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Courtesy of iStockphoto, diane39, Image# 4313218
Communication at all levels is essential in today’s working environment. The ability to exchange ideas, discuss progress, update and provide feedback, set goals and objectives, plan and make decisions both on an individual, team and organisational level is paramount. If a company is going to grow and be successful within the marketplace they have to know and maintain their target audience and be more strategically focussed and competitive within their business environment.
Chapter 1
Communication and Employability Skills
This chapter will provide you with an insight into what employers are looking for in terms of a well-rounded employee in today’s society. The skill requirements of the past have now been overtaken by a range of softer, more transferable skills and knowledge.
The need for good, transferable skills and the ability to be an effective communicator are valued very highly among employers, and it is these types of skills that individuals should be developing. Within the chapter you will be introduced to a range of attributes that employers value. In conjunction with this, you will learn how to communicate effectively and the contribution that ICT makes. Finally, the chapter will explore the area of personal development plans and ways of addressing them.
Each section within the chapter will focus on one of four learning outcomes:
- Understand the attributes of employees that are valued by employers.
- Understand the principles of effective communication.
- Be able to exploit ICT to communicate effectively.
- Be able to identify personal development needs and the ways of addressing them.
Embedded within each section there will be a range of activities that will strengthen your understanding of the subject matter and provide you with the support you need to complete effectively some of the evidence requirements for the unit.
Understand the Attributes of Employees that are Valued by Employers
Employers today want it all: knowledge, skills, technical and practical ability and above all, it could be argued, a good portfolio of transferable skills. The ability to communicate effectively within the workplace seems to be increasingly a highly desirable attribute.
Employers demand a great deal from any potential employee. Usually, job applications and person specifications identify essential and desirable skills, with many of the essential criteria including:
Specific job-related skills | |
Technical knowledge | |
Planning and organizational skills | |
Effective time management skills | |
Ability to work within a team | |
Good written and verbal skills | |
Good numeracy skills | |
Having the right attitude | |
Making a good contribution to the organization’s aims and objectives | |
To be successful in your chosen profession and job role it is important to develop a portfolio of these skills which can demonstrate that you are the right person for the job in today’s competitive market.
Specific Job-Related Attributes
Job-related attributes are very specific to a particular organization or role. The need for these attributes may change depending on the functional department you work for, your position and your seniority.
The need for technical knowledge is very person and job specific. For example, a network administrator may need to know about:
- network topologies
- systems architecture
- network protocols
- how to configure systems hardware and software
- network security procedures
- performance monitoring,
whereas a project manager would need a different skill set based on:
- resource planning and allocation
- target setting and monitoring
- time management
- budgets and financial control
- specific project management software knowledge.
Technical knowledge can be learnt and enhanced through training and development to ensure that an individual is equipped with the skills and ability to perform their job role.
Activity 1.1
For each of the following job roles identify two desirable skills and one essential skill that they may need.
Job role | Desirable skills | Essential skill |
|
Lawyer | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | |
Teacher | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | |
Electrician | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | |
Store manager | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | |
Doctor | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | |
Technical Knowledge
Technical knowledge will provide you with the specific theory and skills required to perform your job role. Technical knowledge and expertise will vary depending on the job role; for example, technical knowledge required to be a surgeon may include the study of anatomy, surgical procedures, and knowledge about medicines and anaesthetics. Technical knowledge for an accountant, however, may include financial accounting procedures, auditing techniques, preparation of company accounts, and profit and loss techniques.
Working Procedures and Systems
In conjunction with technical knowledge individuals also need to be aware of working procedures and systems. Working procedures and systems can be classified as generic or specific. Generic implies that all organizations have similar systems in place to address issues such as health and safety, data protection, and compliance with other legislative and statutory requirements. Therefore, an awareness of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 will be a standard procedure within most organizations. Specific working procedures and systems are unique to the organization and these could include compliance with a set of rules, codes or professional practice. For example, a specific policy may have been set up regarding dress code.
Working procedures and systems in most cases are not taught or studied, unlike the requirement for technical knowledge. These procedures and systems require an awareness and sometimes compliance by the individual once they are established in their job role. Working procedures and systems are essential to any job role as they provide the guidelines and instruction in terms of working and behaving as a professional.
Activity 1.2
Choose an organization, or an individual who works in an organization, that is easily accessible to you.
- Produce a questionnaire or an interview sheet with at least five questions. These questions should include identification of a range of technical knowledge and working procedures and systems.
- Present the interview sheet or questionnaire to the organization or individual and ask them whether they can respond to the questions NB. The questions should identify what technical knowledge is required to enable the individual or employees within the organization to meet the requirements of their jo...
