Employ Ability Presentation

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS WORKSHOP

Presented byLaWanda F. Woods, On-Ramp CoordinatorJudy Taylor, Professional Counselor


WORKSHOP OBJECTIVE

At the conclusion of this workshop, students will understand the basic skills necessary for

getting, keeping and doing well on a job.

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp ProgramEMPLOYABILITY SKILLS?

What Are


THE GOOD NEWS!

Most job-seekers possess these skills to some extent.


THE BETTER NEWS!!

Job-seekers with weaknesses in these areas can improve their skills through training and personal development.


THE BEST NEWS!!!

Once you understand the skills and characteristics that most employers seek, you can tailor your job search communications (your resume, cover letter, etc) to showcase how well your background aligns with their requirements.


EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ARE . . .Skills, attitudes and actions that enable workers to get along with their co-workers and supervisors and to make sound, critical decisions.

Can be divided into three categories:

• Basic academic skills;

• Higher-ordered thinking skills; AND

• Personal qualities


BASIC ACADEM

IC SKILLS

Reading Writing

Science Math

Oral Communicatio

nListening

Essential for high job performance


HIG

HER-O

RDER TH

INKIN

G SKILLS

Learning Reasoning

Thinking Creatively

Decision Making

Problem Solving

The ability to think, reason and make sound decisions is crucial for employees desiring to do well and advance.


PERSON

AL QUALITIES

Cooperative

Responsible

Self-Confidence

Self-Control

Adaptable & Flexible

Self-Motivated

Social Skills

Honest

Team Spirit

Self-Directed

Self-Management

Good Work Attitude

Well Groomed

Integrity

Punctual & Efficient

Each person has the ability to do certain things very well; these are their personal skills.


SKILLS EMPLOYERS DEMAND


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSCommunications Skills

This is the one skill mentioned most often by employers – the ability to listen, write and speak

effectively.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in

writing.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSAnalytical/Research Skills

Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information, if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be

addressed.


Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving,

and streamlining complex work processes.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSComputer/Technical Literacy

Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets and email.


Computer-literate performer with extensive software proficiency covering a wide variety of

applications.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSFlexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities

Deals with your ability manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities and adapt to

changing conditions and work assignments.


Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively

prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSInterpersonal Abilities

The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time spent

at work each day.


Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes,

and coaches employees to meet high performance standards.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSLeadership/Management Skills

While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people are born with, these

skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers.


Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes,

and coaches employees to meet high performance standards.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSMulticultural Sensitivity/Awareness

There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than diversity, and job seekers must demonstrate a

sensitivity and awareness to other people & cultures.


Personable professional whose strengths include cultural sensitivity and an ability to

build rapport with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSPlanning/Organizing

Deal with your ability to design, plan, organize and implement projects and tasks within an allotted

timeframe. Also involves goal-setting.


Result-driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a

high degree of detail orientation.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSProblem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity

Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning, and past

experiences along with the available information and resources.


Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve complaints.


MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERSTeamwork

Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while

attempting to achieve a common goal.


Resourceful team player who excels at building trusting relationships with customers and

colleagues.

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp ProgramPERSONAL VALUES

Sought After By Employers


HONESTY ● INTEGRITY ● MORALITY

Employers probably respect personal integrity more than any other value.

Sample bullet point for resume or cover letter:

Seasoned professional whose honesty and integrity provide for effective leadership and optimal business

relationships.


DEDICATION ● HARD-WORKING WORK ETHIC ● TENACITY

Employers seek job-seekers who live what they do and will keep at it until they solve the problem or get the job done.

Sample bullet point for your resume or cover letter:

Dependable, responsible contributor with commitment to excellence and success.


ADAPTABILITY ● FLEXIBILITY

Deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to working independently or as part of a team, and to carrying out multiple tasks or projects.

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Highly adaptable risk-taker who is open to new ideas.


LOYALTY

Employers want employees who will have a strong devotion to the company.


Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record.


POSITIVE ATTITUDE ● MOTIVATION ●ENERGY ●PASSION

The job-seekers who get hired and the employees who get promoted are the ones with drive and passion – and who demonstrate this enthusiasm through words and actions.


Energetic performer consistently cited for a passion for work, sunny disposition, and upbeat, positive attitude.


PROFESSIONALISM

Deals with acting in a responsible and fair manner in all your personal and work activities, which is seen as a sign of maturity and self-confidence; avoid being petty.


Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated, and committed to professionalism.


SELF-CONFIDENCE

Look at it this way: If you don’t believe in yourself, in your unique mix of skills, education, and abilities, why should a prospective employer? Be confident in yourself and what you can offer employers.


Confident, hard-working employee who is committed to achieving excellence.


SELF-MOTIVATED ● ABILITY TO WORK WITH LITTLE OR NO SUPERVISION

While teamwork is always mentioned as an important skills, so is the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision.


Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with minimal supervision.


WILLINGNESS TO LEARN

No matter what your age, no matter how much experience you have, you should always be willing to learn a new skill or technique. Jobs are constantly changing and evolving, and you must show an openness to grow and learn with that change.


Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry learner, eager to meet challenges and quickly assimilates new concepts.

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp ProgramTRANSFERABLE JOB SKILLS

We ALL have them!Simply put, they are skills you have acquired during any activity in your life -- jobs, classes, projects, parenting, hobbies, sports, virtually anything -- that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your next job.


TRANSFERABLE SKILLS OBTAINED IN THE CLASSROOM


#1: ABILITY TO MEET DEADLINES

College is an abundance of deadlines. If meeting deadlines is an important skill in the job you seek, by all means exploit it in your resume and your cover letter.


#2: ABILITY TO MULTIPLE TASKS

Remember how you wanted to smack all your instructors for requiring simultaneous major papers and projects? Multi-tasking is increasingly valued in the workplace, and your resume/cover letter gives you the chance to boast of your ability to juggle many projects at once.


#3: ABILITY TO ACHIEVE GOALS

Your good grades are proof of that skill, so boast about them if they're exemplary. You may have met other goals while in school, too, such as graduating early. Any goal you've met while in school is potential skill/ability to add to your cover-letter and/resume.


#4: ABILITY TO ADAPTYour college years probably gave you your first opportunity to make adult decisions and act independently. How did you handle stumbling blocks and disappointments along the way? The way you rose above difficulties can provide solid examples.


#5: WRITING SKILLS

Jobs that require good writing skillsare a lot more common than you probably think they are. If you demonstrated your ability to write well in college, you can highlight that skill.


#6: RESEARCH SKILLS

How many people who've been out in the "real world" have research skills that are as fresh and recent as yours? How many know as much as you do about, say, conducting research on the Internet? Probably not many, so for jobs where this ability may be helpful, be sure to emphasize your research skills.


EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS & PERSONAL VALUES ARE THE CRITICAL TOOLS AND TRAITS YOU NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE WORKPLACE – AND THEY ARE ALL ELEMENTS THAT YOU CAN LEARN, CULTIVATE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN.

ONCE YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THEM, REMEMBER TO DOCUMENT THEM AND MARKET THEM IN YOUR RESUME, COVER LETTER AND INTERVIEWS!

FINAL THOUGHT…..


COURSEWORK

DEGREE /PROGRAM

YOUR FRUIT

DEGREE /PROGRAM

MARKETABLE SKILLSVALUES


Q&AAND

SIGN OFF

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Employ Ability Presentation