Employability Skills: what are they and why do they matter for your career success?
When it comes to employability skills, what does the term
mean? What are some specific skills that fall into this category? And why do
employability skills matter? In this blog post, we will answer these questions
and more. We will define employable skills from the perspective of an employer
and discuss why they are important in today’s job market. We will identify some
common mistakes people make in developing their employability skills and
provide tips on how you can develop them to stand out from the competition
(other candidates) in today’s competitive job market
Employability skills are the abilities and characteristics
that make you employable. They are what employers look for when they are hiring
new employees. There is no one specific list of employability skills, as each
employer may have different priorities. These skills are important for those
just starting their careers or those who have prior work experience.
However, there are some general employability skills (mainly
soft skills) that are important in most workplaces.
Some of the most important employability skills are:
Communication Skills
The ability to communicate effectively with others is
essential in any organisation. You need to be able to listen, understand, and
relay information accurately in the language used for business communication.
Complex Problem-Solving Skills
When you are faced with a problem, you need to be able to
think critically and come up with potential solutions to solve problems.
Critical Thinking Skills
Being able to think critically is important in all aspects
of life, but it is especially important in the workplace. You need to be able
to analyse information and make sound decisions based on the information at
hand, to help solve business problems.
Teamwork Skills
The ability to work effectively as part of a team is
essential for most jobs. Collaboration plays an important role in all teams.
You need to be able to cooperate with others on your team, share
responsibility, and work towards a common team goal.
Organizational Skills
Those who are organized tend to be more successful in the
workplace. You need to be able to manage your time effectively, keep track of
important deadlines, and stay organized even under pressure.
Flexibility
The ability to adapt to new situations and change is
important in the ever-changing workplace. You may be asked to do things that
are outside of your job description, so you need to be flexible. There may be
times when you would need to take the initiative or leadership on behalf of
your team to resolve a problem.
Technology Skills
In today’s world, technology skills are essential. You need
to be able to use computers and a range of software applications required in
your role effectively. You also need to be able to keep up with the latest
technology trends. Continuing education in the technical skills required for
your role will demonstrate your willingness to learn to an employer and add
important credentials to your resume.
Business Skills
Many jobs in the business world require strong business
knowledge and skills. You need to be able to understand financial statements,
marketing concepts, and other important business concepts such as strategic
planning, project management, risk management, managing change and writing
business cases.
These employability skills are important for both those just
starting their careers and those who have been working for a while.
Employability Skills: Definition from a Job role perspective
When you are looking at specific jobs, it is important to
think about the employability skills, knowledge and work experience that are
needed for that specific role. For example, employability skills for a
technology role would be different than those for a business role. Technology
skills are essential for roles in information technology and computer science,
while business skills are necessary for roles such as marketing, strategy
development, and human resources.
It is important to think about the employability skills,
knowledge and work experience that are needed for the job you are interested
in. By doing this, you can make sure that you have the right skills, training
and experience to be successful in your job search. Thinking about
employability skills from a job role perspective can also help you define your
career goals. If you are interested in a certain job role, identify the skills
that are needed for that role and make sure to focus on developing those
skills.
Why are employability skills important?
There are many reasons why employability skills are
important, but here are five of the most important ones:
First, employability skills give you an edge when looking
for a job. They show that you can do the job and that you’re willing to work
hard to learn new skills or improve your existing skills.
Second, employability skills are important for keeping
your job. In today’s economy, it’s more important than ever to be able to do
the job you were hired to do. Employers are looking for employees who can hit
the ground running and don’t need a lot of training.
Third, employability skills can help you move up in your
career. If you want to get promoted or switch careers, you need to have and
highlight the skills that employers are looking for in your resume.
Fourth, employability skills are important for
networking. Meeting people and making connections is a key part of finding a
job.
And finally, employability skills can help you start your
own business. If you want to be your own boss, you need to have a range of
professional skills to run a business.
Make sure you develop these skills so that you can find the
job you want, move up in your career or start your own business.
Common mistakes people make in developing their
employability skills
Listed below are some common mistakes people make when it
comes to their employability skills development efforts, and how you can avoid
them?
