Employability Skills

Employability Skills
The course is designed to enable you to:
· Develop knowledge, understanding and the skills you need to enter employment in a wide range of vocational sectors
· Focus on the development of the major key skills and the wider key skills in an employment context, such as improving own learning and performance, working with others and problem solving
· Develop a range of skills and techniques, personal qualities and attitudes essential for successful performance in working life.
Is it for me?
The course is taught over one year and consists of 5 units. Assessment takes place within college through a variety of assessment methods, including assignments, case studies and work-based assessments, along with projects and observation of your performance.
What's involved?
Personal Effectiveness at Work
This unit explores many of the issues you will face as you begin your working career. You will develop the ability to set goals and objectives which will enable you to progress, either at work or in your personal life - perhaps through a hobby or as a member of a club or association.
Developing Personal Communication Skills
You will explore a range of personal communication skills. The first part of the unit looks at ways of presenting personal information to potential employers, either by preparing a covering letter in response to a job advertisement, or by completing an application form and preparing a supporting statement to accompany it.
Preparation for Starting Work
This unit will equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills you need to secure useful employment. The first challenge is to decide what sector you would like to work in - public, private or voluntary. Whilst there will be differences in each sector, you will need to explore their behavioural patterns, how these would impact on your future working life and what kind of behaviours are acceptable to employers.
Building Positive Working Relationships
You will improve your understanding of both your own learning styles and the purpose of giving and receiving feedback. You will explore the various stages of team or group development and how individuals can contribute to the team effort. Building positive relationships will be dependent on working in groups from time to time and you will develop your knowledge and understanding of group dynamics
Understanding the Working Environment The unit begins by looking at the operational functions of the manager in the workplace. Managers need a wide range of knowledge, skills and understanding, much of which is above the level of this unit. However, for you to understand the operational functions of the employee, including their knowledge of the business, mission statements, company values and the business's aims and objectives you also need to understand managers' responsibilities, how they communicate and how they interact with staff.
Progression
This course provides an opportunity for students who are seeking to enter employment to achieve a nationally recognised Level 2 vocationally specific qualification.