User:Lekoko

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EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

MODULE OVERVIEW

If you are thinking of looking for a job now or in the future, this module will be of great interest to you. It is designed to illustrate the importance of understanding what it takes to get prepared for the world of work, to look for and secure that job that you need so much in life. I believe you already know or understand what a job is and its role or contribution to personal life as well as to the development of the community and nation. Some of you have worked before; others are working now and may want to change careers in the future while for some you are thinking of starting to work. This module is designed to help everyone who intends looking for a job.

Not everyone who wants to work gets employment. Looking for a job and successful entry into the job market is a complicated and engaging process requiring particular and deliberate actions as well as specific attributes on the part of the job searcher. In this module, there is a unit on preparing and planning to search for a job. It is intended to give you skills and competences that you need to be a successful job searcher. It explores, for example, essential job search skills and approaches that will help you to compete in the changing labour market where the recruitment and selection process is becoming more and more complex.

There are a wide variety of jobs. These jobs requires different qualifications in terms of credentials and attitudes. The training or education that you undergo will help you make a wise decision of which job to apply for. Furthermore, employers normally make it clear in their advertisements the type of person (qualifications and experiences) they want as well as the types of job tasks the applicants will perform. Having the right job search skill is all about knowing the job that you fit in well or the job that fits you well. In this module, therefore, you are exposed to some few job search skills including the identification, location and use of different advertisement sources such as media, the internet and ‘word’ of mouth. Learners will also learn how current trends in technology make it possible for them to know about job opportunities in countries other than their own. Through these skills, learners will develop positive attitudes towards looking for and securing employment. They will making job search personal commitment.

There are a number of qualities you need to be able to search for and secure a job. These qualities are many. This module exposes you to some of these qualities, for example, the need to be self-directedness. Self-direction is one of the important skills you must have when you plan to start looking for a job. Self-direction is facilitated by a clear understanding of the job opportunities that are out there and how your present training/education prepares you to qualify for the job. You may have done ‘a good course’ that you think can qualify you for a particular job but if employers in that areas are not interested in qualifications, then you better think of another employer or re-think what else you can do with the qualification you have. in addition to being self-directed, you need to have the right type of attitude, for example, self-motivation, perseverance and optimism. Only with these attitudes will you understand when the trial you make does not bear some positive results. There is need to develop confidence that you will succeed. This is a very good motivation and it gives hope to keep trying. These attributes are explored throughout this module.

As you plan to look for a job, you must also begin to think about sources of information about available job/job vacancies. This entails being knowledgeable about both the local, national and international sources. It is for this reason that a unit in this module is devoted to exposing you to when you aggressively go around and market your qualifications and interests. You need to devote enough time and direct your energy to soemthing that might bear fruits. the journey to getting the jon that you want might be long but at the end it is fulfilling to work.

Learning Objectives Notes

1.4 To That searching for a job is a process that goes through different stages including planning and preparing for the search to securing the job.

Employment is a process It is important that we understand employment as a process that evolve through different stages. First, it is assumed that upon hiring, the human resource has already undergone some education or training---some basic education or training. It is a common practice that employers look for employees with general skills (i.e. abilities to perform job tasks). For example, adaptive and interpersonal communication skills are among the general skills that employees should have. Thus, in this module a unit shall be devoted to discussion aspects of the professional preparation. The assumption here is that hiring narrowly and poorly trained workforce. It also explores some attitudinal orientations that can be useful to the wrokplaces. These skills are fundamental for working in today’s organizations such as NGOs.

OBJECTIVES Upon successful completion of this module, learners should be able to Have mastered and use job investigation skills and strategies – when looking for new employments

THEME 5:EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS

1. Finding Employment Trainees will practise job investigation skills and strategies, including resume construction, interviews, applications and selection of references. 2. Ethics in the Workplace Trainees will develop competencies that will assist them in ethical work habits, traits, attitudes and behaviour.

RATIONALE

Looking for a job and successful entry into the job market is a complicated and engaging process requiring particular and deliberate action on the part of the participant with respect to preparing for and attending the interview. Trainees need to acquire essential job search skills and approaches in order to compete in the changing labour market where the recruitment and selection process is becoming more and more complex.

AIM To develop in trainees effective job search skills and strategies including resume construction, networking, job leads, telephone and in-person contacts, interviews, letters, applications and selection of references,. OBJECTIVES/LEARNING OUTCOMES 	Identify the key steps or strategies in doing a productive job search, including skills assessment, obtaining labour market information, assessing the job markets and sourcing job opportunities. 	Identify and use the main trends (global and local) and other factors driving change and re-defining the new work environment from the perspective of both the worker and the employer in making informed decisions. (Including trade agreements like the FTAA, CSME etc.) 	Prepare appropriate employment application letters and forms, cover letters and résumés. Display techniques and behaviours required for a successful interview.

OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES Trainees will be able to •	Compile a list of shopping guidelines •	Apply for a hypothetical loan/ hire purchase, compute the interest payments and the total cost •	Examine and evaluate warranties and guarantees •	Compare prices, advantages and disadvantages of making used vs new purchases •	Compare prices, advantages and disadvantages of purchasing hypothetical  insurance and compute rates based on actual tables •	Review newspaper advertisements and investigate their accuracy. •	Write a formal letter complaining of being defrauded. •	Compute and compare the total cost of a particular large item bought through a) a bank loan and b) hire purchase •	State the difference between a warranty and a guarantee. Visit stores and markets to ascertain the practices about returns. •	List and describe various types and costs of insurance. Give reasons why you would recommend any specified one. •	Examine newspaper and television advertisements about household goods, vacations, purchasing a house/condo and investigate the accuracy ot the information and claims. Write a short report on your findings.

Participants will: •	identify the personal qualities and skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, •	build knowledge of factors that contribute to the success of small businesses, •	evaluate their ability to be successful entrepreneurs, •	understand the purpose and uses of the business plan, and •	identify their personal learning needs.

SKILLS 	Coping Skills: self monitoring, time management, managing stress and emotions 	Social Skills: communication, perseverance, interpersonal, negotiation 	Cognitive Skills: critical-thinking, problem-solving, decision-making