Employability Skills Training
| Site: | HGT Australia Ltd (Novaskill) |
| Course: | HGT Australia Ltd (Novaskill) |
| Book: | Employability Skills Training |
| Printed by: | |
| Date: | Monday, 13 May 2024, 5:35 AM |
Description
This course gets participants Job Ready and exposes them to local employers who are currently recruiting people for positions they have available. The training involves Self-awareness and Marketing, Communication, Technology, Job searching, Career skills, Skills mapping, Writing Resumes and Cover letters.
1. Introduction
Introduction: Employability Skills Training – Youth Jobs PaTH
Welcome to Novaskill and EST Training Block 1.
This Training Block is designed for you to take time and explore your options for employment. This includes some soul searching and self-development that takes into consideration your life circumstances and your preferences for type of work situations and industry sector’s you might like to contribute towards.
No one is identical, however you will hopefully find listening and sharing your story with others in this Training Block will help define some clear aims and goals for you to work towards; whilst gaining some tips that you can use to achieve those goals!
This course is designed to provide some information and guidance on the world of work; to note things down and to take away with you when you leave the course for future reference.
The course is broken into six (6) sections:
1. Self-Awareness
2. Self-Marketing
3. Communicate at Work
4. Use Technology
5. Job Search Planning
6. Skills for Career and Home
We want you to
succeed and will do all we can to
support you throughout your time at
Novaskill.
All the best with your training - Best of Luck!!!!
2. 1: Self-Awareness
Self-Awareness
Developing self-awareness is a great way of learning more about what makes you tick, and what you are capable of. There are some great ways you can work on your selfawareness; but what you do next – is entirely up to you!
Self-awareness is really just about being aware of who we are. It can relate to knowing your own values, your beliefs, personal preferences and tendencies. This is valuable to understand, as it can be helpful to start thinking about how you work best and interact with others.
This section of the workbook will focus on self-awareness aspects that relate to finding and retaining employment and will look at:
• How you learn best
• Your talents and abilities
• Personality traits
• Values
It is also a great exercise if you:
• Want to know more about yourself
• Don’t understand other people’s reactions to stuff you’re doing
• Feel like you’re weird or different
• Want to be more confident
• Want better self-esteem
You know how famous people always say, “Stay true to yourself”? This is actually really important advice, but it’s not easy to stay true to yourself if you don’t know who you are!
By becoming self-aware and understanding your strengths and limitations, you open up opportunities that just aren’t available if you don’t know yourself. You’re also able to have more honest and genuine relationships because the people that you’re attracted to will be attracted to you for who you actually are.
Floating the Boat or Sinking the Ship
A big part of self awareness is understanding how and why we react to situations and people. We all have things in our lives that either lift our spirits up or bring them down.
Sometimes when we start focusing on the negative things in our lives we can neglect the
things that build us up. This is perhaps the exact opposite of what we should be doing.
Simply identifying and focusing on the things that build us up can often bring us out of a
downward spiral. Identifying the things that bring us down can also be beneficial in the
sense of ‘knowing our enemy.’ If you know what you’re up against you are better
equipped to either avoid or fight the things that would make your life less enjoyable.
2.1. Floating the Boat or Sinking the Ship
A big part of self awareness is understanding how and why we react to situations and people. We all have things in our lives that either lift our spirits up or bring them down.
Sometimes when we start
focusing on the negative things in our lives we can neglect the things that
build us up. This is perhaps the exact opposite of what we should be doing.
Simply identifying and focusing on the things that build us up can often bring
us out of a downward spiral. Identifying the things that bring us down can also
be beneficial in the sense of ‘knowing our enemy.’ If you know what you’re up
against you are better equipped to either avoid or fight the things that would
make your life less enjoyable.
Things that Float my Boat
Send an email or text to you trainer with at least 5 things that ‘float your boat’ (These can be as simple as playing guitar or as complex as time with family)
Things that Sink my Ship
Send an email or text to you trainer with at least 5 things that ‘sink your ship’ (These can be as simple as your team losing the grand final or as complex as dealing with angry customers)
2.2. Understanding all about You!
Understanding more about ourselves can assist us in achieving a fulfilled personal and career life. Once we know what it is we want and what suits us then we can go out there and get it!!
Learning preference styles
Everyone has individual learning needs. We all perceive our needs differently and have preferred learning styles. Learning style preferences relate to the ways in which people internalize perceptions and to the tools they best utilise to develop their learning.
Understanding your own learning style preferences and realising that others have different preferences from your own will assist you in managing your own learning processes as well as those of others. i.e. in a workplace situation.
Complete the activity below to determine your learning preferences, and then complete the following “think about” section to allow you to reflect further on this information.
