EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS: MAKING THE MOVE TO WORK
Ollie
Created on September 13, 2024
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Your road to success
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ABE LEVEL 2 AWARD IN EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS: MAKING THE MOVE TO WORK
This qualification is designed to prepare you to be work ready, giving you awareness of what employers require and look for. The qualification will develop skills essential for jobseekers in the modern working world and will help improve the chances of employment. Assessment by assignment. On completing of this programme, you will be able to:
- Describe what is meant by employability skills and why employers want people with these skills in addition to qualifications and/or experience.
- Assess your own skillset in terms of employability and provide examples to support your strengths, preferences and areas for development.
- Complete a job application and prepare for an interview based on your skillset.
Introduction
Index
Element 3
Element 2
Element 1
Learning Outcome 1 – Describe what is meant by employability skillsand why employers want people with these skills in addition to qualifications and/or experience
1.2 Describe why employability skills are important to employers
1.1 Outline the employability skills that are most frequently desired by employers
Element 1 – What employers are looking for in prospective employees
What are the types of skills and behaviours that employers are seeking?
ACTIVITY 1
Class discussion
Specific technical skills, qualifications and previous work experience are important, but employers are also looking for ‘employability skills’.
Employability skills are:
- Skills that can be transferred from one job to another and from other life experiences, such as home, hobbies, school and college
- Generic skills that help to differentiate between candidates
- Likely to help you in a new role, especially as a new starter or if you are returning to work after a break
1.1 Most frequently desired employability skills
Activity 2
1.1 Most frequently desired employability skills
Activity 3
Activity 4
In small groups, answer these questions:- What are interpersonal skills? List as many examples as you can think of.- What are behavioural skills?List as many examples as you can think of. Share your lists with the rest of the class and add to your list with ideas from the other groups.
ACTIVITY 2
Group activity
Employability skills are not exclusive to work
Skills you develop outside of the workplace can also be useful at work.For example, planning a holiday would require the following skills:
- planning and coordinating
- organising
- budgeting
- time management
- prioritising
- attention to detail, etc.
In small groups, with reference to Activity Sheet 3, make a list of the skills under each heading. Once you have identified the skills, consider the value that they offer to an employer.
ACTIVITY 3
Group activity
Activity Sheet 3
Employability skills and their value
Check your responses to the last activity against the table on pages 6 and 7, in the Study Guide. Key areas of employability skills:
- Self-management
- Problem-solving
- Working together
- Communication
- Business skills
- Functional skills
- Watch the following YouTube clip:
- Consider the points on the Activity Sheet
- Come ready to share your ideas in the next session
ACTIVITY 4
Homework activity
Click here
Activity Sheet 4
FEEDBACK ON ACTIVITY 4:
- Share your thoughts and ideas with the rest of the class
- Make notes on other people’s contributions as they might be useful to you
Trends that affect employment
- Information and communication technologies (ICT)
- Competition and globalisation
- Demographic changes
1.2 Importance of employability skills to employers
Trends that affect employment - continued
Check your ideas with the table on page 10 of the Study Guide. Consider:
- What sort of communication skills are people likely to need now that they didn’t in the past?
- What changes are taking place globally that are changing the nature of competition? What skills do you need to deal with this?
- What are the implications of an ageing workforce on the skills that young people need to get a job?
1.2 Importance of employability skills to employers
Activity 5
Activity 6
1.2 Importance of employability skills to employers
In small groups, discuss and make notes on how you think that workplace trends are affecting employability. Share your ideas with the rest of the class.
ACTIVITY 5
Group activity
Qualifications are important when searching for a job (hard skills).Employability skills help employers to distinguish between people with similar qualifications and/or experience during the recruitment process (soft skills).Employability skills provide you with flexibility and adaptability, and they are transferable in the future.
