According to Williams et al. (2016), literature has many descriptions of employability because each author uses a specific perspective. Some researchers state that employability is a set of personal skills that make a person more likely to get a job (Williams et al., 2016). Others argue that the state of the economy and education in a country or city also has to be included as personal attributes do not always guarantee employment (Williams et al. 2016). To use a general definition, employability is a combination of skills, knowledge, experience, and environmental factors that help a person gain employment.
The competition for good jobs grows as people get access to higher education (Kitroeff 2018). The second challenge is the lack of qualifications to fit certain positions – new jobs often have varying requirements from educational programs (Jackson 2015). For example, the sphere of technological innovation influences people’s employment. To achieve success, graduates have to possess 21st-century skills, personal attributes that make candidates employable. Students face two challenges – intense competition and a lack of specific skills for a job. The knowledge of technology and such 21st-century skills as problem-solving and IT application skills are vital to prepare students for life-long learning. Furthermore, two personal qualities, cooperation, and initiative are crucial to promoting useful business relations and access to specialized knowledge. I would develop these skills by reviewing the latest business technology trends and educating myself using the internet.
Currently, the 21st-century skills system is considered to be fundamental to all career prospects. Problem-solving is one of them – it includes one’s abilities to analyze work situations, diagnose problems, reason, and make decisions (Van Laar et al., 2017). Challenges are a part of any job; they can appear when customers are dissatisfied, when employees underperform, or when machinery breaks. I would acquire the basis for task completion and conflict resolution by roleplaying possible situations and reading about common issues in my sphere.
The other 21st-century skill is the application of IT (information technology). Most business areas now use computers in the workplace; therefore, employees cannot operate without understanding how to work with technology (Kivunja 2015). For this reason, a person has to be familiar with word processing, file management, spreadsheets, the internet, and other specific programs (Van Laar et al., 2017). This skill is easy to acquire in the modern world – I use the internet and word processing programs every day, but additional courses are available online.
Students need to acquire the discussed 21st-century skills and maintain their level to increase employability. However, they also must have personal attributes that will make them more qualified. The first useful behavior is cooperation, and ability, and a desire to work with other people. By being collaborative, a person creates new relationships and gains more information from others. Cooperation helps to overcome the challenge of lacking skills as it leads to mentorship (Jackson 2015). Workers with a cooperative attitude invite feedback and positive thinking, maintaining a pleasant atmosphere at work and inspiring colleagues (Jackson 2015). To develop this attribute, I have to be open-minded and positive, inviting conversation and shared decision-making.
The next personal attribute is initiative – a behavior needed in creative fields as well as marketing, development, and entrepreneurship. By developing an initiative approach, a person actively participates in discussions, offers new and bold ideas, takes on responsibility, and thinks creatively (Collet, Hine & Du Plessis 2015). Also, ambition may be useful in customer communication because clients may appreciate encouragement and support. This attribute is connected to self-direction that allows workers to set and achieve personal goals (Van Laar et al., 2017). To show initiative, I have to gain an in-depth knowledge of the profession, question the existing standards, and be curious and open to new ways of thinking. An ability to take personal responsibility is another requirement because it keeps all new ideas thoughtful and useful to the organization.
In conclusion, the idea of employability explains to graduate students the skills and characteristics that they have to possess to increase their chance of getting the job they want. Graduate prospects have to acquire 21st-century skills to distinguish themselves from the competition and match the specific job requirements. Problem solving and application of IT are two of these skills. The first one is necessary for every field because it allows one to overcome possible issues. The second skill is also helpful in most professions because computers are used universally. Cooperation and initiative raise can raise my employability because they create connections, invite feedback, and support continuous learning.
Reference List
Collet, C, Hine, D & Du Plessis, K 2015, ‘Employability skills: perspectives from a knowledge-intensive industry,’ Education+ Training, vol. 57, no. 5, pp. 532-559.
Jackson, D 2015, ‘Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: barriers and best practice,’ Studies in Higher Education, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 350-367.
Kitroeff, N 2018, ‘Unemployment rate hits 3.9%, a rare low, as job market becomes more competitive’, The New York Times, Web.
Kivunja, C 2015, ‘Teaching students to learn and to work well with 21st-century skills: Unpacking the career and life skills domain of the new learning paradigm’, International Journal of Higher Education, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 1-11.
Van Laar, E, Van Deursen, AJ, Van Dijk, JA & De Haan, J 2017, ‘The relation between 21st-century skills and digital skills: a systematic literature review’, Computers in Human Behavior, vol. 72, pp. 577-588.
Williams, S, Dodd, LJ, Steele, C & Randall, R 2016, ‘A systematic review of current understandings of employability,’ Journal of Education and Work, vol. 29, no. 8, pp. 877-901.