g u rcesdge

n o e g
t a ndie res nowl tion danceskills ndin
d ersidancstry k duca gui dge ersta
u gu ndu ng e ning wle und try ation
n
i n g n i ini lear kno tion dus lific a tion
rn io ra y a n ua on ifi c ing
lea nicat ent tndingdustrualifiction iion qnicati qual ustrystand
m mu loymersta n in n q nica ucat mu ation n indnder ls n ce ation
o p i o i o u
c em und cat cat mm e co du ati on sk uid duc y g d m c o u i l a
k i lls tion muni edu s coainingurcesing e unicficatiedge ing ging edustr rnin
s fica om ing rce tr so ain mm ali wl arn ain in lea g
li c in ou nt re tr o qu no le t tr ion ing nin
q ua rcesnt trae res yme ance ent rces ction try kd
u g n t d i
s o e n c p l o uid ym ou ca us an in yme unicarstan nt traationing
re loymuida em g g mplo res edu in erst mplo mm nde yme uni tand t d c
p g l l s i n e c e g o n d e co u l o m r s e n c ation
i n i n
emning e sk learn kills idan aini icat on u kills rces atio emp comunde oym un n i
r s u r n i s c s l m g ing
leawledgding dge ing g ent tmmulificat dge resouualifi skills urce ation emps comndin trainstry
n le
knoersta now learnploym s co qua owle nce n q dge resoalific skills urce ersta ent indu n
unu d ry k ing em our tion ry knguidaucatioowle ance n qudge reso undploymtion ing catioe
ce
st nd ills res uca ust g ed kn uid tio le nce tion em nica arn edu edg es
ind erstage skance g edn ind arninning ustrying geduca know idaalificaskills mmuing leining nowl sourc
d d i n
employability
o l e i d n r y g u
un wle guidtrain icati ing t tra n in lear ning dust ing n qu dge s co tand t tra stry k ce re
n
knorning ent munstandymenicatioding t traion in learn cationowlesourcendersymen induuidancatio s
leaployms com r lo un tan en ati ng edu y k re l s
e u ndeempommd e r s ym nic ndi g str ce tion uemploationing gqualifie skiol urce
o
emourc tion kills es c un mpl mmuersta ainin indu idan lifica ills uni learntion ledg res ation c
resalifica ge s ourc ationills e s co und nt tr tion ng gu qua ge skcomm i n g uca now ancealific kills rces
d s
quowle e re ualifi ge s ourc ationloym unicaearni ation wledrces rstan ing e stry k guidn qu dge resoution
d s c k e e d
kn idancon q wled e res alific emp omming l educy knoresouunde train indurning catio owle nce lifica kills ce
gu ucati y knoidanc n qukills ces c tand ning dustr nce tion ent ationg leag edutry knguida qua ge sesourion
ed ustr g gu catio ge s sournderst trai n in uida lifica loym unic ndinainin ndus ing ation wled ce r ificat
ind rnin edu wledce reon u men icatioing g qua empommerstant tr ion i learneduc y knouidan qualge
lea iningy knoidan ficati ploy mun learn ationskills ces c und yme nicat ding ing ustrng g tion led
tradustr g guquali ls em com ing educ dge sour ationmplo mu stan trainn indarni duca knowng
in arnin ion skil rces tand ing owle ce re alific lls e s comnder ent catio ng leng e stry arni ent es
le ucat dge esou ders train y kn idan qu e ski urce on u loym uni andi raini indung le loymourc n
ed owle ce r n un ent ustr gu ationledg reso ficati emp ommerst nt t tion andi emp res catio n
kn idan catio loymn indrningeduc now nce uali kills ces c und yme nica erst kills ance edu catio n
gu alifi emp atio lea ing try k uida on q ge s sour ation mplommu und ge s guid ing uni catio y
qu ills unic ding rain dus g g cati wled e re lific lls e s co tion led ing train omm alifi ustr
sk mm stan nt t n in arnin edu kno anc qua ski urce lifica knowearn ent es c n qu ind
co der ymecatio g le ning stry guid tion dge reso qua stry ng l oym ourc atio tion tion
un plo uni din trai ndu ing uca owle ce tion ndu ndi mpl res duc nica lifica ion
em mm rstan ent on i earn g ed y kn idan uca on i ersta lls e nce ng e mu qua icat ion
co nde oym icati g l inin ustr gu ed cati nd ski uida aini comion mun cat ces
u mpl un ndin tra ind ning ning uni ion u dge g g t tr ces cat com edu sour
e omm rsta ent ion lear trai mm cat wle rnin men sour edu es ing re
c nde oym icat ng ent s co alifi kno lea loy re ing urc rain nce
u mpl un ndi ym rce qu stry ing emp nce rain reso nt t uida ls tion
e omm rsta plo esou tion du and ills uida nt t ce yme g g skil fica
c nde em e r uca n in erst sk g g me idan plo nin ge uali
u kills anc ed atio nd dge nin loy gu em lear led n q ce
s uid ing nic on u le lear mp ing ills ng now tio an
g rain mu ati now g lls e arn sk ndi y k uca uid
t om lific ry k din ski le ge sta str ed g g tion
c ua ust stan ge ing led der ndu ing nin ica
q nd er ed nd ow un n i ain ear un
i nd wl rsta kn on tio tr g l mm
u kno de stry ati ica nt din co y
un indu alific mun oymestan rces ustr
qu com mpl nder esou ind
e u r