Focusing on the wrong skills
Many people make the mistake of focusing on developing
skills that are not relevant to their desired career path. It’s important to focus
on the specific employability skills that are required for your industry,
organisation, and job role.
Not practising what you learn
A common mistake is not practising or using the skills
you’ve learned. It’s important to get hands-on experience with the skills you
are trying to develop in order to improve your employability. If you are
unemployed, you can always volunteer in your community to practise the skills
you have learned. It’s a great way of ensuring that you don’t lose them.
Another mistake is not targeting your employability skills
development efforts towards the right jobs or organisations. Make sure you
research and target employers that are looking for your skills. Only invest in
training to learn new skills to get you the job interview for the role you are
looking for.
Underestimating the importance of networking
A big mistake is underestimating the importance of
networking. It’s important to build relationships with people in your desired
industry or community and connect with professionals who can help you develop
your employability skills.
Not being proactive
The final common mistake is not being proactive enough when
it comes to your employability skills development. Make sure you take the
initiative to find opportunities and resources that will help you improve your
skills.
By avoiding these common mistakes, you can make sure your
employability skills development efforts are more effective and help you reach
your career goals.
How can you develop employability skills?
Employability skills are essential for any job seeker,
whether you’re just starting out your career or looking to make a change.
Luckily, there are many ways to develop employability skills on your own.
One way to develop employability skills is by participating
in online communities or forums to identify skills that are in demand by
organisations. This can be a great way to learn from others and share your own
experiences. It can also help you build relationships with potential employers
or mentors.
Micro-credentials are
another great way to develop employability skills. Micro-credentials are short,
targeted courses that can help you learn specific skills related to your career
goals. They often focus on hands-on learning, so you can apply what you learn
in the real world.
Another way to develop employability skills is by taking
online courses. There are many great resources (free and paid) available
online, including educational online platforms such as Coursera and EZY
Skills. Coursera has courses that can help you build skills in a variety of
areas, such as communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking. EZY Skills, on the other hand, offers you
both accredited e-learning courses and recognised micro-credentials in business
and technology skills that are in demand in 2022 and beyond.
All these methods are great ways to develop employability
skills. If you’re looking to improve your skills, be sure to try out a few of
them!
Employability Skills for a Business Role
There are many skills that employers look for if you are
seeking a managerial role in business. But here are some that are a must-have
on any employers list.
Project
Management – being able to lead and deliver a project on time and
within budget is a valuable skill for any business.
Change
Management – knowing how to manage change in an organisation is essential,
especially when change is a constant in the world, we live in.
Risk
Management – being aware of potential risks and having a plan in place
to mitigate those risks is critical for any organisation.
Writing
Business Cases – being able to write a clear and concise business case
can make the difference between a project getting approval or not.
These are just some of the hard skills that employers look
for when hiring managers. If you want to be successful in business, it is
essential to have these skills.
The EZY
Skills Business Academy provides a wide range of courses that can help
you improve your employability skills if you are seeking a role in business.
The courses are designed for job seekers, university graduates and busy
professionals who want to improve their skills without having to attend
in-person classes. The courses are also designed to help you obtain
micro-credentials in key business skills such as Project Management, Change
Management, Risk Management and Writing Business Cases. These credentials can
help you improve your employability skills and make yourself more marketable to
potential employers.
Employability Skills for a Technology role
Emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI),
Machine Learning, Blockchain, Internet of Things (IOT), Dev Ops, Data Science
and Cybersecurity are changing the way we live and work. These technologies and
skills are important for the future. The demand for jobs with these skills are
on the rise globally, it is more important than ever to have skills in these
areas for employers and workers alike.
However, meeting the demand for skills in these areas can be
difficult. There is a significant shortage of skilled workers, and those who do
have these skills are in high demand. Ensuring that you get the right training
and micro-credentials in emerging technologies can give you the head start you
require for 2022 and beyond.
The EZY
Skills Tech Academy offers online training and certification in
emerging technology skills that are essential for the modern technology
workplace. The micro-credentials offered by the academy can be completed in a
fraction of the time and cost it would take to earn a traditional degree.
So what are you waiting for? Check out the EZY Skills
Business and Tech academies today!
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