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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—Definition from an employer’s perspective
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.
Not targeting your efforts
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!