The OCR Guide to

Employability
Version 1
 pl sou tion n in g l inin ind lear
understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry know
re uca tio din tra n g
ducation qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources commun
g i n
e ed ica tan nt atio din ain n
yment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance r

g mun ders yme unic rstan nt tr atio ing ainingy

y knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understan
mmunication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qu
c
o on mp om un oym mu rstandnt tr dustr
guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employmen
m u n l o m d e e n i
ing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skill
understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry know

ati ills eces c tion empl comunde oymeon ing ation

ducation qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources commun
yment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance r
s k ur fica lls s l ati in uc e
s employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning gu
e n p
e reso ali ski urc atio em nic arn ed edg es
knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understan
n industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification
e n qudge reso alific skills mmu ng lening nowl sourc
Thisresources
munication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance guide on employability
communication hasknowledge
industry been produced by OCR to
skills employment helpeducation
training you qu
urces communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training educ
t i o e ce q u
a ow an n dg es tan t t stry k ce ren
l e co d i r a i understand
guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding
ing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification
theguidance
learning skills and techniques
resources you willindustry
communication need knowledge
to develop,
and use in progressing your career. This guide has not been written to skills
understanding learning guidance resources communication industry
practise
skills employmen
knowledge

kn guid catio owleourc ders men ndu idan atio

understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry know
fication understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification
accompany a specificunderstanding
qualificationlearning guidance
but focuses onresources communication
employability skills indus
ng edutry kne reson un ploytion i g gu alificskills rces
ucation qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources commun
that relate training
ng education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment to many areas ofqualification
education both education and work
understanding environments.
learning guidance resources com

ingndus danc ficati lls emnica arnin n qudge resouion

yment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance r
s employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industryOther skills guides
knowledge are available
skills employment at education
training www.ocr.org.uk.
qualification understanding learning gu

u i a l i s k i m u l e t o l e e c at
knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understand
i i
n g g qu e om ing uca now anc lifi kills ces
n industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification u
munication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qua

ninationwledgces cstand g edstry k guid qua ge s sour on

rces communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training educ
guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employmen

uc kno sournder raininindu ning ation wled ce reficatiills es

ing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills
understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry know
e c i
strynce rtion uent tation lear edury knouidanqualge sksourc n
fication understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication indus
ucation qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources commun
yment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance r

da lifica loym unic ndingining dusting g tion wled ce re catiolls

s employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning gu
knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understand

ua empommersta t tra on inearn duca kno idan ualifie ski

n industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification u
munication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qua

ills ces c und ymennicati ing l ing eustryg gution qledg e tion
rces communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training educ
guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employmen

ourcationmplommurstantd trainn indearninduca knowidancduca try

ing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills
understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry know
fication understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication indus

lifi ills e s co nde men icatioing l ing eustry g guing eindus

ucation qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources commun
yment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance r
sk urce ion uploy un and rain ind rnin rain on ding
s employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning gu

