There is so much jargon in the business world…….buzz words, acronyms that seem to be more confusing to people than helpful half the time… and confusion over what a word or phrase actually means………but we are not afraid to ask the questions here!
We decided to talk to Melissa Fuller about the word ’employability’ – here is her take on this fashionable word.
Soft skills
Employability is the new ‘it’ word, but in simple terms for a candidate looking for a role – it is your soft skills.
So what are soft skills? They are skills outside of your qualification. Skills such as the ability to form relationships, create a customer experience, effectively communicate with others and problem solving. These skills are hard to teach and some people naturally have them.
No prior work experience is irrelevant
The best way to gain those important soft skills is to volunteer, find part time work or summer work. No prior work experience is irrelevant. In any work experience you have developed skills such as listening, following instructions and communicating with a diverse range of people.
Soft skills = transferable skills
These skills are transferable into any role you wish. An example: if you work in a busy restaurant while studying finance, you are able to show your ability to work and listen under pressure. Something that may be important in a finance based role. You can identify what skills outside of your qualification are important by reading the job description or talking to others in the industry.
Sell your particular package of skills
It is important to remember that Dunedin, as well as New Zealand, is built on small to medium size businesses with employee numbers fewer than 30. Investing in employees is a big decision for those employers and an expensive undertaking. ‘Selling you‘ as a package of skills to a potential employer will enhance your chances of becoming employed and help the business.
Learn, grow and develop yourself
Look outside your qualification and create opportunities to learn new skills. Unicrew is a great place to go to try out volunteering. For more information on how to find work while studying in Dunedin, follow us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/getworkready or go to www.getworkready.co.nz for more information.
Melissa Fuller is the energetic, enthusiastic program co-ordinator at ‘Work Ready,’ and she is passionate about helping international students adapt to life in New Zealand and move into employment prior to graduation.
