Employability skills uses and activities

Your Skills for Success

uses and activities

Sources

LOREM IPSUM

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Spoken Communication skills

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Problem Solving Skills

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Written Communication skills

Definition of Written Communication skills:

• Application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work
• Presents ideas in a manner appropriate to a given audience, influences and convinces others
• Demonstrates persuading, influencing and negotiating skills in a variety of written activities/tasks

Where is this skill useful? There are many types of text which you might find yourself writing as business students and in your industry

• academic essays
• summaries of literature (eg journal articles)
• promotional materials (eg advertisements, posters, leaflets)
• instructions (eg how to use a piece of equipment or app)
• tweets
• blog entries
• emails (very important to write these effectively and clearly)
• letters
• website content
• proposals for projects (eg a pitch for a business idea)
• applications for jobs and funding
• CVs and personal statements
• reports on projects

Which of these could you practise and improve? Some suggestions for written communication enhancing activities: Write a daily diary/blog about your experiences over the 2 semesters.Read a book and write a review/summaryRead newspaper articles and summarise themRecord new vocab/use a vocab app everyday and use the words in a piece of writingWrite a blog/reviews about the films/TV series you watchGo to workshops and webinars at Sussex University Skills Hub Resources and ideas

• Academic writing - with University of Sussex Skills Hub

• Writing emails
  • Email protocol.pdf
• Writing a blog

Vocabulary resources: quizlet academic word list (Links to an external site.) http://www.englishvocabularyexercises.com/AWL/ (Links to an external site.) https://www.wordclouds.com/ (Links to an external site.) https://www.eapfoundation.com/vocab/academic/highlighter/

Definition of spoken communication skills:

• Ability to produce clear, structured oral literacy, including listening and questioning
• Speaks confidently, presents ideas in a manner appropriate to a given audience, influences and convinces others
• Demonstrates persuading, influencing and negotiating skills in a variety of activities/tasks

Where is this skill useful? There are many situations where speaking skills are important for business students and in your industry

• academic presentations
• academic seminars
• asking your tutor for guidance in a tutorial
• pitching a project (eg a business idea)
• presenting results
• carrying out interviews
• being interviewed for a job
• promoting a company, product (eg at a conference)
• developing ideas in a team (eg for a new business/project)
• planning a project in a team
• leading and directing a team (eg manager/director)
• reporting project ideas to your leader/manager
• speaking on behalf of a group in a meeting (eg class rep)
• asking for guidance from a mentor
• telephoning
• networking events (making connections with others)
• negotiating a business deal

Which of these could you practise and improve? Some suggested activities to improve your spoken communication: Attend Language Café - https://www.sussexstudent.com/events/language-cafe/ (Links to an external site.) Attend Speaking Club at ISC Attend the debate club at ISC Join a society https://www.sussexstudent.com/sport-societies-media/discover/ (Links to an external site.) Be a student rep (elections are in wk 4) / taking part in a focus group Record a daily diary about your experiences over the 2 semesters both at ISC and outside. MentISC – being mentored or as a Mentor MentISC – volunteer as a mentor Join the Buddy Scheme to make friends on campus https://www.buddyscheme.com/apply/participant (Links to an external site.)Or volunteer as a buddy: https://www.buddyscheme.com/apply/current-students (Links to an external site.) Getting a job where you have to use English Read a book in English and produce a spoken review Design and Production - Produce a series of podcasts Listening to a TED talk/podcast/read newspaper articles and discuss them with a group of friends Record new vocab/use a vocab app everyday – learn 10 words a day Watch TV shows and films in English with and without subtitles Visit the theatre Find resources to help you improve your pronunciation Resources and ideas

• Join MentISC as a mentor or mentee
• Join the Student Experience Society at ISC
• Join a club/society at the University of Sussex and make new friends

• Help with academic presentations

• Learn about speaking with confidence

• BBC English Business presentation language (Links to an external site.)
• Learn/improve another language at the Language Cafe
• Make a podcast

• Resources for Pronunciation: bbc pronunciation workshops (Links to an external site.) https://www.wikihow.com/Improve-English-Pronunciation

Definition of Problem-solving skills:

• Analyses facts and circumstances and applies creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions
• Finds, evaluates and selects appropriate academic research, evidence or information to suit the requirements of the task/or to develop a solution
• Imagines, creates, identifies, evaluates and uses materials, information or actions to develop a solution

Where is this skill useful?