o cat em mm rst t t ion lea t t cati tan

knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understand

e s
n industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification u
r lifi lls o nde en cat ng en ni ers s
c
munication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qua
u nd ill
quae ski urcesion u ploymmunitandi ploym
rces communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training educ
m k nt
guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employmen
u s e
g r s m c o m n e ng m
ing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills
o t
s a m
d re ific s e co de s e es atio edg rni ploy
m
understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry know
fication understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication indus
c e a l kill es un kill urc lific wl lea m
ucation qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources commun
u
n q
e s u rc ion e s so ua kno ng ls e ce
yment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance re

onledg reso ificat ledg ce reon q stry andi skil idan ent
s employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning gu
knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understand

ow ance qualknowuidanucati indu derstledgeng guploym

n industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification u
munication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qua

uidation stry ing g g edationon unknowearni s emng

guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employmen
ing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills
fication understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication indus

uc induearn raininunic ficati stry ing l skillearni ledge

ng education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources com
s employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning gu

ion ing l ent tcommquali industandledge ing lknowtion

n industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification u
rces communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training educ

andloymrces ation ation nderknow standustry lifica

ing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills
fication understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication indus

p u c ic r
yment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance r
u a s
knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understand
 4 Employability Employability 5

Content What is employability?

Page 5 What is employability?
In the modern job market employers not only look for qualifications
Page 6 What are employers looking for?
but also a range of skills and personal qualities often referred to as
Page 10 Generic employability skills employability skills.
Page 12 Problem solving
Employability skills have been defined by the CBI Employability and your career
Page 13 Presenting yourself in a job application or CV (Confederation of British Industry) as A set of attributes,
In practice, the combination of knowledge, skills and
skills and knowledge that all labour market participants
personal qualities required by employers will vary
Page 17 Interviews should possess to ensure they have the capability of
according to your chosen career. Certain employability
being effective in the workplace to the benefit of
skills will be needed as you search for a career, submit
Page 20 Employment legislation themselves, their employer and the wider economy.
a CV and get an interview regardless of your target
Source: http://www.cbi.org.uk/media/1121435/cbi_uuk_ industry. These skills should be developed and improved
Page 22 Ongoing training and development future_fit.pdf - Page 8 of CBI report entitled Future Fit as you start your career and on an ongoing basis to
help you perform well in your role and progress to more
Page 23 Resources responsible and challenging roles. It is unlikely that you
More simply, employability skills are the knowledge, will stay in the same job within the same organisation for
personal qualities, attitude and behaviour you need to: your entire working life so employability skills are key in
get work helping you to manage your career.

stay in work
do your job well.
Why is employability important?
Employability is incredibly important because it affects
your ability to realise your potential, both now and later,
as you progress through education into your chosen
career. It is an opportunity to apply your learning to real
life contexts and to use your personal skills and qualities
in the work place. Employability is also likely to give you
the capacity to move between jobs or career areas in
order to remain employable throughout your life.
Further skills can be acquired throughout your career.
Lifelong learning will help you towards a fulfilling career
and is thought highly of by employers too as it shows
an ability to be motivated, acquire new information and
adapt to change.
Employability skills can also be referred to as transferable
skills because skills developed in one area of your life can
be transferred to other areas. In the context of career
planning and development, they may be called career
management skills.

This document is optimised to be printed with reduced colours.

Disclaimer
Please note that whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of
the content, OCRs resources are provided for general information purposes
only to be used at the discretion of practitioners and centres. The resources
are provided for guidance purposes only and do not constitute an endorsed
teaching method that is required by the Board.
OCR shall not have any liability whatsoever for any losses, including losses for
any misinterpretation, or subsequent impact howsoever caused.

www.ocr.org.uk www.ocr.org.uk
 6 Employability Employability 7

What are employers looking for?

