“a set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that makes people more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy.”

Employability or ‘soft skills’ are the building blocks of your career. The media frequently run stories on how these skills are lacking in school-leavers, graduates and/or those already in employment. Organisations spend a lot of time and money training staff, not in job specific areas but in general and basic skills.

In times of high unemployment, employers have more choice of applicants and will favour those with well-rounded employability skills. Most of us start to develop these skills early on in life, but we may not be aware that we are doing so.

Remember, though, that mastering these skills is a long-term process: there are few people who could—or would—ever claim that their soft skills could not be improved.

You can develop these skills both in and outside the classroom.  Here are a few examples:

• become a class captain

• get involved in extra curricular activities eg Drama, Music or Sport

• group activities in the classroom 

• completing presentations in the class or even at assembly

• become a member of the School Council

• become part of the Junior Leadership Team in Yr10

• put yourself forward to become a Prefect in Yr13/14

• volunteer to help out with events and activities around school