• In all areas of work
• Answering academic assessments appropriately (what do you need to do, how should you do it and when?)
• Planning and organising a project
• Managing a project/business
• Reaching, building and extending an audience or market for a brand or product
• Keeping ahead of your competitors through innovation and originality
• Kicking down doors and building contacts with new partners, influencers
• Raising money to fund a project
• Managing resources and budget
• Dealing with setbacks, eg changes in market conditions

Some suggestions of activities to help develop problem-solving: Work on logic puzzles/games Keep an ‘ideas journal’ – to work out problems you come across in your subject area Use mind maps to brainstorm ideas and look at existing and imagined problems in your subject area Research problem-solving techniques e.g. Watch Ted-talks on problem solving Set up a tournament to play chess or card games/Take part in sport – sports all involve strategy! Participate in a fantasy football League – keeping a log of your decisions regarding transfers/team selection to show rationale Resources and ideas

• Learn about problem solving techniques and creativity

IN FOGRAPHIC

Sources

LOREM IPSUM

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Numeracy Skills

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to IT Skills

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Team Working Skills

Definition of Team Working skills:

• Respecting others, co-operating, negotiating/ persuading, contributing to discussion
• Works effectively as part of a team to complete research tasks, presentations, specific group tasks /activities
• Maintains own/team performance whilst managing other areas of study

Where is this skill useful?

• In all types of project based work and study
• Publicity campaigns
• Organising and managing an event
• Co-ordinating a marketing campaign
• Group presentations
• Running a company

Some suggestions for teamwork enhancing activities: Join a university society - https://www.sussexstudent.com/sport-societies-media/discover/ Join a sports team - activeus Get involved with the sustainability group at ISC Get involved in Building Futures at ISC Work as a volunteer in a charity shop/in an arts centre/for a festival Analyse your role in class group work - keep a reflective log Join/form a musical group and participate in/organise a performance Resources and ideas:

• Get involved with Building Futures

Learn more about teamworking: 7-tips-to-help-you-improve-your-teamwork-skills team roles quiz Short pixar animation about the highs and lows of teamwork Learn about types of leadership

Definition of numeracy skills:

• Manipulation of numbers, general mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts
• Demonstrates and displays confidence in the use of numbers, statistics, ratios to evidence research or ideas

Where is this skill useful?

• Understanding and using data for essays and reports (eg sales figures, user data, news)
• Preparing infographics for reports and presentations (eg end of year reports)
• Calculating budgets
• Managing your company's and/or personal finances
• Which of these could you practise and improve?

• Some suggested activities to help develop numeracy: Learn how to use Excel - look for online tutorials or go to Skills Hub Research – data visualisation - using data sets and data visualization software to produce a set of visuals that inform and educate the viewer Play 'Maths' Games with STEAM :https://store.steampowered.com/search/?term=maths+gamesLinks to an external site. Register with ‘Apterous’ - (first 50 numbers games are free) and reflect on its value as a means of enhancing numeracy Create budgets

Resources and ideas

• Learn to use EXCEL
• Register FREE with APTEROUS. See instructions how to use it:apterous.docx
• How to use TABLEAU to make a data visualisation presentation
• Look at our WORLD IN DATA for data sets to practise with.

Definition of Use of IT skills:

• Basic IT skills, including familiarity with word processing, spread sheets, file management and the use of internet search engines
• Demonstrates and displays a professional approach to using technology and creating work that meets academic and business principles

Where is this skill useful? IT skills are really important in any job, and there are many specialist software skills essential for working in the Business. You are unlikely to get a job without at least good core skills.

