Employability Skills

• Employability describes the behaviors and personal qualities increasing the odds of gaining employment and career success.

Employability Skills

• Skills are needed to be effective in any job market or workplace.
• These include attendance, on-time arrival, meeting deadlines
• Also include working toward personal and team goals, and the ethical use of technology
• Are often more important to employers than specific job-related skills.
• Employers prefer to train employees, seeking those with underlying capabilities challenging and time-intensive to teach.
• Skills are necessary to gain employment and effectively participate in the workplace.
• These can be developed through school activities, community interactions, hobbies, and sports
• Will continue to develop throughout a career.
• Are also known as transferrable skills.
• Include professionalism, effective communication, ethical behavior, and academic preparation.
• Other include critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork.
• Also include leadership, time management, knowledge of technology and stress management.
• Other also include work-life balance, and productive work habits

Professionalism

• A specific style of behavior in the workplace, performing in a manner appropriate for the profession and workplace.
• Conveyed through appropriate dress, speech, and manners
• Professionalism can be implemented through dressing and grooming appropriately, demonstrating respect through proper grooming and appearance and showing the job is taken seriously.
• Proper speech shows an individual as mature, intelligent, confident, and professional.
• Can be implemented through mannerisms, including style of speaking or behaving.
• Mannerisms effect the method of interacting with others respectfully, courteously, and with dignity in the office or workplace

Effective Communication

• Possibly the most important skill in the workplace
• Transferring information from one place to another, including vocally, written, visually or non-verbally
• Good interpersonal communication skills allow individuals to work more efficiently in groups
• Can be implemented through effective speaking, being prepared, engaged and practiced, and active listening.
• Also making a conscious effort to hear and understand what people are saying
• Can be implemented through writing, using correct grammar, punctuation and spelling including items such as memos, reports, e-mails and faxes
• Also through non-verbal communication, using body language, eye contact and facial expressions to show interest in the conversation
• Making non-verbal communication agree with verbal communication

Ethical Behaviors

• Values or standards directing how individuals live
• Govern how people behave towards family members, employers, supervisors, co-workers and customers
• Often provide job advancement opportunities.
• May include regular attendance, wearing proper attire, providing a clean and safe environment, and taking pride in work
• Also flexibility and taking initiative
• Can be implemented through cooperation, putting effort into working well with others
• Also character which being self-disciplined, pushing to complete work responsibilities, being honest and dependable and representing these positive traits daily
• Initiative which is beginning a process or project without direct managerial influence, sharing ideas and helping to improve the business
• A positive attitude, being appreciative, recharging yourself, volunteering and avoiding negative work attitudes

Academic Preparation

• Required for professional advancement and consists of the desire and ability for life-long learning
• May require certifications, licensure, registration, continuing education, and advanced degrees
• Can be implemented through obtaining necessary or beneficial licensures and or certifications
• Also preparing for a career by learning job-related skills
• Joining professional organizations and collaborating with other professionals in a field to better understand what skills are required.
• Can be implemented through attending continuing education classes and tutorials
• Also finding relevant and beneficial continuing education which applies to a selected career
• Identifying new technologies and methods of improving
• Can be implemented through working on projects
• Also creating and following a plan while keeping a timed schedule
• working in groups is also relevant

Critical Thinking

• Evaluating arguments and information quickly, solving problems creatively, and identifying mistakes with efficiency
• Developing more ideas and making fewer mistakes.
• Can be implemented through identifying the elements, recognizing the questions which relate to goals, purpose and needs
• Also collaboration which knowing how to assess information and analyze it for validity and relevance with team members
• Can be implemented through breaking new ground, developing new innovative ideas, and creating a final product
• Also using a critical eye and a willingness to look for flaws to ensure a quality product.
• Can be implemented through looking at conflict objectively
• Also stepping back and away from the conflict and look at the facts, recognize assumptions and alternative viewpoints
• Focusing on the problem and not people and separating a problem from people and moderate the resolution process

Problem Solving

• Requires gathering reliable information, assessing the information for answers and selecting a suitable solution based on the situation
• Every job will present problems which must be solved effectively and efficiently.
• Is especially helpful in management and customer service professions
• Can be implemented through developing a process
• Making decisions by creating a step-by-step process which allows an employee to work through problems in a systematic way
• Anticipating problems and resolving problems through planning, negotiation or by devising a new approach to correcting the problem
• Can be implemented through brainstorming, and coming up with as many solutions as possible
• Also trial and error, and trying out all of the possible solutions and ruling out those which do not work
• Experience, using solutions which have worked in the past

Teamwork

• Working effectively and efficiently with others
• Allows tasks to be completed quickly and accurately, allowing a company to take on more work and generate more revenue
• Leads to positive working relationships, improved working environments and a decrease in stress at home and in the workplace.
• Can be implemented through collaboration, also knowing how to assess information and analyze it for validity and relevance with team members
• And conflict resolution which is setting aside personal emotions and finding an answer which benefits each position allowing a fair decisions which benefits the company as a whole.
• Can be implemented through reliability which is understanding roles and responsibilities within the group and making an effort to implement them successfully
• Also differing points of view which bringing together different viewpoints helps create solutions to an issue

Leadership

• The ability to motivate people to accomplish a better result for an organization
• Having a strong sense of self.
• Understanding the qualities which make other people want to follow and recognizing how to adjust those qualities when conditions require it.
• Can be implemented through getting to know people which its understanding an individual's strengths, weaknesses and motivations can allow for a more productive working relationship
• And treating everyone fairly which is giving everyone an equal chance to participate, contribute and be recognized in the workplace
• Can be implemented through making expectations clear which is setting specific goals and requirements to give people direction and motivation
• Also giving and receiving constructive criticism and feedback which is giving advice which is useful and providing possible solutions for work improvement; listening to peer advice and solutions

