Work Skills
This activity aims to identify and explain key workplace competencies.
Discuss
Every job or career has a required set of skills. These are skills you might already know but often it is skills you learn. Learning these skills make you a good employee as you begin your working journey. Understanding what an employer expects and practicing these skills will help you succeed at any job.
Resource
Work Skills PowerPoint. Feel free to modify the vocabulary list to meet the student’s needs.
[Note to Instructors: There are discussion prompts in the notes section of the Work Skills PowerPoint.]
Reliability – how dependable or consistent you are. This means if you do what you say you will, you are reliable.
Active Listening – listening and concentrating to whoever is speaking. This includes asking questions if needing more information or not understanding. When you do this, the person feels heard.
Communication – sharing information, ideas or feelings with others, this can include asking questions when needed.
Responsibility – being in charge of your actions, making good choices, and taking care of obligations or tasks (like homework, chores, or job tasks). When you are responsible, this builds trust.
Time Management – organizing and using your time effectively to meet deadlines. This means being focused on your work to do what you are responsible for.
Adaptability – Adjusting to new tasks, roles, or environments.
Collaboration – working together with others on a common goal. This usually involves teamwork and sharing responsibility.
Self-Advocacy – speaking up for yourself and your own needs. Asking for what you want or need and explaining why you need it.
Decision-Making – choosing the best choice or action when there are several options. This involves thinking about your options and picking the one that seems best.
Professionalism – acting responsibly and respectfully in the workplace even if you disagree with someone.
Watch
What are the MOST Essential Skills for Job Seekers? (Video – 7 min).
- What skills do you have?
- What skills would you like to work on?
Interactive Opportunity
Thinking back to your informational interview, job shadow, and worksite tour, you were able to experience many work skills in action.
- What work skills did you see?
- What work were people doing? How was that work a work skill?
- What are some examples of teamwork or collaboration you noticed?
- What did you think about the work environment? Was it quiet, loud, fast-paced, slow, etc.?
- Can you imagine yourself working in a job like this? Why or why not?