latrobe.edu.au/students/careers CRICOS Provider 00115M

Career Ready ProgramSeminar 2: Graduate Employability Skills

Career Development CentreLa Trobe University

2CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Your Graduate Employability Skills

• What are Employability Skills?

• Identifying and recording my Employability Skills

• How can I develop my Employability Skills?

What are employability skills?

4CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

What are my employability skills?

‘Employability’ =

The set of general skills and personal attributes that makes me more likely to gain graduate

employment and succeed in my chosen fields

Academic studies + employability skills = graduate employment

5CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Skills employers want

Sample Selection Criteria – major bank graduate program

• Motivated, confident and genuine team player

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

• Customer-focused approach to solving problems

• Passionate about innovation

• A positive "can do" attitude

• Willingness to learn from others

• Be conscientious, honest and flexible

• Experience outside of University: eg travel, community involvement, extra –curricular activities

6CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

‘Big 4’ Accounting Organisation Selection Criteria 2013-14

People who excel - high academic achievers, demonstrate leadership through extra-curricular activities and community involvement.

People with integrity - clear sense of personal and professional accountability and to show you are committed to doing the right thing.

People who demonstrate respect - recognise the value of different backgrounds and points of view.

People who are good at working in teams - evidence that you are good at listening, learning, sharing, developing and working with others, including those that are different from you.

People with energy, enthusiasm and the courage to lead - passionate and excited about your future and achieving your potential.

People with determination and personal ambition - people who want to strive to be their best.

7CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Victorian Public Service Graduate Program 2013/14

• We recruit outstanding, motivated graduates who want to contribute to Victoria's future.

• We consider your values, skills, work experience, involvement in extra-curricular activities (for example, in sport or as a volunteer), and other community interests.

• We are looking for graduates who want to contribute to Victorian communities and have the following qualities:

strong analytical and conceptual abilities

excellent written and verbal communication and teamwork skills

initiative and accountability

flexibility

8CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

What do employers want?

Survey of employers recruiting for graduate programs assessed employability skills

above university grades and relevant work experience.

(The Australian Association of Graduate Employers Employer Survey 2012).

9CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Graduates have two areas of skills:

Skills specific to an industry or discipline e.g. accounting, law, civil engineering

Also known as

• technical skills

• discipline skills

10CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

….and skills that are:

General

- also known as

• generic skills

• transferable skills

• graduate capabilities

• workplace skills

• employability skills

• core skills

11CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Employability skills: Summary

- Communication- Self-Management- Teamwork- Initiative & Enterprise - Problem Solving - Learning- Planning & Organising- Technology

12CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Where did the list come from?

Australia

( Research in 2002, involving:

• Business Council of Australia• Australian Chamber of Commerce & Industry• Australian Government

Similar Work Overseas

• Europe – Key Skills, Core Skills

• Canada – Employability Skills Profile

• Singapore – Employability Skills System (ESS)

Why are these skills in demand?

14CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Why are these skills important?

Dynamic Labour Market – technology & globalisation• more complex work environments• multi-skilling• multi-disciplinary teams• workforce restructuring• increased productivity• increased pace of change and innovation

How will this affect my career?• regular career change• new situations, environments, teams• mix of full-time, part-time, casual, project work• on-going learning

15CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Why do employers want these skills?

Global demand for graduates who can: • adapt to change• quickly fit into an organisation • self-manage their own learning & development• interact effectively within teams• analyse & use information from various sources

16CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

What do employers think?

Communications

“Interpersonal and communications skills are very important. Mars has an informal culture where a lot of business gets done via face to face conversation. To succeed at Mars, you need to be able to build rapport and relations quickly with a wide variety of different personalities.” Chris Howes, graduate marketing manager Mars

17CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

• Teamwork

Applicants for Microsoft’s graduate program are commonly asked for an example of a time when they have influenced another team member. The ability to positively influence is vital for making someone a good team worker - Microsoft doesn’t just look for candidates with technical ability.

