EMPLOYABILITY

SKILLS
WORKSHOP

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Presented by
LaWanda F. Woods, On-Ramp Coordinator
Judy Taylor, Professional Counselor
WORKSHOP OBJECTIVE

At the conclusion of this workshop,

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

students will understand the
basic skills necessary for
getting, keeping and doing
well on a job.
 JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
What Are

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS?
THE GOOD NEWS!

Most job-seekers possess these skills to

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

some extent.
THE BETTER NEWS!!

Job-seekers with weaknesses in these

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

areas can improve their skills through
training and personal development.
THE BEST NEWS!!!

Once you understand the skills and

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

characteristics that most employers seek,
you can tailor your job search
communications (your resume, cover
letter, etc) to showcase how well your
background aligns with their
requirements.
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS ARE . . .
Skills, attitudes and actions
that enable workers to get
along with their co-workers

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

and supervisors and to make
sound, critical decisions.

Can be divided into three categories:

• Basic academic skills;

• Higher-ordered thinking skills; AND

• Personal qualities
 JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
performance
Essential for
high job

BASIC ACADEMIC SKILLS

 The ability

HIGHER-ORDER THINKING
to think,
reason and
make sound
decisions is
crucial for
employees
desiring to

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

do well and
advance.

SKILLS
 Each

PERSONAL QUALITIES
person has
the ability
to do
certain
Adaptable & Punctual &
things very
Self-Directed
Flexible Efficient well; these
are their

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Self- Self-
Cooperative
Motivated Management personal
skills.
Good Work
Responsible Social Skills
Attitude

Self- Well
Honest
Confidence Groomed

Self-Control Team Spirit Integrity

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
SKILLS EMPLOYERS DEMAND
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Communications Skills

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

This is the one skill mentioned most often by employers –
the ability to listen, write and speak effectively.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Exceptional listener and communicator who

effectively conveys information verbally and in
writing.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Analytical/Research Skills

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek
multiple perspectives, gather more information, if
necessary, and identify key issues that need to be
addressed.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated

talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and
streamlining complex work processes.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Computer/Technical Literacy

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of
computer hardware and software, especially word
processing, spreadsheets and email.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Computer-literate performer with extensive software

proficiency covering a wide variety of applications.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Deals with your ability manage multiple assignments
and tasks, set priorities and adapt to changing
conditions and work assignments.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Flexible team player who thrives in environments

requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle
multiple concurrent projects.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Interpersonal Abilities

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to
participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is
essential given the amount of time spent at
work each day.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive

climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and
coaches employees to meet high performance
standards.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Leadership/Management Skills

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

While there is some debate about whether leadership is
something people are born with, these skills deal with
your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive

climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and
coaches employees to meet high performance
standards.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than
diversity, and job seekers must demonstrate a sensitivity
and awareness to other people & cultures.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Personable professional whose strengths include

cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport
with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Planning/Organizing

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Deal with your ability to design, plan, organize and
implement projects and tasks within an allotted
timeframe. Also involves goal-setting.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Result-driven achiever with exemplary planning

and organizational skills, along with a high degree
of detail orientation.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using
your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along
with the available information and resources.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Innovative problem-solver who can generate

workable solutions and resolve complaints.
MOST SOUGHT AFTER BY EMPLOYERS
Teamwork

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Because so many jobs involve working in one or more
work-groups, you must have the ability to work with
others in a professional manner while attempting to
achieve a common goal.

Sample bullet point describing this skill:

Resourceful team player who excels at building

trusting relationships with customers and
colleagues.
 JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
PERSONAL VALUES
Sought After By Employers
HONESTY ● INTEGRITY ● MORALITY

Employers probably respect personal integrity

more than any other value.

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Sample bullet point for resume or cover letter:

 Seasoned professional whose honesty and integrity provide

for effective leadership and optimal business relationships.
DEDICATION ● HARD-WORKING
WORK ETHIC ● TENACITY

Employers seek job-seekers who live what they do

and will keep at it until they solve the problem or

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

get the job done.

