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Curtin Careers Centre Curtin University of Technology Ph: 9266 7802 [email protected] www.careers.curtin.edu.au
Employability Skills
Information contained herein is the property of Curtin Careers Centre and cannot be reproduced without permission of the Centre.
Resource ID Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009
Employability Skills are defined as "skills required not only to gain employment, but also to progress within an enterprise so as to achieve one's potential and contribute successfully to enterprise strategic directions" (DEST, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Business Council of Australia (2002) Employability Skills for the future). Employability skills are also sometimes referred to as generic skills, capabilities or key competencies.
Personal attributes contribute to overall employability. The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations list the following personal attributes that underpin employability:
• Loyalty, • Commitment • Honesty and Integrity • Enthusiasm • Reliability • Personal Presentation • Common Sense • Positive Self Esteem • A sense of humour • A balance attitude to work and home life • An ability to deal with pressure • Motivation • Adaptability
Below is the Employability Skills Framework that provides an extended explanation of why that skill is essential for both personal career development and productivity for the employer as well as the individual facets within that skill set. It is important to note that the priority of these facets will vary for each job and industry area.
Resource ID Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009
Skill Element – (facets of the skill that employers identified as important noting that the mix and priority of these facets would vary from job to job).
Communication … that contributes to productive and
harmonious relations across employees and customers.
• Listening and understanding • Speaking clearly and directly • Writing to the needs of the audience • Negotiating responsively • Speaking and writing in languages other than English • Using numeracy • Understanding the needs of internal and external customers • Establishing and using networks • Being assertive. • Sharing information
Team work … that contributes to productive
working relationships and
outcomes.
• Working across different and irrespective of gender, race, religion or political persuasion • Working as an individual and as a member of a team • Knowing how to define a role as part of a team • Applying team work to a range of situations eg futures planning, crisis problem solving
Problem solving …that contributes to productive outcomes
• Developing creative, innovative solutions • Developing practical solutions • Showing independence and initiative in identifying problems and solving them • Solving problems in teams • Applying a range of strategies to problem solving • Using mathematics including budgeting and financial management to solve problems • Applying problem solving strategies across a range of areas • Testing assumptions taking the context of data circumstances into account • Resolving customer concerns in relation to complex projects issues.
Self Management • Having a personal vision and goals
Resource ID Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009
… that contributes to employee
satisfaction and growth
• Evaluating and monitoring own performance • Having knowledge and confidence in own ideas and visions • Articulating own ideas and visions • Taking responsibilities
Planning and Organising
… that contributes to long and short term strategic
planning
• Managing time and priorities – selling time lines, coordinating tasks for self and with others • Being resourceful • Taking initiative and making decisions • Adapting resources allocations to cope with contingencies • Establishing clear project goals and deliverables • Allocating people and other resources including time management • Participants in continuous improvement and planning processes • Developing a vision and a proactive plan to accompany it. • Predicting – weighing up risk, evaluate alternatives and apply evaluation criteria • Collecting, analysing and organising information • Understanding basic business system and their relationships
Technology … that contribute
to ongoing improvement and
expansion in employee and
company operations and
outcomes
• Having own learning • Applying IT as a management tool • Using IT to organise data • Being willing to learn new IT skills • Having the OHS knowledge to apply technology • Having the physical capacity to apply technology eg manual dexterity
Learning … that contributes
to ongoing improvement and
expansion in employee and
• Managing own learning • Contributing to the community at the workplace • Using a range of mediums to learn – mentoring, peer support and networking. IT courses • Applying learning to ‘technical’ issues (eg learning about products) and people issues (eg interpersonal and
cultural aspects of work)
Resource ID Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009
company operations and
outcomes
• Having enthusiasm for ongoing learning • Being willing to learn in any setting – on and off work • Being open to new ideas and techniques • Being prepared to invest time and effort in learning new skills. • Acknowledging the need to learn in order to accommodate change.
Initiative and enterprise
… that contributes to innovation outcomes.
• Adapting to new situations • Developing a strategic, creative, long term vision • Being creative • Identifying opportunities not obvious to others • Translating ideas into actions • Generating a range of options • Initialising innovative solutions
Source: DEST, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Business Council of Australia (2002) Employability Skills for the future
Resource ID Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009
Throughout your studies at Curtin you have also developed many transferable skills. As a graduate you should be able to demonstrate the following skills and abilities as applied to your industry or learning area.
Curtin's course learning outcomes Generic descriptions
1. Apply discipline knowledge,
principles and concepts
Apply discipline knowledge, understand its theoretical underpinnings, and ways of thinking;
Extend the boundaries of knowledge through research.
2. Think critically, creatively
and reflectively
Apply logical and rational processes to analyse the components of an issue;
Think creatively to generate innovative solutions.
3. Access, evaluate and
synthesise information
Decide what information is needed and where it might be found using appropriate technologies;
Make valid judgements and synthesise information from a range of sources.
4. Communicate effectively Communicate in ways appropriate to the discipline, audience and purpose.
5. Use technologies
appropriately Use appropriate technologies recognising their advantages and limitations.
Resource ID Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009
Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009
6. Utilise lifelong learning skills
Use a range of learning strategies;
Take responsibility for one's own learning and development;
Sustain intellectual curiosity; know how to continue to learn as a graduate.
7. Recognise and apply
international perspectives
Think globally and consider issues from a variety of perspectives;
Apply international standards and practices within a discipline or professional area.
8. Demonstrate cultural
awareness and understanding
Respect individual human rights;
Recognise the importance of cultural diversity particularly the perspective of Indigenous Australians;
Value diversity of language.
9. Applying professional skills Work independently and in teams;
Demonstrate leadership, professional behaviour and ethical practices.
Source: http://otl.curtin.edu.au/teaching_learning/attributes.cfm, Office of Teaching and Learning, Curtin University of Technology
Resource ID
How can I use employability skills to assist me with gaining employment? Employability skills are not only developed from your studies or education. It is all of your work/life roles that continue to develop your employability. As a student there are many opportunities, in addition to your studies, to develop your employability skills and hence making you a more competitive candidate for a position. Volunteer work, Community work, Work experience, Part time employment and Extra‐curricular involvement are all opportunities and experiences for you to develop your employability skills. These experiences provide you with actual examples of how you have previously shown and demonstrated your competency in this area and hence would be suitable to meet the position requirements. If a job application asks for to “Demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing” you should reflect on how in previous work/life roles you have showcased relevant facets of your Communication skills. This may include communicating with clients whose speak English as a second language, information sharing, writing to the needs of the audience and understanding the needs of internal and external customers. Exploring your Skills Exercise
Exercise 1: Exploring your skills Role/Occupation Task/Activities Skills
List all the roles you have through study, work and extracurricular
List all the responsibilities you have under each of these occupations and roles. Be very specific in detail
List the skills applied and developed. Refer to the employability skills for assistance
Resource ID Number: Last Updated On: 31 August 2009