ELTWeekly Vol. 5 Issue#17 | May 20, 2013 | ISSN 0975-3036

Introduction

“… The ability to drive the interview rather than being driven and a lot of other signs help develop the first impression.” – Werner Fernandes – Principal Consultant, Pink and White Consulting.

Employability skills are vital to finding a job. According to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) survey, 82 per cent of businesses consider these skills to be the single most important consideration when recruiting graduates. However 70 per cent of employers said that university students need to do more to prepare themselves to be effective in the workplace. Despite realizing the
importance of employability skills graduates are currently falling short of employers’ expectations.

Businesses want graduates who not only to add value but also to possess the skills that would transform their organizations in the face of continuous and rapid economic and technological changes. All graduates irrespective of their academic discipline need to be
equipped with employability skills that cover a wide range of non-academic or softer skills and abilities which are of value at the workplaces. It includes the ability to communicate effectively in various professional contexts; work in a team; a willingness to
demonstrate initiative and original thought; self discipline in starting and completing tasks in time. In short, today’s employers expect the fresh graduates to possess the necessary skills to perform well in their organizations and here comes the role of universities and their teachers. It is crucial that universities and employers work with students to provide proper signposting to ensure they are in a
position to make informed decisions and to develop and realize their goals. (more…)