Employ-ability Skills

Standard: Demonstrate employability skills required by business and industry.

The following elements should be integrated throughout the content of this course.

1.1 Communicate effectively through writing, speaking, listening, reading, and interpersonal abilities.

Essential Question:  What are the top 10 most in demand skills in the next ten years?

Directions:  Read the article about "The top 10 Most In Demand Skills".  Then, create a page on your website with the same title as this page, "Employ-ability Skills."  Create a text box, and copy and paste the information on this page to your page.  Last, change the color of the font to blue, and write a 3-5 sentence summary of what you read in the space below.

Active Listening Techniques

In Part One of this series, we talked about how listening is a vital part of communication and approximately 70% of communication is non-verbal. Active listening techniques can help you gain a deeper understanding of what someone is trying to communicate in a meeting or conversation. In the workplace, listening is important when interacting with customers, participating in meetings, and working with co-workers. As elementary as listening may seem, it can sometimes be hard to do. Next time you are having a conversation try these active listening techniques:

Build Trust and Rapport: This active listening technique involves gaining the trust of the person you are having a conversation with and developing a relationship in which you demonstrate understanding. Finding common ground and being empathetic can help build trust and rapport. 

Demonstrate Concern: Demonstrating concern will make the speaker feel more comfortable and can keep the conversation productive. Remember that body language is important when it comes to communication and can play a big role in how you demonstrate concern. Therefore, actions such as crossing your arms or avoiding eye contact can send a negative signal, so it is important to make sure your body language is welcoming. For example, you can nod your head in agreement and make eye contact.

Ask Questions: When you're listening it is important to pay attention and not focus on your rebuttal or response. However, this doesn't mean there isn't room to ask questions. Be sure that your questions are meaningful and focus on the topic of the conversation. 

Use Verbal Affirmations: When practicing good active listening techniques it is important not to abruptly interrupt because that can be frustrating for the speaker. However, you can use verbal affirmations to show the speaker that you are listening and understanding.

Time to Act it Out!

Find a partner and practice active listening techniques. Take turns using the prompts below as the topic of your conversations. Have one partner act as the speaker and the other act as a listener, and then switch roles.

• Discuss a time you overcame a major challenge.

• What is your favorite childhood memory and why?

Demonstrating a Good Attitude:  https://careersolutionsgroup.com/JRCS_Demo/job_ready/app/demonstrating_a_good_attitude/video.html

General Job Readiness/Employabillity Skills

https://careersolutionsgroup.com/JRCS_Demo/job_ready/app/category/work_habits.html#

The Importance of Non-Verbal Communication Goes Without Saying

Did you enjoy that pun? Well, it is true that non-verbal communication does not rely on any words (hence the name). Non-verbal communication comes into play when the transfer of information occurs through body language, facial expressions, gestures, created space, and more. For example, smiling when you meet someone conveys friendliness, acceptance, and openness. Rolling your eyes and crossing your arms conveys irritability, anger, annoyance, and sometimes a lack of respect. 

Non-verbal communication is happening on both ends of the conversation, which means you can communicate non-verbally whether you are the speaker or the listener. 

Take a Look!

Check out this image! Although it is just a still image and you have no back story on the photo, you can tell what's going on by the non-verbal cues and body language. By looking at the hand gestures, facial expressions, and eyes the following is obvious:

• The woman customer on the left is upset. This is apparent by her facial expressions and the placement of her hand on her face. 

• The woman standing up feels nervous and timid. Note the placement of her hands and eyes.

• The man is upset. Although we can't see his facial expression, the use of his hands and arms says it all. 

Now check out this image! What do the non-verbal cues and body language indicate about this situation? 

• The waitress is in close proximity to the customer which shows she is engaged in the conversation.

• The waitress has a positive facial expression and a slight smile, which is warm and welcoming.

• Although the customer is not making eye contact, you can tell that she is engaged and listening. Her facial expression is one that shows curiosity and she is turned toward the waitress. 

Try This!

In this exercise, you will see how easily you can communicate non-verbally. 

1. First, find a partner.

2. Next, select an emotion from the list below.

3. Take turns delivering this line to your partner. "Stop what you're doing, we need to grab all of our stuff and exit the building!"

4. The partner who is not reading the line must respond non-verbally using the emotion that was selected (remember how facial expressions, hand gestures, and space all play a part in non-verbal communication). 

5. After about 20 seconds of non-verbal communication, the partner must guess the emotion.

• Scared

• Happy

• Irritated

• Confused

• Frustrated

• Amused

• Composed

• Disappointed

• Shy

• Impatient

Source: Career Solutions Publishing

Problem Solving Skills in the Workplace

Steps 1 and 2

You learned the six steps for problem solving in the last Career Headlines. Today, we will focus on Steps 1 and 2. 

