EMPLOYABILITY
SKILLS
Presented by
LaWanda F. Woods, On-Ramp Coordinator
Judy Taylor, Professional Counselor
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
WORKSHOP
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVE
students will understand the
basic skills necessary for
getting, keeping and doing
well on a job.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
At the conclusion of this workshop,
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS?
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
What Are
THE GOOD NEWS!
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Most job-seekers possess these skills to
some extent.
THE BETTER NEWS!!
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Job-seekers with weaknesses in these
areas can improve their skills through
training and personal development.
THE BEST NEWS!!!
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Once you understand the skills and
characteristics that most employers seek,
you can tailor your job search
communications (your resume, cover
letter, etc) to showcase how well your
background aligns with their
requirements.
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ARE . . .
Can be divided into three categories:
• Basic academic skills;
• Higher-ordered thinking skills; AND
• Personal qualities
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Skills, attitudes and actions
that enable workers to get
along with their co-workers
and supervisors and to make
sound, critical decisions.
BASIC ACADEMIC
Essential for
high job
performance
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
SKILLS
SKILLS
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
HIGHER-ORDER THINKING
The ability
to think,
reason and
make sound
decisions is
crucial for
employees
desiring to
do well and
advance.
Punctual &
Efficient
Cooperative
SelfMotivated
SelfManagement
Responsible
Social Skills
Good Work
Attitude
SelfConfidence
Honest
Well
Groomed
Self-Control
Team Spirit
Integrity
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Self-Directed
PERSONAL QUALITIES
Adaptable &
Flexible
Each
person has
the ability
to do
certain
things very
well; these
are their
personal
skills.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
SKILLS EMPLOYERS DEMAND
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Communications Skills
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Exceptional listener and communicator who
effectively conveys information verbally and in
writing.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
This is the one skill mentioned most often by employers –
the ability to listen, write and speak effectively.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Analytical/Research Skills
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated
talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and
streamlining complex work processes.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek
multiple perspectives, gather more information, if
necessary, and identify key issues that need to be
addressed.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Computer/Technical Literacy
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Computer-literate performer with extensive software
proficiency covering a wide variety of applications.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of
computer hardware and software, especially word
processing, spreadsheets and email.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Flexible team player who thrives in environments
requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle
multiple concurrent projects.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Deals with your ability manage multiple assignments
and tasks, set priorities and adapt to changing
conditions and work assignments.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Interpersonal Abilities
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive
climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and
coaches employees to meet high performance
standards.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to
participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is
essential given the amount of time spent at
work each day.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Leadership/Management Skills
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive
climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and
coaches employees to meet high performance
standards.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
While there is some debate about whether leadership is
something people are born with, these skills deal with
your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Personable professional whose strengths include
cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport
with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than
diversity, and job seekers must demonstrate a sensitivity
and awareness to other people & cultures.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Planning/Organizing
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Result-driven achiever with exemplary planning
and organizational skills, along with a high degree
of detail orientation.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Deal with your ability to design, plan, organize and
implement projects and tasks within an allotted
timeframe. Also involves goal-setting.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Innovative problem-solver who can generate
workable solutions and resolve complaints.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using
your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along
with the available information and resources.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Teamwork
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
Resourceful team player who excels at building
trusting relationships with customers and
colleagues.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Because so many jobs involve working in one or more
work-groups, you must have the ability to work with
others in a professional manner while attempting to
achieve a common goal.
Sought After By Employers
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
PERSONAL VALUES
HONESTY ● INTEGRITY ● MORALITY
Sample bullet point for resume or cover letter:
 Seasoned professional whose honesty and integrity provide
for effective leadership and optimal business relationships.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Employers probably respect personal integrity
more than any other value.
DEDICATION ● HARD-WORKING
WORK ETHIC ● TENACITY
Sample bullet point for your resume or cover letter:
Dependable, responsible contributor with commitment to
excellence and success.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Employers seek job-seekers who live what they do
and will keep at it until they solve the problem or
get the job done.
ADAPTABILITY ● FLEXIBILITY
Sample bullet point describing this skills:
Highly adaptable risk-taker who is open to new ideas.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to
working independently or as part of a team, and to
carrying out multiple tasks or projects.
