Employability skills and their role in workplace success

Having employability skills and technical skills for a specific position may lead to you securing a job in the Philippines. These skills are important because they make you good at your job and able to adjust to new things. They also help you become a better all-around worker. 

Here, you'll learn about employability skills and their importance. We'll also show you ways to get better at these skills, which can make it easier for you to find a job. Here's what we're going to cover: 

• What are employability skills? 
• Importance of employability skills 
• Employability skills examples 
• How to improve your employability skills? 
• How to show your employability skills on your resumé? 
• Conclusion 
• FAQs 

What are employability skills? 

If you're new to work, you might have heard about using your skills to help you. Employability skills are important and useful. They can make you stand out when looking for a job. 

People sometimes refer to these skills as soft skills. They are key attributes that most employers look for in job seekers. Employees with good employment skills do their work well, quickly, and successfully. These skills aren't just for one kind of job but are useful for all jobs in every area. 

Your schooling and experience can help you land a job, but they don't guarantee you'll excel. Soft skills such as effective communication, problem-solving, adjusting to new situations, teamwork, and time management are also crucial. These skills are valuable as they can help you work in various fields and industries. 

Importance of employability skills 

Job-readiness skills are essential for every job and can help you grow in your career. Having workplace skills allows you to:  

• Connect with co-workers.
• Be part of a team.
• Solve problems.
• Make intelligent choices for your career.
• Be independent.
• Take charge of your career.
• Improve your ability to solve problems, think deeply, and make choices. These skills are really important for dealing with challenges at work.  

Employability skills examples 

Employability skills are really important because they help you get, keep, and do well in a job. For instance, employers often want people who can talk well, work nicely with others, and solve problems. If you don't have these soft skills, it might be hard to find a job. And even if you get a job, keeping it could be tough. 

That's why it's super important to work on these skills. Improving important employability skills can make it easier for you to land the job you want. It can also help you do well in it. These skills are valuable because they can fit you into many different jobs and industries. 

In the following employability skills list, we'll highlight some of the most important skills in the Philippines:   

1. Communication skills 

Being able to communicate effectively can help you thrive in both your professional and personal life. This is why communication is at the top of our employability skills list. But remember that communication is more than just getting your message across. A good communicator listens, empathizes, builds rapport, and adapts to the language of others.  

There are different types of communication skills, such as: 

Verbal communication  

This is the use of spoken language to transfer information. You use it during one-on-one conversations, phone calls, meetings, or video conversations. Always speak confidently and clearly to ensure your verbal communication is effective. This is especially true during oral presentations or face-to-face conversations. 

Nonverbal communication 

This refers to using facial expressions, body language, and gestures. This type of communication is easy to misinterpret and often happens unconsciously.  

For example, if you hunch your shoulders while talking to another person, you appear nervous or angry.  

Be mindful of displaying positive body language when communicating. This prevents you from unintentionally giving off the wrong impression.  

Written communication  

This uses written words or symbols to relay information in the workplace. Some examples of written communication are emails, online chats, memos, or bulletins. 

Good writing is short, clear, and goes straight to the point, especially if it's an email to people you work with or a note at work. 

Set aside some time to review and re-read your emails or memos. Ensure there are no errors. Make sure you've included all the necessary information.  

Active listening  

This means hearing and understanding what another person is saying. To show that you're actively listening to a conversation, you can nod, repeat what the other person is saying to concur, or ask if something is unclear. Active listening can prevent misunderstandings, build trust, and resolve conflicts.  

2. Teamwork skills 

Teamwork is integral in almost any workplace. A group working together should get along well, and each should carry their share of the workload. Teamwork skills also include having good working relationships with colleagues, managers, and workers from other departments.  

A well-organized team can achieve much more together than each person working solo. Teamwork or collaboration means:  

• Working well with people of different ages, backgrounds, or religions.
• Accepting accountability. 
• Recognizing each member's strengths and weaknesses.
• Resolving conflicts within the team. 
• Clarifying the roles of each team member. 

3. Problem-solving skills 

When you're good at solving problems, you can fix issues at work quickly and effectively. Possessing these skills also makes you a self-reliant employee. Some of the most important aspects of problem-solving are:  

• Analyzing facts and testing assumptions.
• Identifying the problem and contributing factors.
• Finding creative, innovative, or practical solutions.
• Evaluating different options.
• Applying different strategies to solve other problems.
• Making realistic and doable action plans.
• Devising contingency plans.
• Implementing and monitoring action plans. 
• Assessing processes and results.  

4. Critical thinking skills 

Critical thinking is a worthwhile skill to hone, as it can help you function better in the workplace.  It means being able to look at information, think about it deeply, and figure out what it means so you can make a good decision or solve a problem. A critical and creative thinker is observant. They ask relevant questions and draw insights to identify appropriate solutions. 

This soft skill allows you to assess and solve any problem that comes up in the workplace. Some benefits of developing your critical thinking skills include: 

• Making sensible judgments as a result of logical thinking.
• Excelling in the fields of medicine, law, finance, or education.
• Improving your decision-making skills.
• Becoming a well-rounded employee who's good at researching and finding the most important and relevant pieces of information.  

