The 5 Most Important Employability Skills to master in early youth.

 

Employability Skills ? Not for Me  so early... 

Oh yes they are important but not as of now ..My child is just in grade 10/11 /12 and he first needs to focus on his studies and qualify in his entrance exams..

Is this what comes to your mind when your child is in grade 10 – 11  and  someone talks about employability? Especially when the competitive world out there has narrowed down everything to just studying hard and hard in grades 10-12 just to qualify in the entrance exams .. The taxing schedule of the coaching classes leaves no breathing space for the students to look at anything else.

While this stand is understandable but not necessarily the right one. Going through the following small article will help you why I say this.

The most crucial employability skills that each youngster would be needed to have in order to get gainfully employed have less to do with his academic excellence or qualifications and more with what he does and does it consistently beyond academics during his developmental age

Mostly we have observed (with some exceptions though ) as the students approach grade 10, they stop participating in extracurricular activities like Sports, Music, Dance, Drama, Social or Community work and so on. Sometimes on their own- influenced by general perception, reduced interest or peer pressure for not doing the same, and sometimes the parents insist to stop these activities. These and similar activities actually are the windows of opportunities for these young students to develop important life skills which now are being called Employability skills by the corporate world.

Let’s look at the most important employability skills and how students can develop these skills.

The 5  most important employability skills required in the next 5-10 years, and what students can do to develop and master them:

1.    Critical thinking and problem-solving. These skills are essential for identifying and solving problems in the workplace. Students can develop these skills by taking courses in logic, critical thinking, and problem-solving. They can also practice these skills by working on puzzles, playing games, and reading challenging material.

2.    Communication. This includes both written and verbal communication skills. Students can develop their communication skills by taking courses in English, public speaking, and debate. They can also practice these skills by joining clubs, Social  or Personality development forums and organizations, and by giving presentations to their classmates / colleagues.

3.    Collaboration. This is the ability to work effectively with others to achieve a common goal. Students can develop their collaboration skills by taking courses in teamwork, group dynamics, and conflict resolution. They can also practice these skills by participating in group projects and activities.

4.    Creativity and innovation. These skills are essential for coming up with new ideas and solutions. Students can develop their creativity and innovation skills by taking courses in design thinking, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship. They can also practice these skills by brainstorming, experimenting, and prototyping.

5.    Digital literacy. This is the ability to use technology effectively in the workplace. Students can develop their digital literacy skills by taking courses in computer science, information technology, and web design. They can also practice these skills by using technology in their everyday lives, such as for research, communication, and entertainment.

In addition to these skills, students should also develop their soft skills, such as teamwork, adaptability, and resilience. These skills are essential for success in the workplace, regardless of the specific job.

You will agree that the way students currently spend their critical learning age years of 14- 15-16-17 mostly reading study books, attending study classes or doing self study for their entrance exams of some or the other course. They hardly or do not get to spare any time for doing anything else.

Once they lose touch and interest in such activities they hardly do it again in college. The advent of Mobile gadgets, online gaming,  social media has been an additional deterrent. Even with some events or activities happening in college the most focus is on winning the tournaments / contests and not enjoying the process and hence learning again takes a back seat. Sadly many students feel having some internship under the belt , preparing an attractive resume, and practicing good interview skills at the last minute is enough for landing a job. 

You would agree that mastering the above employability skills is a process spread over a few months to few years with the consistency of practice and hence continuous engagement in the skills development activities is required.. It's better to start early and keep improving to be decently skilled by the time you are to face interviews or start a business. 

If this makes sense then here are some additional tips for students who want to develop and master these skills:

·        Set goals. What skills do you want to develop? What are your specific goals? Once you know what you want to achieve, you can start making a plan to get there.

·         Find resources. There are many resources available to help you develop your skills. You can find books, articles, online courses, and workshops. You can also talk to your teachers, mentors, and friends.

·         Practice regularly. The best way to learn a skill is to practice it regularly. The more you practice, the better you will become at it.

·         Be patient. It takes time to develop new skills. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Just keep practicing and you will eventually reach your goals.

And I can't resist mentioning here that BOLDNET is precisely the platform where you would get to learn most of the employability skills conveniently.

 

Wishing you all the best wishes

 

Avinaash Deshmukh

Youth and  Career Coach

connect with author : avinashdeshmukh@brainsmaart.com