As parents and carers, we all wish to see our children achieve the best possible outcomes from their time at school and from their extra-curricular activities. During the challenges of the GCSE and A Level season, it is easy to focus solely on encouraging our children to work hard for their grades, and to view exam results as the only factor that future employers will value.
Let’s pause for a moment and take a broader perspective.
While grades can be important gatekeepers to many opportunities, the ability to recall facts and knowledge under exam conditions is not the only skill needed in today’s job market. It’s important to recognise that soft skills, also known as employability skills, are just as important, and in some job roles, even more so.
What are Employability Skills?
Employability or soft skills are the everyday abilities we use to help us perform effectively at work, minimise errors and to collaborate well with others. These skills, which commonly feature in job descriptions, include communication, problem solving, time management and teamwork.
These skills help young people stand out in future applications for work, further education or training. They can be developed through school or college, as well as through extracurricular activities such as Scouts, sports clubs, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, cadets, volunteering and part time jobs such as waiting, retail work or babysitting. These skills and experiences help differentiate one young person from another and make them more appealing to potential employers.
Essential Employability Skills
Any young person can develop these skills, regardless of their academic ability or subject preferences. In summary, the top skills valued by employers are:
- Aiming High – setting clear, tangible goals and creating a plan to achieve them
- Creativity – using imagination and generating new ideas
- Leadership – supporting, encouraging and developing others to achieve a shared goal
- Listening – receiving, retaining and processing information or ideas
- Problem Solving – finding solutions to a situation or challenge
- Communication – clearly expressing ideas both verbally and in writing, and actively listening to others
- Staying Positive – using strategies to overcome setbacks and stay focused on goals
- Teamwork – working effectively with others to achieve shared goals
Recognise and encourage the development of soft skills
As parents and carers, we are the key influencers and role models for our young people. It is important that in all our conversations and activities with our young people that we highlight the value of personal qualities and soft skills alongside academic achievement and exam grades.
Take every opportunity to talk to them about what they are doing and praise them for the skills they are developing. When young people understand and recognise their skills and how they will benefit them, they may also improve their performance at school and see more relevance in the different aspects of the curriculum.
While GCSE and A Level results are important, it’s worth remembering that success in the world of work requires a combination of knowledge and soft skills. Our role is to provide this reassurance to our children and to boost their self-confidence.
By nurturing both academic and personal development, parents and educators together can equip young people with the tools they need to thrive in their future careers.
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