It’s not just what you know, but what you can DO
When applying for work, you need to convey your soft skills as well as your hard skills in your:
- CV
- Application form
- At interview (and through any pre-screening activities)
'Closing the gap'
Being able to demonstrate employability skills will help you close the gap between qualifications and experience and the skills you need to succeed in the workplace Communication skills are essential at all times and critical when you are applying for work:
- Written (full sentences)
- Telephone skills (formal rather than informal)
- Face to face (professional not casual)
Skill development over time
In order to appreciate that soft skills are transferrable, think about how your skills have developed over time and how ‘better equipped’ you are now compared to how you were in the past, eg,
- Managing your time
- Planning for something
- Presenting yourself and your ideas
- Relating to others
- Watch the following YouTube clip and complete the tasks on the activity sheet:
- Complete Activity 6 on page 15 of the Study Guide
- Come ready to share the three of the skills you have at the next session
ACTIVITY 6
Homework activity
Click here
Activity Sheet 6
End of part 1
New Malden Business Centre46-50 Coombe RoadNew Malden, Surrey, KT3 4QF, UK
+44 (0)20 8329 2930
Activity 7
Learning Outcome 2 – Assess your own skillset in terms of employability and provide examples to support your strengths, preferences and areas for development
Element 2– What I have to offer
- Identify examples of employability skills that you think will help you find employment
- Share them with the rest of the class
- Make a note of other people’s ideas that are not already on your list
ACTIVITY 7
Class discussion
Whilst you might have identified some of your employability skills, this session should help you to identify others, and more importantly, to recognise your skillset in relation to specific job roles, which will help when you apply and at interview. By making an objective analysis of your skillset, you may also recognise gaps and then take steps to develop yourself to make sure you can offer what potential employers are looking for.
Learning Outcome 2 – Assess your own skillset in terms of employabilityand provide examples to support your strengths, preferences and areas for development.
2.2 Carry out a ‘gap analysis’ between your current set of employability skills and what is required for specific employment positions.
2.1 Identify your own skillset in terms of employability and provide examples to support your strengths and personal preferences.
Element 2– What I have to offer
Analysing your own skillset
- All of us have acquired knowledge and developed skills as we have journeyed through life, regardless of the formal education and training we have had.
- It is important to have self-awareness of this knowledge and skillset.
- Conducting an audit of your current skills and how well you do them will give you a baseline for your move into work.
- It will also give you confidence about your strengths and what you have to offer.
2.1 Your own skillset
Activity 8
2.1 Your own skillset
Activity 9
Activity 10
With reference tofor each of the categories, list as many activities as possible where you are effective or that you find enjoyable, interesting or fulfilling.
ACTIVITY 8
Individual activity
The next slide
Activity Sheet 8
Identifying strengths and preferences
- Effectiveness: What are you doing when you feel like you are at your best?
- Enjoyable: What activities do you actively look forward to and want to do?
- Interest: What activities make you feel like you want to know more, and you can focus on what you are learning?
- Fulfilling: What activities make you feel satisfied and like the real you?
Consider the following:
Identifying personal preferences
- Some people find it hard to say what their strengths are, but can identify what their preferences are.
- Often people find it easier to say what they are not good at; they find it harder to focus on their strengths.
- It is important to know what your strengths and preferences are and be able to convey these positively in job application documents and at interview.
If you haven't already done so,complete Activities 8 and 9 in chapter 2 of the Study Guide.
ACTIVITY 9
Individual activity
Being objective in your analysis
- Recognise your strengths and don’t devalue them due to lack of confidence.
- It is often the soft, transferable skills – your employability skills – that people undersell.
- Ask friends, relatives and colleagues to review your analysis to see if they think it is a fair reflection of your skillset.
- It would be good to compare the ‘experienced’ responses you have made in Activity 9 to the activities you said you liked in Activity 8 (Study Guide activities), as this will link your skill strength with your preferences.
Use the Internet to research the skills that are required for different job roles.
- You can do this by searching for jobs that are of interest to you.
