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Employability Skills

What is Employability?

Employability has been defined as "the capability of getting and keeping satisfactory work".

What are Employability Skills?

Employability skills have been defined as:
"A set of achievements, understandings and personal attributes that make individuals more likely to gain employment and to be successful in their chosen occupations". Peter Knight & Mantz Yorke (HEFCE/DfES ESECT group)

“A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.” CBI

You may also see these skills referred to as transferable skills (because skills developed in one area of your life can be transferred to other areas) or personal skills. In the context of your career planning and development, they are called career management skills.

Other Factors that help to make people employable....

knowledge and abilities relating to a particular job; 
the ability to identify suitable job opportunities; 
self-presentation (on applications and at interviews) 
external factors such as the job market and personal circumstances.

A selection of ebooks for Employability

Subject Specialist

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Jane Blackburn