LOYALTY
Sample bullet point describing this skills:
Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Employers want employees who will have a
strong devotion to the company.
POSITIVE ATTITUDE ● MOTIVATION
●ENERGY ●PASSION
Sample bullet point describing this skills:
Energetic performer consistently cited for a passion for work, sunny
disposition, and upbeat, positive attitude.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
The job-seekers who get hired and the employees
who get promoted are the ones with drive and
passion – and who demonstrate this enthusiasm
through words and actions.
PROFESSIONALISM
Sample bullet point describing this skills:
Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated,
and committed to professionalism.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Deals with acting in a responsible and fair manner
in all your personal and work activities, which is
seen as a sign of maturity and self-confidence; avoid
being petty.
SELF-CONFIDENCE
Sample bullet point describing this skills:
Confident, hard-working employee who is committed to
achieving excellence.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Look at it this way: If you don’t believe in yourself, in
your unique mix of skills, education, and abilities,
why should a prospective employer? Be confident in
yourself and what you can offer employers.
SELF-MOTIVATED ● ABILITY TO WORK
WITH LITTLE OR NO SUPERVISION
Sample bullet point describing this skills:
Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with
minimal supervision.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
While teamwork is always mentioned as an
important skills, so is the ability to work
independently, with minimal supervision.
WILLINGNESS TO LEARN
Sample bullet point describing this skills:
Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry learner, eager to meet
challenges and quickly assimilates new concepts.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
No matter what your age, no matter how much
experience you have, you should always be willing
to learn a new skill or technique. Jobs are
constantly changing and evolving, and you must
show an openness to grow and learn with that
change.
We ALL have them!
Simply put, they are skills you have acquired during any
activity in your life -- jobs, classes, projects, parenting,
hobbies, sports, virtually anything -- that are transferable
and applicable to what you want to do in your next job.
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
TRANSFERABLE JOB SKILLS
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
OBTAINED IN THE CLASSROOM
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
#1: ABILITY TO MEET DEADLINES
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
College is an abundance of deadlines. If
meeting deadlines is an important skill in
the job you seek, by all means exploit it in
your resume and your cover letter.
#2: ABILITY TO MULTIPLE TASKS
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Remember how you wanted to smack all
your instructors for requiring simultaneous
major papers and projects? Multi-tasking is
increasingly valued in the workplace, and
your resume/cover letter gives you the
chance to boast of your ability to juggle
many projects at once.
#3: ABILITY TO ACHIEVE GOALS
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Your good grades are proof of that skill, so
boast about them if they're exemplary. You
may have met other goals while in school,
too, such as graduating early. Any goal
you've met while in school is potential
skill/ability to add to your cover-letter
and/resume.
#4: ABILITY TO ADAPT
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Your college years probably gave you your first
opportunity to make adult decisions and act
independently. How did you handle stumbling blocks and
disappointments along the way? The way you rose above
difficulties can provide solid examples.
#5: WRITING SKILLS
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Jobs that require good writing skills
are a lot more common than you probably
think they are. If you demonstrated your
ability to write well in college, you can
highlight that skill.
#6: RESEARCH SKILLS
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
How many people who've been out in the
"real world" have research skills that are as
fresh and recent as yours? How many know
as much as you do about, say, conducting
research on the Internet? Probably not
many, so for jobs where this ability may be
helpful, be sure to emphasize your research
skills.
FINAL THOUGHT…..
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS & PERSONAL
VALUES ARE THE CRITICAL TOOLS AND
TRAITS YOU NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE
– AND THEY ARE ALL
ELEMENTS THAT YOU CAN LEARN,
CULTIVATE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN.
WORKPLACE
REMEMBER TO DOCUMENT THEM AND
MARKET THEM IN YOUR RESUME,
COVER LETTER AND INTERVIEWS!
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
ONCE YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THEM,
MARKETABLE SKILLS
DEGREE /PROGRAM
VALUES
DEGREE /PROGRAM
COURSEWORK
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
YOUR FRUIT
SIGN OFF
JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
Q&A
AND