- Next go to the company website and download the job description and/or personal specification for the job roles. These documents will usually identify the specific skills and competences that are required.
- you have a close match of skills
- you have some skills but not others
ACTIVITY 10
Homework activity
FEEDBACK ON ACTIVITY 10:
- Share the job roles you found where you had:
Activity 11
2.2 Conducting a 'gap analysis'
Activity 12
Activity 13
Activity 14
- How might you leverage the skills you have where you have a close match to a role profile?
- What might you do to address the skill gaps where your match is not so good?
ACTIVITY 11
Class discussion
Addressing skill gaps – areas for development
- The skills audit can help you to identify skills that you don’t currently have but that you want to have.
- If you can develop these areas, that may help you realise your career aspirations.
With reference to Activity Sheet 12, identify skills you would like to develop.
ACTIVITY 12
Individual activity
Activity Sheet 12
Addressing skill gaps – areas for development
Now that you are more aware of your skillset – your abilities, strengths and preferences, you may have started to think how these can be appliedto various job options
In small groups, discuss and make notes on how you think your skills will need to be updated to keep up with work place trends so that you remain employable?Share your ideas with class.
ACTIVITY 13
Group activity
‘Gap analysis’ and ‘closing the gap’
Gap analysis provides you with information you need to put together a Personal Development Plan (PDP).
PDP
A PDP will help youclose the gap betweenyour current skillset (your baseline)and the skills you need for specific job roles
Addressing skill gaps – areas for development
Step 4
Step 3
Step 2
Step 1
Refer to the process of gap analysis on pages 24-39 of the Study Guide.Discuss each stage and the practicalities involved.
Carry out the ‘Gap Analysis’ Process for yourself:
- Personal SWOT
- Identify your goal
- Identify gaps and create a PDP
- Review your goals and plan
ACTIVITY 14
Homework activity
Activity Sheet 14
End of part 2
New Malden Business Centre46-50 Coombe RoadNew Malden, Surrey, KT3 4QF, UK
+44 (0)20 8329 2930
FEEDBACK ON ACTIVITY 14:
Discuss how you found applying the Gap Analysis Process to yourself and share:
- what you found straight forward
- what you found challenging
Learning Outcome 3 – Complete a job application and prepare for an interview based on your skillset
3.2 Use your skillset effectively for pre-interview screening and to prepare for interviews
3.1 Use your skillsetto complete job applications
Element 3 – Presenting what I have to offer
Developinga Curriculum Vitae
Completing Job Applications
Developinga Personal Profile
Activity 15
3.1 Use your skillset to completejob applications
Activity 16
Activity 17
Activity 18
Activity 19
- Personal Profile – with reference to Activity Sheet 15, try writing a Personal Profile.
- Share it with a colleague and see if they think it is a good reflection of you and what you have to offer a prospective employer.
ACTIVITY 15
Individual/Paired activity
Activity Sheet 15
- Watch the following YouTube clips about writing a CV:
- These are just two suggestions about how to approach writing your CV, but a good starting point.
- Refer to class notes, the Study Guide and do other internet research if you wish, and compile a ‘generic’ CV of no more than two pages of A4.
ACTIVITY 16
Homework activity
Video 2
Video 1
- Share the CV you have prepared with a colleague and, thinking from an employer’s perspective, give constructive suggestions to each other about how they might be improved.
- Ask your tutors questions about anything you are unsure about.
ACTIVITY 17
Pair/Class activity
Searching for jobs
- There are lots of different places you can look for jobs:
- Develop an Action Plan to search and apply for relevant vacancies
Screening jobs using your skillset
- Following your research for suitable jobs, you need to match your skillset to potential vacancies, and if there’s a good match, prepare your documents to apply.
- You can use the table on pages 40-41 of the Study Guide to help you screen jobs against your skillset.
Addressing skill gaps – areas for development
- The skills audit can help you to identify skills that you don’t currently have but want to have in order to be more eligible for jobs you are interested in.