So an assistant in a pre-school nursery may need the following employability skills:

Explaining activities to audiences with different levels of communication skills

Giving encouragement
Based on a number of surveys undertaken by Microsoft, Target Jobs, the Using body language and watching that of others
Spoken communication Listening carefully and taking an interest
BBC, Prospects, and other organisations, this is a summary of the skills Asking questions
which were most often deemed important. Persuading and negotiating if there are disagreements between children or some
are reluctant to participate
Source: www.kent.ac.uk Working with other adults (who may be of different ages, cultures etc) to deliver
activities as planned to children who may be from different backgrounds and at
Teamwork
Spoken communication Able to express your ideas clearly and confidently in speech different stages of development
Working with management and administration staff
Teamwork Work confidently within a group Knowing current trends in pre-school education, government guidelines and
Commercial awareness legislation relating to working with young children
Commercial awareness Understand the commercial realities affecting the organisation Being aware of the activities of other local pre-schools
Observing and gathering information about the development of children in the
Analysing and investigating
Analysing and investigating Gather information systematically to establish facts and principles; problem solving nursery

Able to act on initiative, identify opportunities and be pro-active in putting forward Initiative/self-motivation Taking action to help a child cope better with an activity before being told what
Initiative/self-motivation
ideas and solutions Complete activities even if there are difficulties
Drive
Determination to get things done; make things happen and constantly looking for Consider more effective ways of doing tasks
Drive
better ways of doing things Written communications Referring carefully to guidelines and planned activities
Written communications (Refer to study guide on Recording accurately childrens achievements
Able to express yourself clearly in writing
(Refer to study guide on docu- Producing documents) Writing to parents/carers

Planning and organising Able to plan activities and carry them through effectively Able to contribute ideas (in conjunction with other team members) towards
Planning and organising
planning activities and carry them through effectively

Flexibility Adapt successfully to changing situations and environments Punctual in arriving at work
Time management Able to prioritise tasks
Keep to a timetable
Time management Manage time effectively, prioritising tasks and able to work to deadlines.

Links to interactive exercises to further your understanding of terms relating to employability skills and to audit
Spoken and non-spoken communication:
your skills and possible career path are given at the end of this guide.
Body language using it yourself and being sensitive to its use by others; for example, use of eye contact, gestures,
head nodding, smiling
Listening accurately hearing what people are saying and showing interest
Motivating and supporting giving encouragement; giving thanks for praise or help; working well in a team
Telephone skills being brief and keeping to the point; think through in advance what you want to say
Gathering information ask open and probing questions to understand the views and feeling of others. Clarify and
summarise what others say.
Giving and accepting criticism saying sorry in a genuine way, when necessary; allow disagreements to be
brought into the open; be constructive if criticising
Persuading and negotiating back up your points with facts and logic; be tactful to those you disagree with
Presenting use a logical structure, be clear and concise, encourage questions (see study guide presentation
section of documents for further information

www.ocr.org.uk www.ocr.org.uk
 8 Employability Employability 9

Research a role that you are interested in and use the blank grid to identify aspects of that role that exemplify these Other skills that were seen as important by employers include:
employability skills.
Global skills Able to speak and understand other languages; appreciation of other cultures

Spoken communication Leadership Able to motivate and direct others

Multiply/divide accurately, calculate percentages, use statistics and a calculator,

Numeracy
Teamwork interpret graphs and tables

Word-processing, using databases, spread sheets, the Internet and email, designing
Computing skills
web pages etc.
Commercial awareness
Awareness of achievements, abilities, values and weaknesses and what you want out
Self-awareness
of life
Analysing and investigating
Presents a strong, professional, positive image to others which inspires confidence
Personal impact/confidence
and commands respect
Initiative/self-motivation Continues to learn throughout life. Develops the competencies needed for current
Lifelong learning
and future roles

Drive Stress tolerance Maintains effective performance under pressure

Written communications Adheres to standards and procedures, maintains confidentiality and questions inap-
Integrity
(Refer to study guide on propriate behaviour
Producing documents)
Accepts responsibility for views and actions and able to work under their own direc-
Independence
tion and initiative
Planning and organising
Developing professionalism Pays care and attention to quality of work; supports and empower others