• academic essays
• academic presentations
• job applications
• researching academic work
• documenting work (eg blogs, reports)
• on-line publishing (eg web design)
• social media (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram)
• blogging
• researching projects
• building databases of materials
• archiving work
• project management (eg files and folders)
• team projects (eg files and folders)
• keeping records and accounts
• producing inventories
• producing budget plans
• emailing

Knowing the industry standard software and most popular apps is very important, ie Microsoft Office, Excel, Twitter, Google Docs. Which of these could you practise and improve? Some suggested activities to help develop IT skills: Learning a new package on-line such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote Design an e- magazine, a website or other publication Design and Production - Making a short film Developing a social media accountLearning how to code Producing a project using the Raspberry Pi Designing and producing a working app Design Kahoots or other interactive games for classmates to play Resources and ideas Microsoft courses:

• Get really good at Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneNote. This is the core software in almost all institutions (work and education). Try these on-line tutorials

Microsoft SupportMicrosoft support is here to help you with Microsoft products. Find how-to articles, videos, and training for Microsoft 365, Windows, Surface, and...Microsoft

• Build your own website. You could use this as a portfolio of your work; post film reviews; publish a personal journal. Here are some great free tools

• Learn some coding (really useful if you want to get into animation, gaming)

• Sharpen your Photoshop skills with on-line tutorials

• Build some cool learning resources

• The University of Sussex IT Services run lots of really useful intensive software courses

IvNFOGRAPHIC

Sources

LOREM IPSUM

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Self-Management skills

LOREM IPSUM

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Positive Attitude Skills

Double click on the icon to find out about uses and activities related to Sector Awareness skills

Definition of Business Awareness skills:

• Basic understanding of the key drivers for business/organisation success and the need to provide customer/client satisfaction
• Keep industry knowledge up to date.
• Build awareness by reading journals or professional industry related publications
• Develop business/sector knowledge through networking and talking to people (online or face to face)

Where is this skill useful? It's good to be an expert in your area and to have a good network. This will enhance all areas of your work, eg

• Academic work
• Job applications
• Understanding different sectors and what jobs they involve
• Your usefulness to a team/company
• Obtaining appropriate and useful equipment and software
• Using equipment and software effectively
• Getting funded for a new business idea
• Being able to create products and services that have a market
• Distributing your work and getting it to the right people (where and how to show it)
• Understanding trends, methods and approaches in your chosen industry
• Relationships with potential partners, sponsors, influencers

Which of these could you enhance? Some suggested activities to help develop Business/Industry Awareness: Researching jobs that you’re interested in and find out information e.g. salary, skills involved Reading journals that are related to your subject Researching a company or organisation Attend industry events /speakers Volunteer/work/do an internship for a company organisation related to your industry

Definition of Sector Awareness skills:

• Basic understanding of the key drivers for business/organisation success and the need to provide customer/client satisfaction
• Keep industry knowledge up to date.
• Build awareness by reading journals or professional industry related publications
• Develop business/sector knowledge through networking and talking to people (online or face to face)

Where is this skill useful? It's good to be an expert in your area and to have a good network. This will enhance all areas of your work, eg

• Academic work
• Job applications
• Understanding different sectors and what jobs they involve
• Your usefulness to a team/company
• Obtaining appropriate and useful equipment and software
• Using equipment and software effectively
• Getting funded for a new business idea
• Being able to create products and services that have a market
• Distributing your work and getting it to the right people (where and how to show it)
• Understanding trends, methods and approaches in your chosen industry
• Relationships with potential partners, sponsors, influencers

Which of these could you enhance? Some suggested activities to help develop Business/Industry Awareness: Researching jobs that you’re interested in and find out information e.g. salary, skills involved Reading journals that are related to your subject Researching a company or organisation Attend industry events /speakers in person or online Volunteer/work/do an internship for a company organisation related to your industry Complete free online internships with FORAGECreate/update a LinkedIn Account Resources: Job information Find job/volunteer opportunities Research careers and internships at SUSSEX STUDENT HUB Look at job profiles with PROSPECTS LINKEDIN for Students Business resources Forbes - Business BBC Business News Financial Times- Companies Economic Times - Industry What you can do with a Business Degree Media resources These sites will help you understand more about job opportunities in the media industry These resources contain useful tips on getting jobs: Training Part-Time JOBS These resources are good for increasing you media industry knowledge and keeping up to date with media industry developments Specialist academic journal -search for areas of film and media which interest you and read the latest research. Really good for deepening your understanding of topics you might be covering in your academic classes. Will help you with your writing, reading and vocabulary skills Resources for International relations Students To the graduate who wants to work in international affairs (Links to an external site.) Jobs in international relations