- If you can develop these areas, you will be better equipped to realise your career aspirations.
Applying for jobs
- Some jobs will ask you to submit a CV, with a covering letter or email, others will ask you to complete an Application Form.
- An Application Form is an opportunity to demonstrate to employers that you are the right candidate for the job.
- An Application Letter or Email is as important as your CV or application form. Write it carefully making sure you pick up on points in the job advert, highlighting skills and experience you have that meet these points otherwise, they may not even look at your CV or application form.
Supporting Letters/Emails
Key points:
- Tailor the letter/email to the job you are applying for
- Demonstrate that you understand the post you are applying for
- Needs to be well written using good English (or in the appropriate language), free of spelling mistakes and typos
- Presented neatly and professionally
- Written using appropriate tone
- For one of the job roles you have previously identified, and referring to the table on page 43 of the Study Guide, draft a covering letter that might accompany your CV if you were to apply for this role.
- Once you have finished, share it with a colleague who should check it using the criteria in the table.
ACTIVITY 18
Individual/Paired activity
Skills for specific job roles
Now you are more aware of your skillset – your abilities, strengths and preferences – you may have started to think how these can be applied to various job options
- For two other job roles you are interested in, consider how you would adapt your CV and covering letter to make them more relevant to these two other roles.
- Using a tracking tool, show how you would adapt your CV and letter of application.
- Points to consider:
- What skills and competences are required and how do they differ from your last application?
- What experience do you have that might illustrate these skills and competencies more effectively than the examples you used previously?
- Is the nature of the organisation different, so different examples of your skills/qualities/experience might be more appropriate?
ACTIVITY 19
Homework activity
FEEDBACK ON ACTIVITY 19:
- Share how you would have adapted your CV and letter of application to a colleague and provide constructive feedback to each other.
- Ask any questions you have to your tutor in class discussion.
3.2 Pre-interview screeningand preparation for interview
You have been invited for an interview!
- Well done! But there is more work to do: you need to prepare for the interview.
- Remember that interviews should be a two-way process – they are as much YOUR opportunity to assess whether you want to work for this organisation, as it is theirs to see if they would like you to be part of their organisation.
Pre-interview screening
- Personality tests – assess your traits to predict the likelihood of you performing your job in a certain way.
- Aptitude tests – assess your ability to do specific job tasks in different situations eg, numerical reasoning, verbal reasoning, logical reasoning, general ability, mechanical reasoning and spatial awareness.
- It is a good idea to practise these tests so that you become aware of the sorts of questions that might be asked and the format. There are lots of examples online.
Activity 20
3.2 Pre-interview screeningand preparation for interview
Activity 21
- Find some aptitude and personality tests online and try them out.
- Search for some others and make a note of them for future reference.
- Feedback to the group how you found the tests and ask questions as necessary.
ACTIVITY 20
Pair activity
Test 1
Test 4
Test 2
Test 3
Assessment centres and competency tests
- Assessment Centres are sometimes used as part of the screening process.
- You might be asked to complete an aptitude and/or personality test at an assessment centre or as part of an Assessment Day.
- Assessment Centres are also used by recruiters to observe how candidates perform in different situations; depending on the job, they may include group work, presentation and interviews. See page 45 of the Study Guide for other examples.
- Activities and interviews may be competency-based to see if you can demonstrate what is required in the person specification or job description of the position applied for.
- Review the Person Specification or Job Description for one of the job roles you are interested in and identify the competencies that are required for the role.
- Next think of examples of transferable skills from your experience that will demonstrate your competency in these areas.
ACTIVITY 21
Individual activity
Preparing for an interview I
- The organisation – you should have some knowledge about it:
- Places to look:
Preparing for an interview II
- The job – you should have some knowledge about the following:
- Interview day plan:
Interview Tips
- It takes a few seconds to make a first impression, and just a few minutes to make a lasting one, so make sure they’re good ones:
- That’s it – after just a few minutes, they have already made their first impression of you. If you start badly, you will have to spend the rest of the interview trying to convince them that their first impressions were incorrect, so make sure you know how to answer the standard interview questions too as they usually start with these!