• Problem Solving

“It’s about not giving up when the first solution didn’t work; it’s about keeping at it until you found a solution that did” Graduate recruitment manager for Capgemini consultancy (in 35 countries)

What do employers think?

18CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Where will employers look for evidence of these skills?

• Cover letter & Resume

• Responses to selection criteria

• Online applications

• Response to phone interviews

• Assessment centres

• Face to face interviews

How can I record & develop my employability skills?

20CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

How can I develop my employability skills?

• Academic studies• Work placements• Solo or group projects• Student exchange

• Employment• Discipline-related or general

• Volunteering• Discipline-related or general

• Extra-curricular activities• Links with the community

• Join and be an active member of an industry-based or professional association

• Become a member of a club or society• Be an active member of a sports team

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La Trobe Graduate Capabilities – link to employability skills

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23CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Communication What does it mean?• Organises and expresses ideas concisely in both writing and

speaking• Two-way communication through sharing information• Listens to and understands others• Speaks clearly and directly to individuals or groups

How can I develop my skills?• Written projects, research and reports• Class presentations, participation in class discussions• Customer service skills through employment and volunteering• Tutor, ambassador or mentor role

24CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Initiative & Enterprise

What does it mean?• Ability to adapt to new situations• Translating ideas into action • Initiating change

How can I develop these skills?• Volunteer involvement• Work placement or internship• Operating own business• Innovation in student group, club or team• Travelling or studying aboard• Attending conferences or events to aid own learning

25CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Problem solving What does it mean?• Analyses problems for underlying causes,

assess options, propose solutions • Researches and selects relevant information

required to solve a problem• Ability to think sequentially, critique

information and synthesize informationHow can I develop these skills?• Research projects, case studies & assignments

as part of university course• Work placements, industry-based learning,

internship• Working in a customer service environment

26CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Self-management

What does it mean?• Can operate independently, and takes

responsibility for own actions• Self awareness of own strengths and

challenges• Can monitor and evaluate own performance

How can I develop these skills?• Attending careers fairs, seminars & workshops

for own professional development• Addressing gaps in skills and knowledge • Obtaining industry experience through

placement, internships or vacation work• Learning skills outside my degree

27CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

TeamworkWhat does it mean?• Works within a team of people from different backgrounds to

achieve a common goal• Shares information, supporting, mentoring and empowering

other team members• Responds constructively to others’ opinions

How can I develop these skills?• Group project work on assignments at university• Involvement in a student society, sports team or community

organisation• Working as part of a team in employment

28CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Planning & organisingWhat does it mean?• Manages time and priorities• Sets and keeps to timelines • Coordinates tasks for self and others• Anticipates need for forward planning

How can I develop these skills?• Organising study and work commitments• Developing action plans, including goal setting and

scheduling of tasks• Researching, collecting & organising data • Involvement in project planning/event management• Organising sporting, social or professional

networking activities

29CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

LearningWhat does it mean?• Invests personal time and effort in learning new

skills• Contributes to the learning community at the

workplace• Adaptable about learning environments: in class,

on line, on the job, solo, in groups • Passion for continual learning & improvement

How can I develop these skills?• Seeking opportunities for learning outside

compulsory elements of your course• Participating in professional development activities• Mentoring or coaching activities• Participating in an interest group or student society

30CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Using technologyWhat does it mean?• Proficiency in using computers and telecommunications

systems• Applies I.T. as a information management tool, to access,

organise and distribute data• Kept informed and understands current trends and

developments in an area of expertise• Uses I.T. as a research tool

How can I develop these skills?• Effective information seeking through use of electronic

databases• Specialised software packages for course/occupation• Using software to plan and manage project timelines

31CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Your Graduate Employability Skills

• What are Employability Skills?

• Identifying and recording my Employability Skills

• How can I develop my Employability Skills?

32CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTRE | La Trobe University

Next seminar

Thank you

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