Job readiness and employability skills

Paulette Dunn-Smith, Contributor

Last week's article on training the trainers generated quite a bit of discussion particularly from human resource practitioners. Thank you for the comments and I will try as far as possible to respond to each person's query individually or through this medium.

Each week, I speak with a small group of young males between 18 and 22, who yearn desperately to earn a decent living. They have all passed through our educational system, from the traditional high to the secondary and they all have between three and seven Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate passes. I am asked the same question week after week "Can I help them to find a job?". Anything. From work as a security guard, to 'factory work' to waitering. I have counselled, pointed them in several directions, further studies, training, to even forming their own company. Funds are limited so their options become fewer and fewer. In delving deeper, however, it emerges that none have been properly prepared for the world of work. All have had challenges writing decent job applications and their interviewing skills were nil. Herein lies my topic for the week, 'workforce readiness'.

fundamental skills

What is workforce readiness? This refers to those fundamental skills that a job seeker should possess before entering the workforce. They are also known as employability skills. Two of the greatest concerns of employers today are that of finding good workers and training them. Employers prefer to hire people with the requisite skills instead of hiring and having to train. Finding workers who have employability or job readiness skills that help them fit into and remain in the work environment becomes a real problem for many employers. A productive company requires employees who are reliable, responsible, workers who can solve problems and who have the social skills and attitudes to work together with other workers.

Let us look at job readiness and employability skills. Job readiness skills are usually clustered into three skill sets:

(i) Basic academic skills

(ii) Higher order thinking skills and

(iii) personal qualities.

Employability skills, on the other hand, are those basic skills that are necessary for getting the job, keeping the job and doing well in the job. These are the skills, attitudes and actions that enable workers to get along with their fellow workers and supervisors and to make sound, critical decisions. Employability skills are teachable skills so they can be taught during the years students are attending secondary school, colleges and universities, so that on graduating, new entrants into the workforce would be familiar with the basic requirements for getting the job and keeping the job. In other words, they would be workforce ready.

The section below shows a breakdown of the three main skill sets required for workforce readiness:

Basic academic skills:

• Reading

• Writing

• Mathematics

• Science

• Oral communication

• Listening

• Use of technology

• Learning

• Reasoning

Personal skills

• Creative thinking

• Decision-making

• Problem-solving

• Self-confidence

• Self-control

• Honesty

• Integrity

• Flexible

• Team player

• Punctual

• Efficient

• Self-directed

• Good work attitude

• Well-groomed

• Co-operative

• Self-management

• Self-motivated

entrants' responsibility

Whose responsibility is it to prepare new entrants for the workforce? In a study conducted in the United States a few years ago, the majority of employers pointed their fingers at the educational system as being primarily responsible for workforce readiness. This included schools, colleges and universities. A few employers in the study said that workforce readiness was the responsibility of the new entrants themselves. However, businesses can also share the responsibility for improving workforce readiness of new entrants. One way is to develop meaningful internships which provide students with actual learning experiences that help to develop needed workplace skills.

Students can also help to prepare themselves to enter the world of work. Learning a foreign language, developing skills in professionalism and work ethics should become mandatory for every student at all levels of the educational system. Issues such as punctuality, time management, proper dress code, career growth, courtesy, teamwork, commitment, responsibility, leadership and integrity should be addressed as part of any preparation course for work-bound students. If my small group of young men had gone through such a course at school, they would have acquired the basic job-seeking skills needed to even search for a job.

make appropriate choices

Other areas such as critical thinking/problem solving and communications, both written and oral, are increasingly important. Emphasising critical thinking and effective writing and speaking skills in secondary and tertiary level institutions can support success and increase productivity in the workplace. Finally, one emerging area that new entrants to the workforce should be aware of is that of making appropriate choices with regard to health and wellness. Issues such as nutrition, exercise, stress management and reduction and work-life effectiveness should be considered part of workforce readiness. All stakeholders, business, educators, community members, parents and job seekers themselves should seek ways of building partnerships and stronger relationships with educators in order to communicate the needs of the workplace to be included in the curriculum of the educational institution. In doing so, new entrants would be better prepared to enter the job market and ready to contribute to the productive process of the organisation.

Paulette Dunn-Smith is an international trainer and workforce development expert. She is the executive director, Dunn, Pierre, Barnett & Associates Ltd. & chairman, Caribbean Career and Professional Development Institute. Contact her at pdunn@dpbglobal.com or www.dpbglobal.com.