GOOD LUCK!
End of part 3
New Malden Business Centre46-50 Coombe RoadNew Malden, Surrey, KT3 4QF, UK
+44 (0)20 8329 2930
Course completed!
ACTIVITY SHEET 3
Grouping interpersonal and behavioural skills; their value to employers
List the skills under each heading. Once you have identified the skills, consider the value that they offer to an employer.
- Self-management skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Working together
Skill
Skill
Skill
Value to employer
Value to employer
Value to employer
- Functional skills
- Business skills
- Communication skills
Skill
Skill
Skill
Value to employer
Value to employer
Value to employer
Share your lists and ideas with the rest of the class and add to your list with ideas from the other groups.
ACTIVITY SHEET 4
Transferable skills that are useful today and in the future
While watching the YouTube clip, consider the following questions and come ready to share your ideas in the next session.
- What the four key skills that Michael Lai thinks people need to ‘future proof’ themselves for employment?
- Do you agree with him?
- If so, why do you think they are so important?
- If you disagree, what other skills do you think are important and why?
- According to Michael Lai, why does college education fail to equip people with these skills?
- Suggest how you could acquire these skills?
- What was his final piece of advice?
- Do you think it is helpful?
ACTIVITY SHEET 6
Soft skills
After watching the YouTube clip, aswer the following questions:
- What is the difference between ‘soft’ and ‘hard’ skills?
- What are the other names for soft skills?
- In your own words, summarise why soft skills are valued in the workplace.
ACTIVITY SHEET 8
Identifying personal strengths and preferences
For each of the categories below, list as many activities as possible where you are effective or that you find enjoyable, interesting or fulfilling.
- Activities when you are EFFECTIVE – are those when you feel like you are at your best.
- Activities that you find ENJOYABLE – are those that you actively look forward to and want to do.
- Activities that you find INTERESTING – are those that make you feel like you want to know more and you can focus on what you are learning.
- Activities that you find FULFILLING – are those that make you feel satisfied and like the real you.
ACTIVITY SHEET 12
Developing your skillset
- When you were looking for jobs, did you come across job roles that you would like to have done but felt your skillset did not match well?
- If so, go back to those jobs and identify the skills/experience that you need so that you could match what was required more closely.
- Are there any other skills/experience you would like to develop?
ACTIVITY SHEET 14
Gap analysis and developing a Personal Development Plan
Having identified that there are ‘gaps’ between what you can do now and what ideally you need to be able to do to get some of the jobs you are most interested in, you need to take action to ‘close the gap’.With reference to the Gap Analysis Process on pages 24-29 of the Study Guide and the notes you have made in class, carry out the process for yourself. By way of output, you should have:
- Analysis of your current skillset, including a personal ‘SWOT’
- A goal of where you want to be
- Identified ‘gaps’
- A Personal Development Plan of how to ‘close the gaps’ – practical ways of learning and experience (see the Study Guide for ideas)
- Practical ways to review your progress towards your goal and with your PDP.
ACTIVITY SHEET 15
Personal profile
With reference to your notes and the table on page 33 of the Study Guide, try writing a Personal profile.Remember the purpose is to say who YOU are and what makes you different to other candidates. It must be authentic, concise and interesting – no more than a few sentences!It should describe your key characteristics/qualities and highlight the best experience you have to offer. If you haven’t got any work experience yet, think about transferable skills from the roles you have had at home, socially, school or college, and some of the projects you have been involved in as these may demonstrate some useful skills. Once you have written it, share it with a colleague and see if they think it is a good reflection of you and what you have to offer a prospective employer.