Sample bullet point for your resume or cover letter:

Dependable, responsible contributor with commitment to

excellence and success.
ADAPTABILITY ● FLEXIBILITY

Deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to

working independently or as part of a team, and to

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

carrying out multiple tasks or projects.

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Highly adaptable risk-taker who is open to new ideas.

LOYALTY

Employers want employees who will have a

strong devotion to the company.

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record.

POSITIVE ATTITUDE ● MOTIVATION
●ENERGY ●PASSION

The job-seekers who get hired and the employees

who get promoted are the ones with drive and

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

passion – and who demonstrate this enthusiasm
through words and actions.

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Energetic performer consistently cited for a passion for work, sunny

disposition, and upbeat, positive attitude.
PROFESSIONALISM

Deals with acting in a responsible and fair manner

in all your personal and work activities, which is

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

seen as a sign of maturity and self-confidence; avoid
being petty.

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated,

and committed to professionalism.
SELF-CONFIDENCE

Look at it this way: If you don’t believe in yourself, in

your unique mix of skills, education, and abilities,

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

why should a prospective employer? Be confident in
yourself and what you can offer employers.

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Confident, hard-working employee who is committed to

achieving excellence.
SELF-MOTIVATED ● ABILITY TO WORK
WITH LITTLE OR NO SUPERVISION

While teamwork is always mentioned as an

important skills, so is the ability to work

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

independently, with minimal supervision.

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with

minimal supervision.
WILLINGNESS TO LEARN

No matter what your age, no matter how much

experience you have, you should always be willing

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

to learn a new skill or technique. Jobs are
constantly changing and evolving, and you must
show an openness to grow and learn with that
change.

Sample bullet point describing this skills:

Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry learner, eager to meet

challenges and quickly assimilates new concepts.
 JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
TRANSFERABLE JOB SKILLS
We ALL have them!
Simply put, they are skills you have acquired during any
activity in your life -- jobs, classes, projects, parenting,
hobbies, sports, virtually anything -- that are transferable
and applicable to what you want to do in your next job.
TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
OBTAINED IN THE CLASSROOM

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

#1: ABILITY TO MEET DEADLINES

College is an abundance of deadlines. If

meeting deadlines is an important skill in

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

the job you seek, by all means exploit it in
your resume and your cover letter.
#2: ABILITY TO MULTIPLE TASKS

Remember how you wanted to smack all

your instructors for requiring simultaneous

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

major papers and projects? Multi-tasking is
increasingly valued in the workplace, and
your resume/cover letter gives you the
chance to boast of your ability to juggle
many projects at once.
#3: ABILITY TO ACHIEVE GOALS

Your good grades are proof of that skill, so

boast about them if they're exemplary. You

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

may have met other goals while in school,
too, such as graduating early. Any goal
you've met while in school is potential
skill/ability to add to your cover-letter
and/resume.
#4: ABILITY TO ADAPT

Your college years probably gave you your first

opportunity to make adult decisions and act

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

independently. How did you handle stumbling blocks and
disappointments along the way? The way you rose above
difficulties can provide solid examples.
#5: WRITING SKILLS

Jobs that require good writing skills

are a lot more common than you probably

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

think they are. If you demonstrated your
ability to write well in college, you can
highlight that skill.
#6: RESEARCH SKILLS

How many people who've been out in the

"real world" have research skills that are as

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

fresh and recent as yours? How many know
as much as you do about, say, conducting
research on the Internet? Probably not
many, so for jobs where this ability may be
helpful, be sure to emphasize your research
skills.
FINAL THOUGHT…..

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS & PERSONAL

VALUES ARE THE CRITICAL TOOLS AND
TRAITS YOU NEED TO SUCCEED IN THE
WORKPLACE – AND THEY ARE ALL
ELEMENTS THAT YOU CAN LEARN,

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

CULTIVATE, DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN.

ONCE YOU HAVE IDENTIFIED THEM,

REMEMBER TO DOCUMENT THEM AND
MARKET THEM IN YOUR RESUME,
COVER LETTER AND INTERVIEWS!
 MARKETABLE SKILLS
DEGREE /PROGRAM
VALUES

JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program

YOUR FRUIT

DEGREE /PROGRAM

COURSEWORK
 JTCC 2010 On-Ramp Program
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