Definition of Self-Management Skills:

• Readiness to accept responsibility; flexibility; time management; readiness to improve own performance
• Demonstrates initiative and takes action
• Takes responsibility, motivates self to achieve specific goals
• Plans time and resources to successfully work independently or with others to meet outcomes and deadlines

Where is this skill useful?

• Meeting deadlines for your assessments
• Having a healthy work-life balance
• Managing your own business
• Working as a freelancer
• Working independently as part of a team project
• Developing a good reputation as an employee

• Some suggestions of activities to help develop Self-Management: Create weekly time-tables and reflect on what you have achieved and what you haven't Watch TED talks and other resources that give tips about time-management and summarise these Research and use time-management techniques such as the 'Pomodoro' (see resources below) Find ways to balance your study and your health and reflect on this Do exercise and reflect on the benefits to your mental health

Resources and ideas

• Time management tips

Planning your time with Sussex Uni Skills Hub https://www.wikihow.com/Become-an-Organized-Student TED talks on self-care

The definition of Positive Attitude:

• Readiness to take part, openness to new ideas and activities, desire to achieve
• Demonstrates personal flexibility and resilience
• Reflects on learning and makes changes
• Acts on and uses peer and tutor feedback to develop skills

Where is this skill useful?

• A positive attitude is at the centre of employability skills and should be part of everything you do.
• Nobody wants to employ or work with someone with a negative attitude
• You will stand out if you have a "can-do attitude"

A positive attitude is at the centre of employability skills and should be part of everything you do. Some suggestions of activities to help develop a positive attitude: Learning meditation Keeping a journal focusing on positive ideas Watching TED talks that give advice about developing a positive mindset Getting involved in a new hobby/sport/activity Resources and ideas

• Learn more about the importance and benefits of positive mindset

• ten_keys_guidebook.pdf
• 10 Powerful Mindsets for Students to Change the world
• Changing my career goals

INFOGRAPHIC

Sources

LOREM IPSUM

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy.

LOREM IPSUM

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy.

LOREM IPSUM

Double click here to find out about uses and activities related to Global Mindset/Knowledge skills

Definitions for Global Mindset and Knowledge Skills:

• Considers wider global influences and understands and respects others cultures, beliefs and value
• Builds on business, industry, commercial awareness to include knowledge about global affairs and how global forces shape live

Where is this skill useful?

• Knowledge promotes understanding and can only make the world a better place and you a better person!
• Local knowledge is not enough to survive in a global society
• Assessments and classes at ISC and University of Sussex will require you to get along with and work with people from other backgrounds and cultures
• You will be able to contribute much more in class discussions with wider knowledge
• Your academic assessments will demonstrate a high degree of sophistication
• You may be working in a country or organisation where there is great diversity. It's important to be able to relate to and have productive relationships with people from other backgrounds and with different beliefs and values
• Your knowledge of other cultures may be a real asset to your company and enable it to move into markets in other countries

Some suggestions for activities to help develop global mindset and knowledge skills: Reading international news and recording writing summaries Researching other cultures Reviewing a range of international restaurants Taking part in a group project with people from different countries Travelling around the UK/Europe – keeping a written/audio/video/visual diary Volunteering/work for a charity - http://www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/volunteeringLinks to an external site. Learning another language in addition to English Resources: BBC news (Links to an external site.) Times of India (Links to an external site.) Reuter (Links to an external site.) The Guardian Newspaper (Links to an external site.) Sussex Skills Hub - volunteering Learning a language at the Sussex University Language Cafe LanLinks to an external site.