Employability skills are the ability to adapt and be positive while dealing effectively with the demands and challenges of the workplace. With employability skills, one can explore alternatives, weigh pros and cons and make rational decisions as they solve issues. It also helps one to establish productive interpersonal relationships with others.
When these nine employability skills are noticed in an individual, an organization starts to value them as an asset:
Problem-solving – The ability of an individual to accurately define the issue, determine the causes of the problem, shortlist the best possible solution and finally, implement the solution well at the workplace.
Critical thinking – This is the ability to think rationally and understand logical conclusions. It is about being an active learner rather than a passive recipient of information. Such individuals rigorously question notions and hypotheses rather than accepting them at face value. They will always seek to determine whether the findings represent the entire picture.
Effective communication – Someone who can differentiate between hearing and listening, and then accurately transmit the message to various stakeholders without miscommunication and misinterpretation – This individual possesses one of the most sought-after employability soft skills.
Interpersonal relationship – This employability soft skill includes listening and effective speaking while managing one’s emotions. Individuals with strong interpersonal skills work well with teams or groups, formally and informally. It allows one to build better and longer-lasting relationships. Hence, it’s the foundation for success in one’s corporate life.
Decision-making – Often, individuals find it hard to make decisions at their workplace and require leadership traits. This employability skill helps teams to perform better as a whole. The ability to choose between two or more courses of action by considering the information on hand, one’s intuition, and the opinions of various stakeholders makes one good at decision making.
Creative thinking – Corporates seek individuals who see a problem or issue from a new angle or different perspective. It often results in finding a solution that could be better than the current one. Creative thinking helps one improve their problem-solving approach and understand others’ perspectives. In an increasingly global world, broader horizons and an ability to think more widely is a need.
Self-awareness – It helps one understand their strengths and areas of development. Consequently, the individual can study the situation and available opportunities before responding. It makes them better decision-makers.
Empathy – It is a key element of Emotional Intelligence. An empathic individual understands what others are experiencing as if they were feeling it themselves. It may not always be easy, or even possible, to empathize with others. However, with good people skills, one can work towards empathetic feelings. Research suggests that those who can empathize have better relationships at work and home.
Coping with stress and emotions – Stress is an inevitable component of corporate life. When an individual manages work stress & emotions effectively, team members feel safe at the workplace. This is possible by the following mindfulness during the day to manage stress and emotions by bringing your mind and body to a place of calmness.
The above employability skills are complementary and not a substitute for technical skills related to work. Hence, it is important to integrate them rather than focus on them in isolation.
Taken from,
Wadhwani Foundation Blog
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