Employability Skills Guide
Your Employability Skills are often based on your knowledge, technical skills, attitude, how you use your assets, and how you present them to potential employers. These skills are what employers believe will equip the employee to carry out their role to the best of their ability.
The information below has been compiled by STEMNET in conjuction with a range of UK-based companies, and it lists the Top 10 Employability Skills which they look for in potential employees – that means you! We asked the companies to define exactly what these skills mean, and how you could show evidence of these skills in an interview or application for a job.
Click here to download a PDF version of this Guide.
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What this means
Clearly explaining what you mean, through written and spoken means, listening and relating to other people and acting upon information
Example from inside the classroom
‘I presented my findings of a Science coursework project as a report and PowerPoint presentation to the rest of my class’
Example from outside the classroom
‘I am a member of a debating club / society which greatly improves my communication and interpersonal skills’
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What this means
Understanding a problem by breaking it down into smaller parts, identifying the key issues, implications and possible solutions e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘I build a component for my D&T project but it stopped working, so I worked through all the connections on the circuit until I found the part that was not working’
Example from outside the classroom
‘As part of my Duke of Edinburgh Award I had to evaluate the information on a map and the weather forecast to decide the best route to a set checkpoint’
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What this means
Having new ideas of your own which can be made into a reality. Showing a strong personal drive and not waiting to be told to do things e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘For our coursework on electrical circuits I was the only one in class who chose to research how they are used in companies to get a real-life perspective’
Example from outside the classroom
‘On my first morning of a summer temping job my manager was not around so I introduced myself to the other team members and offered to help until my manager arrived’
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What this means
Handling stress that comes with deadlines and ensuring that you meet them e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘I planned my revision timetable so that I gave myself enough time for each subject’
Example from outside the classroom
‘On a bridge building project in my STEM Club, we ran out of an essential piece of kit 5 minutes before the deadline, but quickly modified the bridge using what was left and finished on time’
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What this means
Being organised and methodical, planning work to meet deadlines and targets and monitoring progress of work to ensure you are on track to meeting a deadline e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘I handed my GCSE Science coursework in 3 days before the deadline as I had planned my time well and finished it to the best of my ability’
Example from outside the classroom
‘I was part of the School Leavers’ Ball organising committee and devised a project plan so that we could keep on track with planning’
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What this means
Working well with other people from different disciplines, backgrounds, and expertise to accomplish a task or goal e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘In a group project I worked with a team of people with different designated roles. The first job we did was to identify how each of us will have a valuable input to the task in hand’
Example from outside the classroom
‘I am part of our after school STEM Club that meets every week. We often do activities as teams and I really enjoy it’
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What this means
Being enthusiastic about your work, and identifying ways to learn from your mistakes for the benefit of both you and your employer e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘I read the comments that my Teacher puts onto my coursework as I know that they will help me to improve my marks and learning. I try to use that advice in my next pieces of coursework’
Example from outside the classroom
‘In our STEM Club we had to make rockets fly as high as possible. I couldn’t make mine go any higher so asked for help to improve the shape – it went 20 cm higher on the next attempt’
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What this means
Using data and mathematics to support evidence or demonstrate a point e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘In my Science coursework I used a range of graphs and tables to prove the hypothesis being tested’
Example from outside the classroom
‘Our STEM Ambassador guided us through an activity to build a road to help communities in Nigeria. We calculated the road cost per mile and if it didn’t reach the next town we had to redesign it to fit the budget’
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What this means
Knowing the value of diversity and what it can bring. Understanding and being considerate of the different needs of different individuals e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
Working with people who may be able to offer different skills or knowledge, and who offer a different perspective to your own for projects / coursework
Example from outside the classroom
Getting involved in activities, which involve people that are different from you in terms of age, gender, nationality, race, disability etc.
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What this means
Taking on board other people’s feelings and express your own requirements in an unemotional clear fashion to achieve a win-win outcome e.g.
Example from inside the classroom
‘I reached an agreement with a classmate about who would take which role in a class project’
Example from outside the classroom
‘I had to present a new invention to a panel of STEM Ambassadors in a Dragon’s Den day, and negotiate how much of the company they would own’
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