
Employability is possessing knowledge, aptitudes, skills, and other traits employers require (British Council, 2014). It is a set of qualities and competencies that are required of you to meet the adequate needs of employers.
This encompasses a wide range of qualities that employers look for in potential candidates. They include hard skills, soft skills, and personal attributes that can contribute to your success in the workforce. It is a life-long process that ensures you constantly stay updated to remain relevant and competitive.
Let’s explore the key component of employability-
1. Hard Skills:
These are specific, teachable abilities that can be measured and are often job-specific. They include technical skills related to a particular profession or industry, such as programming languages for software developers or medical procedures for healthcare professionals. I call these the skills that give you titles, e.g “I am a project manager,” “I am a developer” I am a virtual assistant”, “I am a medical Dr.” “ I am a product manager”. The skills gained are typically only relevant to a specific career path.
2. Soft Skills:
Interpersonal or transferable skills are more about how you work than what you know. Soft skills are essential for effective workplace communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. They may also be referred to as foundational skills or transferable skills. Examples include communication, selling, leadership, time management, empathy, critical thinking and coordination. In today’s world, where digital skills are a must-have for everyone, digital skills have now fallen under the transferable skills desired by employers.
Are you asking how I can make myself employable? What are the things I can do to garner relevance in the workforce? Look below;
Skill Development:
This refers to acquiring and improving skills through education, training, practice, and experience. It involves expanding your knowledge, improving your abilities and staying competitive in your chosen field. Whether learning new software, improving communication skills, or developing leadership abilities, skill development is crucial to your professional success. Remember, beyond your named skill, i.e. the one that gives you a title, the “how you work” skills are very critical if employability is your goal, not just referring to yourself as a “digital marketer” or “project manager” without still being employable. Skilled For Work Academy has allowed you to acquire both sets of skills under the soft skill and technical skills schools.
Gaining Experience:
Seek internships, volunteer opportunities, part-time jobs, and freelance projects to gain practical experience and expand your professional portfolio. The good thing is that this can be achieved using the Skilled For Wok Global Career Path Program.
Adaptability:
Adaptability requires staying updated with industry trends, technological advancements, and market demands. You must embrace change and proactively seek opportunities for growth and learning.
Continuous Learning:
It’s important to cultivate a growth mindset and prioritise lifelong learning. Stay curious, explore new subjects, and continuously seek feedback to enhance your knowledge and skills.
To set yourself apart as a top candidate in the workforce, you first need to understand the concept of employability. According to interview Cracker, employability is the ability to gain initial employment, maintain employment and obtain new employment if required. You’re making yourself a desirable candidate by learning, developing, and honing relevant skills ideal for your industry.
Click here to watch the lesson videos that explain employability skills.
As Written By I-Train Africa In 2024