1. Grow your career: employability
East Coast College
Grow your career: employability

2. What makes a person employable?
In this session we are going too:
Define what we mean by employable
Discover the skills that make a person employable
Look at ‘soft skills’ rather than qualifications
Learn ways to develop these important skills

3. Employability
What do you think it means?

4. Employability what is meant by this term?
Definition:
“A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.” (CBI, March 2009).

5. What is an ‘employable’ person?
Employability is an abstract concept.
An employable person is not necessarily someone who has a job. They may be employed, seeking employment, or not seeking work at all.
Its about having the qualities which make them potentially good for employment

6. What skills make a person employable?
Activity:
In pairs, work together to list the important skills that would make you attractive to an employer
Feedback to group discussion

7. What employability skills are employers looking for?
Communication Enthusiasm/passion
Self awareness Capacity to develop
Problem solving Drive and resilience
Team working Adaptability
Numeracy Initiative
Reliability Cultural awareness
Confidence Energy
Positive attitude Reflection

8. How can you develop these skills?
Activity:
In the same pairs discuss the ways in which these qualities could be gained
Feedback to the group

9. Have a think about…
Which important employability skills can be gained from:
Becoming a Student Governor, Student Ambassador or Course Rep
Volunteering
Working part time or finding seasonal work in the holidays
Taking a Gap Year
Keeping fit and maintaining a healthy diet
Excellent college attendance and concentration on studies
Hobbies and interests

10. Useful websites
National Careers Service – has useful information about employability
- local volunteering opportunities
- part time work
- gap year abroad for under 19s
- gap year abroad for 18-25s