasm for ongoing learning.
• Being willing to learn in any setting, on and off the job.
• Being open to new ideas and techniques.
• Being prepared to invest time and effort in learning new things/skills.
Self and time management
Self management involves several steps, but the first must be to decide on the goals you want to achieve in life or work. Once you've set your goals, you, then, need to maintain and manage them. You can do this by organising priorities, taking responsibility for your success, believing in yourself, and reflecting and reevaluating. Doing things in time under tight schedule, quick in taking decision and undeterred by failures also helps in self and time management.
Communication
Verbal and written communication skills are important in nearly every business or industry. You can improve your employability skills in this area by participating in public speaking forums such as Toastmasters, or volunteering to be a group spokesperson for a program or event. Take advantage of opportunities to give presentations and request constructive criticism and feedback from trusted colleagues. Write and publish your views on common issues in the print or in electronic media.
Teamwork
The ability to perform well with colleagues is a trait sought-after by employers. You can develop your own teamwork skills by participating in steering committees, boards and councils or volunteer groups. Request assignment to group projects or participate in professional development seminars or programs that focus on building teamwork.
Planning and organising
By using your planning and organising skills in the workplace you will get a lot more done, be able to meet deadlines and show your boss and colleagues that you can do it and achieve success. If you plan and organise a job well, it should be a productive and positive experience for everyone. Planning and organising involves many different things. What you need will depend on the specific situation.
Manage your time
By using your planning and organising skills in the workplace you ill get a lot more done, be able to meet deadlines and show your boss and colleagues that you can do it and achieve success. If you plan and organise a job well, it should be a productive and positive experience for everyone. Planning and organising involves many different things. What you need will depend on the specific situation.
Be resourceful
It's important to know what is available to you. Prepare resources and things like safety equipment before starting a job. You should also be prepared in case something goes wrong. Expect the unexpected. Be prepared to adapt or change your plans, like when it rains on a camping trip. Always think that failure is a way to success of life. So, always be prepared to owe failure.
Use your initiative and make decisions
Consider the bigger picture and look at what needs to be done, and then do it. Employers appreciate someone who thinks on their feet and is confident enough to make decisions. For example, if you are a plumber and when you arrive at a job, your boss is busy talking to the client, don't stand around and wait for instructions - get yourself and the tools ready. Do your work perfectly and in time.
Achieve your goals and targets
Have an action plan. What steps can you take to make your goal achievable? Your long term goal might be to run your own café. While you are working for an employer, you could create a check list of what you want to learn that will eventually help you run your own business.
Collect, analyse and organise useful information
Let's say a client wants a no fuss garden. The landscape gardener will need to research and choose local, native plants before designing a drought resistant, water wise garden.
Traders need to research what permits are required before starting work; many workers may need to know about the latest trends, and all workers may need information on how to work safely with their tools and materials. Think about the information you will need to do your job safely and well. Organise it so you can easily find and refer to it later. Plan your work well ahead and execute it neatly.
Schedule
This requires you to organise the tasks to be done and who is going to do them. A schedule is essential in most workplaces - restaurant kitchens, construction sites, research labs, salons etc. For all of these to run well, tasks need to be delegated and prepared in a specific order.
Technology
What does the word technology mean to you? For some people its all about computers, for others it is tools and machines.
Our modern world relies on technology. Phones, cars, refrigerators, cameras, and of course, computers - they are all examples of the technology that we use in our social and work lives. They all help us to complete a task effectively.
About the Author
Dr.V.Ramasamy is the Principal at Adhiparasakthi Engineering College.