Skills You Need to Thrive from Education to Employment 

There’s a secret weapon that employers crave when they are looking at employing someone.

We’re talking about power skills – these are transferable abilities that make you a top-tier employee, no matter the industry.  

Think of these skills as the essential ingredients for a successful career recipe. They’re the baking powder that will make your employability prospects rise.

Most jobs will still require specific knowledge relevant to the career, however these core skills are your universal key, unlocking doors to success in any field.  

What are the Skills for Employment? 

• Communication
  Can you clearly express your ideas, whether it’s pitching a project or just chatting with a teammate? 

• Creativity
  Got fresh ideas? Can you think outside the box and come up with innovative solutions? 

• Critical Thinking
  Can you analyse information, use logic to identify problems, and make sound judgments? 

• Decision Making
  Are you confident in making choices, even under pressure? 

• Leadership/Adaptability
  Can you take charge when needed and adjust to changing situations? 

• Problem Solving
  Are you a resourceful troubleshooter, able to find solutions to tricky challenges? 

• Proactive
  Do you take initiative and anticipate needs before they arise? 

• Resilient
  Can you bounce back from setbacks and learn from your mistakes? 

• Reliability
  Are you dependable and someone others can count on? 

• Time Management
  Can you organise your tasks and meet deadlines efficiently? 

Why are these skills so important?

Because employers are constantly telling us they’re struggling to find employees with these abilities. In fact, more than two-thirds of employer’s value power skills just as much as academic qualifications.

In LinkedIn’s 2019 Global Talent Trends report, 89% of recruiters say that when a hire doesn’t work out, it usually comes down to a lack of soft skills. That’s right – they’re looking for well-rounded individuals who can bring more to the table than just a qualification. 

Developing These Power Skills 

So, how do you develop these skills? It’s not just about reading a textbook or picking things up in a classroom. You can start right now, even while you’re in college, by doing simple things like: 

• Wearing your lanyard
  This sounds small, but it shows you’re responsible and can follow guidelines. 

• Perfect attendance
  Demonstrates commitment and reliability. 

• On-time assignments
  Proves you can manage your time and meet deadlines. 

• Checking your student email
  Shows you’re communicative, reliable and responsive. 

• Getting involved
  Helping plan events is a fantastic way to build teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. 

• Being polite and respectful
  These are fundamental aspects of effective communication.  

Introducing our Skills for Employment Initiative! 

We’re not just telling you these skills are important – we’re helping you develop them!

Our new initiative promoted by the RNN Group is designed to give you the edge you need to land your dream job and thrive in your career.  

And the best part? Our employers are on board! They’re supporting this initiative as this program offers a Gold Standard Certification, proving to our current and future employer partners that you possess the skills they’re looking for.

For this initiative you simply have to choose a Power Skill and then complete tasks to obtain a certificate signed off by your tutor. 

Find out more

To find out more information about our skills for employment and the new initiative please visit one of our skills for employment talks that are happening across the college campuses during National Careers week between 3rd and 7th March!  

For additional information please visit our skills for employment web page.