Employability skills | Job skills

As well as skills specific to the job you’re going for, employers are also looking for general job skills. These are sometimes called ‘employability skills’ or ‘soft skills’. These types of skills will make you stand out.

Even if you don’t think you have any job skills, you have these employability skills if you’re:

dependable
easy to get along with
open to learning new things.

These skills might not be listed in the position description, but they are common skills needed to do most jobs. It’s good to think about these skills when you’re preparing for a job interview.

Different people define these skills in different ways, but generally they can be broken down into these eight categories:

communication
teamwork
problem solving
initiative and enterprise
planning and organising
self-management
learning
technology

1. Communication

Depending on the job, communication means being clear about what you mean and what you want to achieve when you talk or write. It involves listening and being able to understand where someone else is coming from.

Communication skills also include non-verbal communication, such as the body language you use.

Examples of ways that you can develop or improve your communication skills include:

writing assignments and reports as part of your studies
using social media
making oral presentations as part of your class work
working in customer service (face-to-face or on the phone)
getting involved in a local club
being aware of how you hold your body.

2. Teamwork

Teamwork means being able to get along with the people you work with. It involves working together to achieve a shared goal.

Examples of ways that you can develop or improve your teamwork skills include:

doing group assignments as part of your studies
volunteering for a community organisation
thinking about how you can work better with other people at your workplace
joining a sporting team
organising with friends or family to have a neighbourhood working bee.

3. Problem solving

Problem solving means finding solutions when you’re faced with difficulties or setbacks. It involves being able to use a logical process to figure things out.

Examples of ways you can develop or improve your problem-solving skills include:

doing research assignments as part of your studies
dealing with complaints at your workplace
doing a study skills course that looks at problem solving
talking to other people about how they solved the problems they faced
fixing broken things around the house by watching online videos to find out how to do it.

4. Initiative and enterprise

Initiative and enterprise mean looking for things that need to be done and doing them without being asked. This can also involve thinking creatively to make improvements to the way things are done.

Examples of ways you can develop or improve your initiative and enterprise skills include:

approaching organisations and businesses about work placements or internships
setting up a fundraiser in your community
making or proposing changes to the way a group you belong to does things
doing things around the house without being asked.

5. Planning and organising

Planning and organising mean working out what you need to do, and how you'll do it. Planning and organising involve things like developing project timelines and meeting deadlines.

Examples of ways you can develop or improve your planning and organising skills include:

developing a study timetable and sticking to it
travelling by yourself overseas or interstate
managing your time around work, study and family commitments
helping to organise a community event
organising a family get-together.

6. Self-management

Self-management means:

being able to do your job without someone having to check up on you all the time
staying on top of your own deadlines
delegating tasks to other people to make sure things get done on time.

Examples of ways that you can develop or improve your self-management skills include:

doing a work experience placement or internship
asking for new responsibilities at work
developing a study schedule and sticking to it
joining a volunteer organisation
keeping your room tidy.

7. Learning

Learning is about wanting to understand new things and picking them up quickly. It also involves taking on new tasks and being able to adapt to change.

Examples of ways to develop or improve your learning skills include:

doing a short course or online course
researching skills and courses you’d like to do
starting a new hobby
joining a sporting or volunteer group
teaching yourself a new skill, like making the perfect omelette.

8. Technology

Technology skills mean being able to use a computer for word processing, using spreadsheets and sending email, or knowing how to use office equipment like a photocopier.

They also involve using social media, working with design or video editing software or knowing programming languages. Other technology skills relate to hardware, like knowing how to use EFTPOS, a cash register, a camera or a recording studio.

Examples of ways to develop or improve your technology skills include:

doing a short course or online course
asking for extra training at work
finding out what technology is used in the job you want and how it’s used
making a list of all the technology you're already using in your day-to-day life.

Highlighting your skills

Now that you've identified the employability skills you have, and ways you can improve them, you need to highlight them in your job applications.

To find out more about applying for jobs, visit our Getting a job section.

To find out how to highlight your skills in a job interview, visit our Job interviews section.

8 job skills you should have