VAK Learning Styles
Self-Assessment Questionnaire
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Email your trainer the answer that most represents how you generally behave. All questions must be answered, there are no right or wrong answers – be honest with your responses. (Complete the questionnaire before reading the accompanying explanation.) 1. When I operate new equipment I generally: a) read the instructions first b) listen to an explanation from someone who has used it before c) go ahead and have a go, I can figure it out as I use it 2. When I need directions for travelling I usually: a) look at a map b) ask for spoken directions c) follow my nose and maybe use a compass
3. When I cook a new dish, I like to: a) follow a written recipe b) call a friend for an explanation c) follow my instincts, testing as I cook 4. If I am teaching someone something new, I tend to: a) write instructions down for them b) give them a verbal explanation c) demonstrate first and then let them have a go 5. I tend to say: a) watch how I do it b) listen to me explain c) you have a go 6. During my free time I most enjoy: a) going to museums and galleries b) listening to music and talking to my friends c) playing sport or doing DIY 7. When I go shopping for clothes, I tend to: a) imagine what they would look like on b) discuss them with the shop staff c) try them on and test them out 8. When I am choosing a holiday I usually: a) read lots of brochures b) listen to recommendations from friends c) imagine what it would be like to be there 9. If I was buying a new car, I would: a) read reviews in newspapers and magazines b) discuss what I need with my friends c) test-drive lots of different types
10. When I am learning a new skill, I am most comfortable: a) watching what the teacher is doing b) talking through with the teacher exactly what I’m supposed to do c) giving it a try myself and work it out as I go 11. If I am choosing food off a menu, I tend to: a) imagine what the food will look like b) talk through the options in my head or with my partner c) imagine what the food will taste like 12. When I listen to a band, I can’t help: a) watching the band members and other people in the audience b) listening to the lyrics and the beats c) moving in time with the music 13. When I concentrate, I most often: a) focus on the words or the pictures in front of me b) discuss the problem and the possible solutions in my head c) move around a lot, fiddle with pens and pencils and touch things 14. I choose household furnishings because I like: a) their colours and how they look b) the descriptions the salespeople give me c) their textures and what it feels like to touch them 15. My first memory is of: a) looking at something b) being spoken to c) doing something 16. When I am anxious, I: a) visualise the worst-case scenarios b) talk over in my head what worries me most c) can’t sit still, fiddle and move around constantly
17. I feel especially connected to other people because of: a) how they look b) what they say to me c) how they make me feel 18. When I have to revise for an exam, I generally: a) write lots of revision notes and diagrams b) talk over my notes, alone or with other people c) imagine making the movement or creating the formula 19. If I am explaining to someone I tend to: a) show them what I mean b) explain to them in different ways until they understand c) encourage them to try and talk them through my idea as they do it 20. I really love: a) watching films, photography, looking at art or people watching b) listening to music, the radio or talking to friends c) taking part in sporting activities, eating fine foods and wines or dancing 21. Most of my free time is spent: a) watching television b) talking to friends c) doing physical activity or making things 22. When I first contact a new person, I usually: a) arrange a face to face meeting b) talk to them on the telephone c) try to get together whilst doing something else, such as an activity or a meal 23. I first notice how people: a) look and dress b) sound and speak c) stand and move
24. If I am angry, I tend to: a) keep replaying in my mind what it is that has upset me b) raise my voice and tell people how I feel c) stamp about, slam doors and physically demonstrate my anger 25. I find it easiest to remember: a) faces b) names c) things I have done 26. I think that you can tell if someone is lying if: a) they avoid looking at you b) their voice changes c) they give me funny vibes 27. When I meet an old friend: a) I say, “it’s great to see you!” b) I say, “it’s great to hear from you!” c) I give them a hug or a handshake 28. I remember things best by: a) writing notes or keeping printed details b) saying them aloud or repeating words and key points in my head c) doing and practising the activity or imagining it being done 29. If I have to complain about faulty goods, I am most comfortable: a) writing a letter b) complaining over the phone c) taking the item back to the store or posting it to head office 30. I tend to say: a) I see what you mean b) I hear what you are saying c) I know how you feel Now add up how many A’s, B’s and C’s you selected. A’s = _______ B’s = _______ C’s = _______ If you chose mostly A’s, you have a VISUAL learning style. If you chose mostly B’s, you have an AUDITORY learning style. If you chose mostly C’s, you have a KINAESTHETIC learning style.
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2.3. VAK Learning Styles Explanation
The VAK learning styles model suggests that most people can be divided into one of three preferred styles of learning. These three styles are as follows, (and there is no right or wrong learning style):
- Someone with a Visual learning style has a preference for seen or observed things, including pictures, diagrams, demonstrations, displays, handouts, films, flip charts, etc. These people will use phrases such as ‘show me’, ‘let’s have a look at that’ and will be best able to perform a new task after reading the instructions or watching someone else do it first. These are the people who will work from lists and written directions and instructions.
- Someone with an Auditory learning style has a preference for the transfer of information through listening: to the spoken word, of self or others, of sounds and noises. These people will use phrases such as ‘tell me’, ‘let’s talk it over’ and will be best able to perform a new task after listening to instructions from an expert. These are the people who are happy being given spoken instructions over the telephone and can remember all the words to songs that they hear!
- Someone with a Kinaesthetic learning style has a preference for physical experience: touching, feeling, holding, doing, practical hands-on experiences. These people will use phrases such as ‘let me try’, ‘how do you feel?’ and will be best able to perform a new task by going ahead and trying it out, learning as they go. These are the people who like to experiment, hands-on, and never look at the instructions first!
People commonly have a main preferred learning style, but this will be part of a blend of all three. Some people have a very strong preference; other people have a more even mixture of two or less commonly, three styles.
When you know your preferred learning style(s) you understand the type of learning that best suits you. This enables you to choose the types of learning that work best for you.
There is no right or wrong learning style. The point is that there are types of learning that are right for your own preferred learning style.
Please note that this is not a scientifically validated testing instrument – it is a free assessment tool designed to give a broad indication of preferred learning style(s).