Employability Enhancement Hub
Communication
The ability to interact in intellectual debate, to discuss issues with peers/supervisors, and to express a viewpoint clearly and concisely in words on in writing. Using a range of media for communication (which are widely used in business, such as for business reporting).
Team work
Works easily with groups of people and shows loyalty and commitment to the teams’ objectives. Attends to each member’s views equally.
Problem Solving
Shows interest in finding the cause of problems, looks for and chooses effective solutions and takes the necessary action to resolve them.
Self – Management
Time management, planning, organisation and efficiency. The ability to meet deadlines. Self-starting, individual initiative and enterprise. Autonomy and independent learning. Being adaptable to changing circumstances.
Commercial Awareness
Shows understanding of the main business activities of the company/organisation. Has a good sense of the business opportunities available, and the primary competitors.
Perseverance and motivation
To be persistent and overcome a set of obstacles. To drive yourself in order to achieve your goals and objectives.
Leadership
Shows the ability to communicate a vision or goal to others and lead them towards achieving it. Pushes for action and results, and wins the support and help of others.
Interpersonal skills
Effective listening, negotiating, persuasion and presentation. Ability to relate well to others, and work successfully with them in a team or as their leader.
Critical and analytical thinking
Analysis and synthesis, identify assumptions, evaluate statements in terms of evidence, detect false logic or reasoning, identify implicit values, define terms adequately, generalise appropriately. Appraise your own and others work. Provide constructive criticism.
Adaptability
Adapts easily to new challenges and shows openness to new ways of doing things. Effective at changing plans or actions to deal with changing situations.
ICT Literacy
Confidently uses a computer to write documents, browse the internet or use email programs. Can save files, locate them efficiently and print them.
Negotiation and persuasion
Shows ability to influence people’s beliefs and actions. Shows ability to win people’s cooperation and support for ideas or activities.
Numeracy
To understand and be able to extract appropriate meaning from numerical data and express oneself effectively in quantitative terms.
Time Management
Takes the time to organise events and tasks carefully so as to use time efficiently. Uses a diary/planner to ensure tasks are undertaken.
Ability to use own initiative
Demonstrates ability to take the initiative in a situation. Shows inclination to find opportunities to make decisions or influence events.
Confidence
Present a strong, professional image which commands the respect of others.
Innovative
The ability to generate new ideas and solutions, and to produce something new that has value to others.
Management skills
The ability to make business decisions and lead subordinates within a company.
Working under pressure
Working under pressure is simply the ability to cope with a high volume of work. It also entails foreseeing work problems and being able to plan for them.
Planning and research
Ability to conduct research individually or as part of a team. Requiring familiarity with and an evaluative approach to a range of business data, sources of information and appropriate methodologies, which inform the overall learning process.
Strong work ethic
The belief that work has a moral benefit and an inherent ability to strengthen character.
Literacy
Literacy skills are all the skills needed for reading and writing. They include such things as awareness of the sounds of language, awareness of print, and the relationship between letters and sounds.
Visual Literacy
Visual literacy is the ability to interpret, negotiate, and make meaning from information presented in the form of an image, extending the meaning of literacy, which commonly signifies interpretation of a written or printed text.
Practical skills
Uses equipment, tools or technology effectively. Easily follows instructions and shows willingness to use whatever tools or technology is required.
Relevant experience
Listening and questioning
Pays full attention to what other people are saying, takes time to understand the points being made, asks questions as needed, and does not interrupt inappropriately.
Global Mind-set
To understand and appreciate different cultures, speak and understand different languages. Entrepreneurship.
Information Literacy
A set of skills, which require an individual to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.
Office Etiquette
Office Etiquette or Office Manners is about conducting yourself respectfully and courteously in the office or workplace.
Service orientation
Shows understanding and concern for customers’ needs, is helpful and friendly to them, and deals effectively with any questions or complaints they may have.
Presentation skills
Presents information clearly and confidently to other individuals or groups. Maintains good eye contact and keeps the attention of an audience or individual.
Contributing to discussions
Decision Making
Shows the ability to make a decision about what is wanted, and determine when it is to be achieved. Stays committed to the goal, and deals with setbacks realistically.
Detail Oriented
A detail oriented person is someone who pays attention to the details and can make a conscious effort to understand causes instead of just the effects, and that does this in a second nature type of way. It shouldn’t be something that the person has to work at.
Apply discipline, knowledge and concepts
Dealing with conflict
The practice of recognizing and dealing with disputes in a rational, balanced and effective way. Conflict management implemented within a business environment usually involves effective communication, problem resolving abilities and good negotiating skills to restore the focus to the company’s overall goals.
Quality Control
Evaluating whether your product or service meets the quality requirements specified for your project.
Networking
The ability to make and sustain contacts in order to gather advice, information and potential business and career development. Linked very much to good communication skills.