Employability SkillsEmployability SkillsWorkshop #2Workshop #2

Career ServicesCareer ServicesUniversity of CanberraUniversity of Canberrawww.canberra.edu.auwww.canberra.edu.au

UC Graduate AttributesUC Graduate Attributes Communication SkillsCommunication Skills Information Literacy and NumeracyInformation Literacy and Numeracy Information Technology SkillsInformation Technology Skills Problem-Solving SkillsProblem-Solving Skills Working with OthersWorking with Others Workplace SkillsWorkplace Skills Professional EthicsProfessional Ethics Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility Lifelong LearningLifelong Learning Personal AttributesPersonal Attributes

Careers WebsiteCareers Website

Employability Skills presentationEmployability Skills presentation

andand

UC Graduate AttributesUC Graduate Attributes

www.canberra.edu.au/careers/www.canberra.edu.au/careers/workshops2009workshops2009

Employers …… Employers ……

Hire people (generally) on the basis Hire people (generally) on the basis of their skills – what they can do.of their skills – what they can do.

Your degree alone (generally) does Your degree alone (generally) does not entitle you to a job.not entitle you to a job.

You must convince an employer that You must convince an employer that you have skills as well as knowledge.you have skills as well as knowledge.

Employment PartnershipEmployment Partnership

Two parties –Two parties –

The employerThe employer – he wants certain skills for – he wants certain skills for a particular joba particular job

The employeeThe employee – you have certain skills to – you have certain skills to offer along with your knowledge.offer along with your knowledge.

Do your skills meet the employer’s needs?Do your skills meet the employer’s needs?

You’ve got your degree …You’ve got your degree …

Once an employer knows you haveOnce an employer knows you have

the degree (knowledge) that is usefulthe degree (knowledge) that is useful

to him, he/she will want to know whatto him, he/she will want to know what

your workplace and personal skills are.your workplace and personal skills are.

What skills do employers want?What skills do employers want?

In descending order:In descending order:

Communication skillsCommunication skills (Writing and speaking clearly, listening well, able to (Writing and speaking clearly, listening well, able to

negotiate. Can you give and receive feedback?)negotiate. Can you give and receive feedback?)

Team work skills Team work skills (Can you get on well with your colleagues in a group? Are (Can you get on well with your colleagues in a group? Are you willing to help others?)you willing to help others?)

Skills Skills contdcontd

Problem-solving skillsProblem-solving skills(Can you face problems calmly? Can you identify problems as they arise? (Can you face problems calmly? Can you identify problems as they arise? Can you find ways to solve them?) Can you find ways to solve them?)

Initiative and enterprise skillsInitiative and enterprise skills(Can you deal with change and new situations? Can you put your (Can you deal with change and new situations? Can you put your ideas into action?)ideas into action?)

Planning and organising skillsPlanning and organising skills(Good at meeting deadlines? Able to see the implications of your (Good at meeting deadlines? Able to see the implications of your actions? Can you work well under a bit of pressure?)actions? Can you work well under a bit of pressure?)

Skills Skills contdcontd

Learning skillsLearning skills (Willing to learn new procedures? Willing to go on short (Willing to learn new procedures? Willing to go on short

courses? Prepared to do some graduate study? )courses? Prepared to do some graduate study? )

Self-management skillsSelf-management skills(Do you have career goals? Can you assess your own job (Do you have career goals? Can you assess your own job

performance? Are you responsible for your own conduct?)performance? Are you responsible for your own conduct?)

Technology skillsTechnology skills(A good knowledge of basic IT? Willing to learn more? Can (A good knowledge of basic IT? Willing to learn more? Can you use IT safely?)you use IT safely?)

Graduate RecruitmentGraduate Recruitment

In the behavioural questions you mustIn the behavioural questions you must

answer in Graduate Recruitment answer in Graduate Recruitment

applications, you will be writing aboutapplications, you will be writing about

your employability skills.your employability skills.

Example …Example … Describe a situation where you had to Describe a situation where you had to

make a presentation to a group. How did make a presentation to a group. How did you prepare for this? you prepare for this?

Give an example of a time when you had Give an example of a time when you had to solve a problem on your own. What did to solve a problem on your own. What did you do? What was the outcome?you do? What was the outcome?

Have you had to make a difficult decision Have you had to make a difficult decision in the last few years? What process did in the last few years? What process did you go through to come to a decision?you go through to come to a decision?

Example … Example … Tell us about a time when you had to Tell us about a time when you had to

juggle competing deadlines. How did you juggle competing deadlines. How did you organise your time?organise your time?

What other activities are you involved in What other activities are you involved in outside your study? What do you gain from outside your study? What do you gain from these activities? these activities?

Describe a time when you had to deal with Describe a time when you had to deal with a new, unexpected situation. How did you a new, unexpected situation. How did you deal with this?deal with this?

STAR TechniqueSTAR Technique SituationSituation – describe the situation you – describe the situation you

were in, the contextwere in, the context

TaskTask – what exactly was the problem to – what exactly was the problem to be solved?be solved?

ActionAction – what did you think, what did you – what did you think, what did you do and why?do and why?

ResultResult – what happened? Were you – what happened? Were you successful? What did you learn from this?successful? What did you learn from this?