WTD: Lesson - Employability Skills Overview
Employability Skills Overview
Why are employability skills important?
Working in the field of computer science provides opportunities to work in several types of job settings. Depending on the job assignment, a person may work independently with limited interactions with others, while someone else may experience the exact opposite. Others may work as part of a think tank group to develop, design, and deliver products and/or services.
Regardless of whether a person works independently, in pairs, or in groups, there are employability skills that are beneficial for gaining employment, retaining employment, and enhancing one’s employment opportunities. Employability skills have the potential to directly affect a person’s quality of life: housing, food choices, safety, savings, investments, insurance, vacations, etc. These skills are also called employment skills, soft skills, work-readiness skills, or foundational skills. People who focus on improving their soft skills tend to perform better at work, make fewer errors and increase successful collaboration with their colleagues, which helps them to complete their work more effectively.
Many employers and business owners believe that employability skills are just as important as the technical skills needed to successfully complete given tasks and responsibilities. Below is an excerpt from a job description for a Web Page Developer:
- Proficiency in programming languages.
- Understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) practices.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work independently and manage time efficiently.
- Solution-oriented and high-level programming skills.
- Ability to troubleshoot and optimize web pages for security and responsiveness.
- Understanding of network diagnostics and analytical tools.
Technical skills are the skills needed to complete a specific set of job responsibilities, while employability skills are beneficial in any job setting. How many employability skills can you identify from the list?
Georgia’s Standards Based Approach
There is such a great need for workers with great employability skills that in Georgia Career, Technical, Agriculture Educate (CTAE) courses there is a standard that focuses only on employability skills. By including this standard, the state of Georgia recognizes the importance and addresses the need to prepare a workforce that is trained in this area. The employability standard for this course includes the following elements:
1.1 Communicate effectively through writing, speaking, listening, reading, and interpersonal abilities.
1.2 Demonstrate an understanding of collaborative interactions in the digital world.
1.3 Model work-readiness traits required for success in the workplace including integrity, honesty, accountability, punctuality, time management, and respect for diversity.
1.4 Exhibit critical thinking and problem-solving skills to locate, analyze, and apply information in career planning and employment situations.
1.5 Present a professional image through appearance, behavior, and language.
By requiring Georgia students to show that they understand the employability standard, our goal is to give our students a competitive edge in the global marketplace. Additionally, we hope to provide students with lessons that build the skills designed to maximize their quality of life.
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