Recognising and Developing Employability Skills in an Educational Context

Facilitated by Stuart Moss Leeds Metropolitan University

s.moss@leedsmet.ac.uk

A Familiar Story?
There were four people named EVERYBODY, SOMEBODY, ANYBODY and NOBODY. There was an important job to be done and EVERYBODY was asked to do it. EVERYBODY was sure that SOMEBODY would do it. ANYBODY could have done it, but NOBODY did it. SOMEBODY got angry about that, because it was EVERYBODYS job. EVERYBODY thought ANYBODY could do it but NOBODY realised that EVERYBODY wouldnt do it. It ended up that EVERYBODY blamed SOMEBODY when NOBODY did what ANYBODY could have done.. (Denny, 1993, p.89)

All about me and my Lifelong Learning

From Yorkshire Disliked school Failed A Levels Moved to London Became a mature student at Leeds Met in 1997 Became a lecturer in 2001 Became a Senior lecturer in 2003 Published a book in 2005, second book in 2009 Still developing, still learning

Worked and saved

Went to Australia Worked in telecoms and saved lots more

Time to WAKE UP
Move yourself around the room to join a study group of 5-6 people.

Put your chairs in a circle, and reintroduce yourselves.

Each Team Needs

1 sheet of A1 paper. 1 Felt Tip Pen. Divide your paper up into 8 sections and number them as below.
1 2 3 4

Task 1
Consider the term employability what does it mean to you? How might you define employability? As a group, write the title Employability is and then give a definition in box 1.

Definition
Employability relates to a graduate's achievements and their potential to gain a graduate job. Achievements relates to the degree itself but importantly also includes transferable skills gained from studying at university. (University of Reading, 2008)

Definition
A set of achievements, understandings and personal attributes that make individuals more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen careers.

(Knight and Yorke, 2003)

Definition
Employability is about having the capability to gain initial employment, maintain employment and obtain new employment if required.
For the individual, employability depends on: their assets in terms of the knowledge, skills and attitudes they possess; the way they use and deploy those assets; the way they present them to employers; and crucially, the context (eg personal circumstances and labour market environment) within which they seek work. (IES, 2008)

Employability skills
Ultimately skills that make you more employable.

Skills embedded in your curriculum and demonstrated through your assessments.

Developing Employability Skills

Five stage process:
Awareness Practice Feedback Reflection Further practice postfeedback

Task 2
In your groups, think about how you might develop employability skills in your university / college environment. Write the title Developing Skills and some of your shared thoughts down in box number 2.

When are Your Skills Developed?

Specific modules relating to skills development. Management classes. Consultancy classes. Work based learning. Work placements. All of your assessments.

How do I know what skills I am developing?

Objectives Modules

BSD
Collect, collate and categorise ideas and information in a predictable and standard format Select quantitative techniques and use them to solve well defined problems Formulate solutions to clearly defined problems Challenge received opinion from a position of knowledge and begin to develop own criteria and judgement Participate effectively as a team member Function effectively as a more independent learner

BICT

IOB

DABA

BE

Acc

HRM

ITM

Historically
Experience has showed us that this has been an undervalued subject area. Poor attendances and low achievement in class.

Knock-on effect on other modules.

Task 3
Consider a standard written piece of work that you have carried out, such as an essay or a report. In box 3 write the title Skills Developed, and list as many skills as you can think of.

Skills Gained from Undertaking Written Assignments

Scheduling work; planning; Information gathering; research; note-taking; referencing; literacy; time management; computer skills; critical thinking; working to deadlines.

Developing Skills Through Assessment

Presentations:
Scheduling work; planning; Information gathering; research; note-taking; Harvard referencing; literacy; time management; ICT; critical thinking; public speaking; confidence; thinking on your feet!

Exams:
Some of the above; memory and revision techniques; working under pressure.

The Employer
A survey of over 250 managers in the UK conducted by the Chartered Management Institute found that graduates whilst in the main were competent with Information Technology (IT) were lacking in basic communication and interpersonal skills, including teamwork, presentation skills, and problem solving (DoctorJob, 2002, p.4). The Association of Graduate Recruiters ascertained that over half of graduates recruited into the workplace lacked team working and communication skills, as well as cultural awareness (BBC, 2006).