Time Management

• The ability to plan and execute control over the amount of time spent on specific activities to effectively accomplish goals in a timely manner
• Includes punctuality, which is defined as the ability to complete tasks and fulfill obligations in a timely manner
• Can lead to greater productivity and efficiency and a better professional status
• Less stress in the workplace and increased opportunities for advancement
• Also greater opportunities to attain important career goals, providing reliability, building personal relationships, and inspiring others
• Can be implemented through prioritizing which means deciding what tasks are urgent or important and completing those items first
• Also setting goals means ability to designate short-term goals such as deadlines and long-term goals such as growth within the company and strive to complete each
• Avoiding procrastination which means ability to schedule tasks within the correct time frame and understanding the task must be completed on time
• Can be implemented through productivity which is developing a regular work routine by finding more efficient ways to complete tasks
• Also performance which is breaking down tasks into easy to complete steps and keeping a positive attitude toward frustrations and failures
• Responsibility which is organizing personal workloads, developing and practicing good work habits
• Teamwork is also important along with assisting with other duties in the business as needed

Knowledge of Technology

• Affects nearly all aspects of life and has brought about a revolution in the business world.
• Allows businesses to expand quickly and efficiently, examples include video conferencing, social networks, and virtual office technology
• May allow businesses to target a wider customer base and increase profits
• Can be implemented through communication which is knowing what people are discussing and actively participating in the conversation
• Also organization which is storing information from physical filing cabinets to flash drives, shared servers and the cloud
• Can be implemented through relevance which is an individual is more likely to gain employment in today's job market with technological knowledge
• Also efficiency and saving time by using office technology to speed up the work flow process
• Willingness to learn which is learning new technology and methods without having to be asked

Stress Management

• The ability to cope with job stress which benefits an individual's personal and professional life
• Can result in greater productivity in the workplace and improved mental and physical health
• Also greater success in life
• Can be implemented through identification which is recognizing what causes stress and developing ways to reduce it both mentally and physically
• Also utilization which is managing workloads and productivity by using available in-house and outside resources
• Can be implemented through positivity which is reacting in a manner which maintains a positive attitude
• Also flexibility which is easily making changes to better meet business needs
• Separation which is setting boundaries and establishing routines to be able to separate home and work stress.

Work-Life Balance

• Defined as an employee prioritizing between work productivity, responsibilities and their lifestyle outside of work, such as family life
• Includes creating downtime and making a point to schedule time with family and friends during the week
• Exercising which means making time for exercise, it will reduce stress, improve health and create more energy for the day
• Can be implemented through dropping activities which reduce your time or energy
• Also avoiding negative gossiping and venting by other employees and limit time on the web and social media
• Taking time for relaxation which is take a few minutes out of the day to do something to recharge yourself

Productive Work Habits

• Choosing to work smart every day through consistent behavior, resulting in increased productivity
• Include taking more breaks after several long hours of work, take a moment to refresh by going for a walk or grabbing lunch or a snack
• Using the morning to focus and start the day by ignoring e-mails and getting in a good breakfast, meditating or working out to fuel for a productive day
• Also tackling challenging tasks before lunch and finish the most challenging work first and save meetings or busy work for the afternoon
• Creating a system which is plan and create a schedule for the day and stay organized
• Stopping multi-tasking which is concentrate on one task at a time and work at a steady pace
• Can be implemented through developing a positive attitude
• Also creating goals, provide a strong work ethic, value good attendance and punctuality and realize the importance of rest and relaxation

Employability Skills in the Workplace

• Extremely important in the workplace and are often used to determine securing and maintaining employment
• Employment advancement and terminating employment

Securing and Maintaining Employment

• The assurance an employee will secure, maintain and keep a job
• Requires employees to practice effective employability skills
• Tips include work hard, stay productive and use time wisely and be on time
• Do not show up late, take long lunches, over use sick time or leave early
• Be a team player, work well with others and do not gossip about other employees
• Do not complain, stay positive and appreciate your current job
• Offer to help and volunteer time for new projects and take on more responsibility
• Keep your thoughts to yourself and do not discuss issues about your job to the world

Employment Advancement

• Is one of the most important factors for employee satisfaction and retention
• Leads to a more clear career path increased motivation and tangible goals to work towards
• Opportunities often include increased salary or benefits and promotions
• Often requires employees to take an initiative as perform talking to your boss, asking for more work, and volunteering
• Also working on interpersonal skills, being innovative, finding a mentor, and selling yourself
• Includes keep learning, expanding your network, and building your reputation

Terminating Employment

• Defined as an employee leaving a company and is referred to as "quitting a job"
• Often required by employees due to the following workplace problems which includes, overworked no recognition or rewards for good work
• Poor relationships and interpersonal skills in the workplace
• Employers dishonoring commitments
• Employers hiring and promoting the wrong people and employers failing to engage creativity.
• Requires an employee to perform the following which is notify the boss and schedule a meeting and notify the boss in person
• Give plenty of notice which includes give at least two weeks or more in order to make the transition process easier
• Prepare emotions, contain feelings of regret, anger, frustration or sadness and do not feel obligated to explain the reason for leaving
• Finish with a strong performance and continue working well on projects, do not leave employers or colleagues in a bind and leave a good impression
• Show gratitude, verbally thank employers and colleagues and be positive