Unit 1 Communication Employability Skills for IT Topics

Unit 1 Communication & Employability Skills for IT

Topics Covered – Unit 1 Assignments n 1. 1 Understand the personal attributes valued by employers n 1. 2 Understand the principles of effective communication n 1. 3 To use IT to communicate effectively n 1. 4 To address personal development needs All assignments have a vocational context and are related to South Devon Council

Attributes of employees valued by employers Within the job market, especially the current market, there is an ever-growing need for employees who can demonstrate a range of technical, social and transferable skills. Employees are expected to plan and complete any skills-based tasks they are set. They are often expected to analyse and communicate what they have done to other employees. Attributes valued by employers can be split into specific and general attributes.

Specific Attributes n Could be job-related: l n Working Procedures and Systems l n Technical knowledge Health and Safety, Data Protection, Company Policies. Work Attitudes

Job-Related Attributes n n Hardware l e. g. installing new machines, printers, setting a network, cabling…… Software l e. g. using application software, installing new software, configuring software, knowledge of HTML, Visual Basic, VB Net if going for a programming job.

Working procedures These affect the way you work. You may have to: n. Work flexible hours n. Fill in time sheets n. Complete job sheets n. Wear special clothing n. Follow ‘rules’ Organisations will have their own policies and procedures which they expect employees to have an appreciation of and to follow. These procedures will help the company run smoothly.

Health and Safety You should have an understanding of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 Employees must: Ø Be observant and identify hazards Ø Report any hazards to ensure the safety of you and others Ø Anticipate potential hazards and be pro-active in overcoming them

Security Ø Employees are expected to maintain confidentiality Ø Organisations have their own security procedures, e. g. backup of databases, personal records, etc. Ø Some media must not be taken out of the office (CD, hard drives, laptops)

General Skills Interpersonal skills Ø The life skills we use every day to communicate and interact with other people. Ø People who have worked on developing strong interpersonal skills are usually more successful in both their professional and personal lives. What do you think good interpersonal skills include?

General Skills Planning and Organisation Skills Ø Plan and prioritise Ø Organise resources effectively An employer may ask : Ø Ø “Show us you’re flexible, organised and committed” “Excellent attention to detail is required” “Effective manager of both time and resources” “Ability to meet deadlines” Discuss examples in your lives

General Skills Time Management “Time and tide wait for no man” “Time flies when you're having fun” “Time is money” Good time management allows us to manage the events in our lives as efficiently as possible so that we have enough time available for everything we want to do. Examples? ?

General Skills Team Working

General Skills Numeric Skills ØMajority of employers will require at least a basic level of understanding when it comes to numeracy and mathematics. ØThey may ask for a C grade at GCSE. Why do think employers ask for this?

General Skills Creativity -Innovation, imagination and intuition ”Creativity is the act of turning new and imaginative ideas into reality” Employers like hiring creative employees because these are the people who come with ideas to develop the company. n

General Skills Problem Solving Everybody can benefit from having good problem solving skills as we all encounter problems on a daily basis. Ø Give examples of problem solving in the IT industry

Attitudes n n Attitudes are very personal attributes. Attitudes change depending on the situation, the people involved and the task. From an employers perspective having the ‘right’ people with the ‘right’ attitude is essential to ensure employees are happy. If the employees are happy, they are motivated and productive.

Attitudes What attitudes do you think employers look for? n n n n n Determination Independent – shows initiative Integrity Tolerance Dependable, Reliable Problem Solving Leadership Confidence Self-motivation Activity Write a description for each of the above to show your understanding – download doc from Moodle