“If you fail, never give up because FAIL means “First Attempt In Learning.” – APJ Abdul Kalam
As you prepare to start your career after graduation, you’ve probably heard a lot about employability skills. So, which these skills are and why are they important?
Life skills are the abilities and behaviors that help us deal effectively with the events and challenges of everyday life. They are the skills that allow you to handle everything from interactions with others to identifying and processing your emotions. People with strong life skills are considered to have maturity and professionalism. Those with strong life skills are less likely to be reactive, and they are aware of their surroundings and themselves. Life skills are critical to management and leadership positions.
Life and employability skills are also essential to success in the global marketplace, where employers demand workers who exercise good judgment, think creatively, have strong self-esteem, work well in teams, have effective communication skills, and can apply the knowledge they’ve learned in the classroom. For many people today, a career for life is no longer an option. Most people will hold jobs with a variety of employers and move across different employment sectors through their working life. Therefore, there is a need to be flexible in working patterns and be prepared to change jobs and/or sectors if we believe there are better opportunities elsewhere.
Skills in the following areas are the most important for employability;
- Being able to interact with and work with other people, e.g., communication skills and interpersonal skill
- Being reliable and dependable means: following through on what you say you will do by the deadline, you have agreed upon, and being present when your presence is needed;
- Ability to learn new skills, whether they are job-specific or more general.
Checklist of Employability Skills
So, what are the most crucial employability skills? Here is a helpful list of job skills that can be applied to practically any career;
- Communication & Teamwork
- Organization & Management
- Critical Thinking
- Computer Literacy
- Leadership
Benefits of employability skills
The current job market is highly competitive, so it’s important to stand out from the crowd. Skills in employability can assist you in achieving this goal. While a good degree in a related field is desirable, many grads will be able to provide it.
Many employers make their final hiring decisions based on the skills candidates can contribute. It is possible that your ability to demonstrate employable abilities will influence a hiring manager’s decision to hire you.
The development of life skills helps youths to:
- Find new ways of thinking and problem solving
- Recognize the impact of their actions and teaches them to take responsibility for what they do rather than blame others
- Build confidence both in spoken skills and for group collaboration and cooperation
- Analyze options, make decisions and understand why they make certain choices outside the classroom
- Develop a greater sense of self-awareness and appreciation for others
Benefits for Employment:
According to research employers are looking not just for academic success, but key employability skills including:
- The ability to self-manage, solve problems and understand the business environment
- Working well as part of a team
- Time and people management
- Agility and adaptability to different roles and flexible working environments
- The potential to lead by influence
As the need of the time demands, life skills and employability skills are very important for setting your goals and visions. Individuals play different roles in life. Therefore, you should prepare yourself for the future and build skills to enable them to achieve their life goals. For a person to be successful, he or she needs to maintain a positive attitude as well.