3.1 Use your skillset to completejob applications
- Personal profile: format, content
- Curriculum vitae: format, contents, buzz words, soft skills, technical skills, qualifications and experience
- Develop a personal action plan to search and apply for relevant vacancies
- Looking for jobs and understanding job descriptions/person specifications: online, newspapers, journals, agencies, job centres, noticeboards, organisations’ websites
- Desk research about specific organisations: – library, online, contacts
- Matching your skillset to specific job opportunities in order to screen for and apply for jobs
- Job applications
- Application letters and/or covering emails
2.1 Identify your own skillset in terms of employability and provide examples to support your strengths and personal preferences.
- Skills analysis to identify personal baseline of employability skills:
- Specific qualities and skills required for specific employment positions
2.2 Carry out a ‘gap analysis’ between your current set of employability skills and what is required for specific employment positions
- Gap analysis’ between personal strengths and preferences and those required for specific job roles
- Areas for development, prioritising personal development needs
- Opportunities to develop skills and enhance your experience, such as:
- Personal development plans, on-going development and life-long learning
It can be difficult to know where to start with this, but in reality it is a concise summary of your personal details; education, qualifications and training; work experience including voluntary work; interests and other salient information eg, referees. CVs can be rather ‘dry’ documents, so you need to think about how you want to come across through this document – you want the reader to find the information they are looking for easily, so it must be factual and accurate, but it must also be engaging and memorable. There is no set way to do a CV so this is an opportunity for you to be creative about how you present yourself, remembering that this is a formal document, and no longer than two pages. Sometimes a CV is referred to as a ‘Résumé’ but this is generally a shorter, one page, document.
- Present the information clearly, logically and in an uncluttered way
- Be factual; do not lie
- If you have experience, paid or not, as well as saying what the key tasks were that you did, say what you achieved. The employer is interested in what you CAN do rather than what you were supposed to do.
- Make it clear how long you were in each role that you did, including start and finish dates.
- If there are gaps in your experience, say what you did in the gap time.
- Most CVs include a Personal Profile.
- You should tailor your CV to the role you are applying for, but start with a ‘generic’ version that you can adapt as necessary.
No right and wrong way; there are lots of examples online, so look for a style that you are comfortable with and then make sure you include:
- Full Name
- Contact information
- Personal profile
- Education
- Experience
- Interests
- Referees (if asked for)
Structuring your CV
Writing a CV – key principles
Identify your goal
1.1 Outline the employability skills that are most frequently desired by employer
- Self-management skills: punctuality, time management, planning and organising, self-confidence, honesty, integrity, reliability, ‘can do’ approach, enthusiasm, commitment, good personal presentation
- Problem-solving skills: attention to detail, decision-making, initiative, achievement, drive
- Working together: collaboration, cooperation, flexibility, responsiveness, involving others, equality and inclusion, taking responsibility and being accountable, trustworthiness
- Communication skills: verbal communication, active listening, giving and receiving feedback, presentation skills
- Business skills: customer focus, service orientation, on-time delivery
- Functional skills: numeracy, language, communication and ICT
Analyse your skillset
3.2 Use your skillset effectively for pre-interview screening and to prepare for interviews
- Screening tests: – aptitude and personality testing
- Assessment centres and competency tests
- Preparing for job interviews: – desk research, information provided, application documents, job interview plan including set tasks and questions to ask
1.2 Describe why employability skills are important to employers
- Distinguishes between people with similar qualifications and/or experience during the recruitment process
- Behavioural and interpersonal skills contribute to business success
- Skills transfer between jobs and sectors and therefore provide workforce flexibility
Review your goalsand plan
- This is short statement, just a few sentences, which summarises the sort of person you are professionally and the key strengths you have to offer, based on the experience you have.
- This is your chance to ‘sell’ yourself and the professional skills you have to a prospective employer in a nutshell, so spend time crafting a powerful, original statement that is an accurate reflection of you.
- Avoid clichés; use words that you can back up with examples from your experience.
Personal Profile
Identify gaps and create a PDP