STEP 1

Identify the Problem 

Unless you can define the root cause of the problem you want to solve, you will not be able to find a solution. Ask “Is this really a problem or only an annoyance? Does the problem affect several coworkers or only me? Would some coworkers disagree that a problem exists? 

• Spend time exploring to make sure there actually is a problem  Some situations may not be problems at all, while others need 100% compliance, for example, those affecting the safety of employees.

• Write the problem you identify. Can you break the problem down further? Keep thinking about the problem until you have reached the root cause.

STEP 2

Analyze the Problem

Why did the problem occur in the first place? What are the benefits of solving the problem? What needs to be changed? In this step, collect as much valuable information as possible. Observe the situation, interview coworkers, survey customers, or use other ways to gain the information you need.

• Catch the problem at an early stage, so it is easier to solve. Do not allow it to move to the crisis stage.

• Consider this question: What would happen if no solution can be found to the problem?

Action: As a team of two or three, brainstorm the following situation and identify the problem. Then, describe the information you will need to begin solving the problem. Where would you obtain this information? If a team is not available, think about the situation and provide your own thoughts.

Situation: As a supervisor, you have heard rumors that some of your employees are leaving work an hour or more before quitting time and giving their electronic cards to coworkers to swipe them out at the end of day. If this rumor is true, employees are cheating your company by not putting in a full day’s work. 

Identify the problem in Step 1 below, and in Step 2, list the information you will need to solve the problem.

Step 1: Identify the Problem

Step 2: Analyze the Problem

Note to Teacher: To extend students thinking, ask these questions: In the workplace, how are problems actually discovered? Why is it important to have a problem-solving process in place? What three or more questions should be asked while analyzing the problem.

For More Problem Solving Lessons

Problem solving is a top-priority skill that employers seek when hiring, a skill that Job Ready Career Skills tackles through a wide variety of lessons. You are able to choose the lessons you believe your students need most.

Source: Career Solutions Publishing

Problem Solving Skills in the Workplace

Steps 3 and 4

As you remember, there are six important steps to follow in the Problem-Solving Approach. In our previous activity, we focused on Steps 1 and Step 2. Now let’s explore Steps 3 and Step 4.

STEP 3

Describe the Problem

Writing the problem down in statement form will help you to better understand it. Make sure you are aware of the entire problem. Are there several different parts to the problem? Get input from all involved parties. Also, be sure to ask: “What caused the problem in the first place?” “How long has it been around?” “When did it begin?” 

• Defining the problem properly ensures that a correct solution can be identified.

• Getting to the root of the problem will make the problem-solving process go much smoother.

STEP 4

Develop Possible Solutions

You can solve problems in more than one way. In some cases, multiple solutions may be possible. The first step is to do your research thoroughly by using some or all of the methods described below.

Discuss the problem with others. Conduct interviews and develop strategies with team members, consult experts, read leadership books, listen to podcasts, or watch YouTube videos.

Brainstorm with employees and management and then make a list of at least three possible solutions to the problem. As you think of possible solutions, always remember to take a step back and reflect on the problem and solutions. 

• Find a place where you feel comfortable brainstorming and reflecting—in a quiet spot at home or at work, while commuting to and from school or work, or at some other place.

• Try to think of short-term solutions that lead to long-term outcomes. One method some use is to work backward; that is —think of the wanted outcome and then work backward to obtain it. 

• After brainstorming and listing solutions, cross off the solutions that you think will prove less effective in correcting both the symptoms and root cause. 

Action: As a team of two or three, using the same scenario as presented in Step 1 and Step 2, brainstorm the situation and develop responses for Step 3 and Step 4. Use the Problem-Solving Process and keep in mind your responses from Step 1 and Step 2. 

Scenario: It has been rumored that co-workers of employees at XYZ Studios are leaving their electronic swipe cards with co-workers to swipe them out at the end of the day, even though they are leaving an hour or more before actual quitting time.

Step 3: Describe the Problem (Write a statement of the problem.)

Step 4: Develop Possible Solutions (List at least three.)

Note to Teacher: Consider developing a brainstorming activity for your class, for example: How might the class dismissal system be improved? Should the school’s athletic games be played at different times? Based on this activity, ask students how brainstorming can be used effectively as a tool for problem solving at work. Ask students to list three or more questions to ask in order to describe this problem or situation. Share what you learned from this problem-solving exercise involving Step 3 and Step 4.

For More Problem Solving Lessons

Job Ready Career Skills will upgrade your students' problem-solving abilities and help them stand out from the competition for good jobs. Interviewersk and employers identify problem solving as one of the most important skills they seek in applicants. With Job Ready Career Skills, you are able to choose the lessons you believe your students need most. 

See all of the lesson titles here.