Task 4
On the following slide is some text from an actual job advert.
In box 4 on your sheet, can you write the title Skills Identified and then list all of the skills that the employer is looking for.

The Job Advert

The successful applicant will be determined and energetic, with a high level of numeracy, ICT, literacy, research and presentation skills. They will be capable of working effectively as an individual and as a part of a team. They will have the ability...proven or latent...to manage people now or in the not-too-distant future, and make things happen.

The Job Advert

The successful applicant will be determined and energetic, with a high level of numeracy, ICT, literacy, research and presentation skills. They will be capable of working effectively to deadlines as an individual and as a part of a team. They will have the ability...proven or latent...to manage people now or in the not-too-distant future, and make things happen.

Task 5
In box 5 can you write Skills Practiced and give examples for when you have demonstrated the skills in box 4 in the past.

So lets study some of those terms

Determined
Through thick and thin; times of stress; meeting deadlines; Getting a first.

Energetic
When did you last go the extra mile?

Numeracy
Statistical analysis of quantitative data.

So lets study some of those terms

ICT
Every assignment; you DO have good ICT skills.

Literacy
Reading and writing when did you last do that?

Research
Academically taught and finely honed research skills; when didnt you last have to research?; The D word.

So lets study some of those terms

Presentation skills
PowerPoint and beyond; public speaking; the presentation of your work; your professional image.

Working effectively to deadlines

Most of the work that you undertake.

Individual
Working alone.

Working effectively as a part of a team

Group work; sports; employment.

So lets study some of those terms

Manage people
Group working responsibilities; relationships with those around you; organisation and managing self.

Make things happen

Innovation; creativity; problem solving; achievement.

Work Placement
You need to put together a team, who will be given the task of organising a party at a night-club. The party will be on a particular date, it must have a theme, there will be a financial budget. What sort of skills would you want people in your team to have?

Task 6
In box 6 on your sheet, can you write the title Skills needed and underneath this write a short advert to recruit people into your team. Your advert must list the skills that you need team members to have.

Selling Yourself
Selling and negotiating skills are essential for managers; You probably already utilise these skills without even knowing it;

Ultimately they result in one person doing something at another persons request.

Selling Your Skills

Whenever you are presenting yourself to an audience you are selling to the audience:
Your ideas; Your ability; Your integrity.

Remember an audience can be as large as infinity or as small as one person.

Professionalism is Paramount
Presentation style and technique. Integrity. Composure. Knowledge.

Know your enemy

Sun-Tzu (The Art of War)

The Pitch
Introduce

Develop

Conclude

The Funnel
Know the requirements

Introduce yourself Get their attention Build your credibility Maintain interest
Instil desire Fine details

Negotiation Sale

Feedback
Everyone SHOULD receive feedback, especially after interviews.
Read your feedback BEFORE your grade. What does it tell you? Consider it as constructive, build upon your mistakes. Stay clear of the crumple zone.

Task 7
In box number 7 on your sheet, write the title Feedback, then stick your sheet to the wall using Blue-Tack. Take your pen, and go around the room as a group looking at everybody elses sheet write some feedback in each box number 7.

Further Action Post Feedback

Stay motivated. Talk to other people. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. Carry out the task(s) again using your feedback as guidance.

Developing Your Employability Skills is a Cyclic Process

Task 8

In box number 8 write the title Reflection then write how you feel about the feedback you have got.

Thankyou
Dank u, Danke, Merci, Grazie, , , , Gracias,

Any Questions???

References
British Broadcasting Corporation. (2006) Graduate demand outstrips skills. [Internet] London, BBC. URL available from <http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/4687030.stm> Accessed 1st November, 2006. Doctorjob. (2002) Ill Communication. Doctorjob. Summer 2002, p.4. Hind, D. and Moss, S. (2005) Employability skills. Sunderland, Business Education Publishers Ltd.

Institute for Employment Studies. (2008) Employability: developing a framework for policy analysis. London, IES. URL available from: <http://www.employmentstudies.co.uk/summary/summary.php?id=emplblty> Accessed 23rd November, 2008.
Knight, P. and Yorke, M. (2003) Learning, curriculum and employability in higher education. London, Routledge.

University of Reading (2008) Jargonbuster. [Internet] Reading, UoR. URL available from: <http://www.rdg.ac.uk/internal/freshers/fr-jargonbuster.asp> Accessed 20th November, 2008.