5. Time management skills 

Time management is about organizing and using your time wisely on different tasks to ensure you get things done well and on time. Good time management can help you reach your goals and do a great job. Time management is part of a more extensive skill set – resource management – and other resources include people, money, and effort.  

To say that you're good at managing your time, you must be able to: 

• Plan the use of available resources.
• Establish a time frame.
• Set schedules.  

Your ability to manage your time is critical in any job. Most employers expect employees to know how to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and efficiently manage their workload. Good time management helps to:  

• Reduce procrastination.
• Increase productivity.
• More efficiently achieve goals.
• Boost confidence.
• Accomplish more in less time.   

If you need a more comprehensive list of employability skills, I have compiled them here: 

1. Adaptability
2. Continuous learning
3. Leadership qualities
4. Technical proficiency
5. Emotional intelligence
6. Project management
7. Creativity
8. Analytical skills
9. ResilienceAttention to detail
10. Flexibility
11. Negotiation skills
12. Digital literacy
13. Ethical judgment
14. Cross-cultural competency
15. Conflict resolution 

How do you improve your employability skills? 

Here are a few different ways to improve your employability skills:  

1. Identify which skills need improvement 

The first step to improving your employment skills is knowing the skills you already possess. The knowledge you get from your education and professional experience is important. Developing your soft skills is just as vital.  

Highlight your impressive academic history. Showcase communication, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. This will make your resume stand out.  

2. Continue your education  

Continuous education gives you a huge advantage. It helps you learn new skills and improve old ones. And if your job keeps you very busy, there are many online courses and training programs you can try. Some courses are free. They teach various topics like business, design, writing, and computer programming.  

3. Volunteer 

Helping out in community projects or with groups like Gawad Kalinga does two great things for you.  First, it teaches you new skills that can help you get a job. Second, it helps you meet more people who can support your career. 

4. Apply for an internship 

When job opportunities are scarce, you can apply for an internship. Working as an intern can improve your skills and allow you to gain experience while searching for job vacancies.  

How to show your employability skills on your resume? 

To stay ahead in the job world today, it's really important to know what skills employers are looking for. Showing these important skills on your resume can help you stand out from other job seekers. 

Here's how to show your employability skills on your resume:  

1. Create a complete employability skills list 

List all your relevant employment skills. But make sure you only include skills that you're confident you possess. You can also include examples of when you demonstrated your skills. And if an organization calls you for a job interview, you can tell the interviewer about your skills.  

For technical or language skills, it's helpful to indicate your level of proficiency. You can use terms like "beginner," "intermediate," "advanced," or "expert," or you could mention certifications or years of experience to give a clearer picture of your capability. 

2. Check the job description of the role you wish to apply for 

Read the job posting carefully to identify the specific keywords, descriptions, and employability skills necessary for that position.  

Choose the most relevant skills you can prove you possess, and highlight these in the skills section of your resume.  

Put your skills into groups to make them clear and easy to understand. For example, "Technical Skills," "Interpersonal Skills," and "Management Skills." This way, the potential employer can quickly see how your skills match the job's requirements. 

3. Add examples 

Rather than only including a simple bullet list of your skills in your resume, you can also describe how you demonstrated these skills in the work experience section.  

Consider how you used your relevant skills in your previous roles to achieve positive results, and include short descriptions of those instances.  

You can also list your duties and responsibilities in each previous position. An example of this type of list is: 

• Conducted weekly meetings with team members to ensure all members were aware of the progress of each project.
• Managed follow-ups via daily emails.
• Identified areas where I could offer my expertise to help the team achieve a positive outcome. 

Bottom line 

Employability skills are a set of attributes that are essential to thriving in today's dynamic and competitive Philippines job market. These special skills go beyond academic achievements and technical expertise. They encompass many qualities, such as teamwork, communication, adaptability, problem-solving, and time management. 

Saying that having good employability skills can make you do well in your career is an understatement.  

These skills don't just make you stand out among job seekers – they can help you achieve overall success and satisfaction in the workplace.  

If you want to land a great job, evaluate your employability skills and begin developing or enhancing them. And remember to highlight your relevant skills in your resume to catch the eye of future employers. 

FAQs 

1. What are the top 5 most important employability skills? 
   ⁠The top five soft skills are communication, teamwork, problem-solving, critical thinking, and time management. 
2. What is an essential employability skill? 
   ⁠The ability to effectively communicate is a basic employability skill, but it's also one of the most important. This skill is essential in almost any position. If your communication is good, you can get along with many different people and make friends easily when working together in a team. 
3. What are general employability skills? 
   ⁠Some general employability skills are adaptability, leadership, and initiative. Adaptability means being able to adapt to change and new situations. Leadership is the ability to inspire and motivate others, make tough calls, and show accountability. And the initiative is demonstrating your capacity to lead and drive results.