Time management Able to decide what steps are needed to achieve particular goals and then imple-
Action planning
s ment them
ng urce ge lls
ndi resoowledn ski
e r s ce kn tio dancekills ndingdge ng nt
t a
n a i s e i e
unduida ustry educ g gu dge derstanowllearn loym ces Determine the best course of action; evaluate options based on logic and fact and
g gn indning arnin owlen un stry kding empesourn y Decision making
i n
rn o ai le kn io u n ls r io dustrarning present solutions
leanicati nt trding ustry lificatn inderstae skilance ucatn i n le g
muloymerstann ind quaication und ledg guidng edicatio ndingraininn
com m p nde tio tion un atio now ing aini un rsta t t atio ng ining
i l l s eion u unicaducacommalific stry k learnnt trcommunde ymenunic tandi t traustry Interpersonal sensitivity Recognise and respect different perspectives; open to the ideas and views of others
sk ficat mm ng e ces qu ndu ing yme ces tion plo omm ders men ind
u a li s co aini our tion n i and plo our fica s em s c un loy ion g ation
r s a o t
q rce t t re uc cati ers em res ual skil urc tio em ica rni du ge i l e n p t n c
ou n ce ed i d lls e q o ca s n a e ed es
resloymeidanning mmunion une ski idancation ledgece resualifi skill mmuing leining nowlsourc nt Creativity
employability
p g gu trai co cat ledg gu duc now an n q dge s co and tra ry k e re
e in nt ces alifi ow ing e y k uid atio wle rce rst ent ust nc on ploy
m me Generate and applying new ideas and solutions.
rn e r u n g r g c u e d a ti m
lea loymresouion q try kn learraininndusrtning edury kno reson undploymon in guidlifica ills eationning
m p ce cat dus ing t t n i lea ing ust nce tio em cati ing qua sk nic ear ion
e an du in an d n o n a a i n e u l t
d e t me ati ng rai ind id lific ills un ar on dg mding ducadge es
guni ing cationders ploy unictandi ent tation ng gu quage skomming leucatinowles com t a n g e le ourc
a i n i u n e m m m r s m i c n i o n e d s c n d e d k c e r s i n o w s
tr mu tion ills co nde ploy un lear cati owl rce rsta ing stry our nde rain y kn re
m s
comlificage skurcestion uls em com dingg edutry kn resouunde train induce retion u ent tdustrdanceation
quawled resoalificae skilurces rstanainin ndus ance ationmentcationuidan lificaploymion ing gui alific skillsurces
knodancen qu ledg reso undeent trtion i guid alific ploymuning g n quas em nicat arninon quledge resocationls
guui catio know e n a g u m i o ll
anc atio loym unic rnin n q lls e com earn cati ski mm ng uca now anc ualifi sk
u le ti e il
ed ustry guidualificempomm g leaucatioe ski urces ing l eduledgees cotandi g ed stry k guidion q ledgee tion
indrningon q skills ces c ndin g ed ledg reso standainingknowsourcndersrainin indurningucat knowidanc ducastry
leaucati dge sour erstaainin knowance ndernt tr stry e re on u ent tation g lea g ed stry g gu ing eindu g
ed owle ce re und nt tr stry guid ion u yme induidancficatiloym unic ndinrainin indu rnin train tion ndin
kn idan ationoyme induning lificatmplo tion g gu quali emp omm ersta nt t tion g lea ent nica erstalls
gu alific mpl tion lear qua ills e nica rnin ion kills es c und ymeunica ndin loymmmu und ski ng
qu ills e unica ing tion e sk mmu lea ucat ge s sourcation mplomm ersta emp s co tion edge arni
sk mm standduca ledg s co dingg ed led e re lific ills e s co und kills urce lifica owl g le ls
co der g e now urce rstan inin know anc quae sk urce tion ge s reso qua ry kn ndin skil ng
unainin try k reso nde t tra stry guid tion ledg resolifica led nce tion dust ersta dge andi
tr dus nce ion u men indu ing duca ow nce qua now uida duca n in und owle erst stry
in uida cat ploy on earn g e ry kn uida ion try k g g g e atio ion y kn und ndu
g ualifi em icati ng l inin ust g g cat dus rnin inin unic ficat ustr tion n i
q kills un ndi t tra ind rnin edu n in lea t tra mm uali ind fica catio
s omm rsta en tion lea ing atio ing en co n q ion uali uni ing g
c nde loym nica ing rain nic tand loym rces atio icat n q mm ain ndin
u mp mu and nt t mu ers mp sou duc un atio co t tr sta
e om erst me com und ls e re g e mm duc rces en der
c nd loy es on kil nce nin co e ou loym un
u mp urc cati e s ida trai rces ing res mp tion
e eso lifi edg gu nt ou rain ce s e ca nce
r ua wl ng me res t t dan ill alifi ida
q no rni oy ce en ui k
www.ocr.org.uk k lea pl an ym g g ge s n qug gu www.ocr.org.uk
emguid mplo rnin wled catioarnin
e lea kno edu le
 rstanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledg
ion qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communicati
nt training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resou
wledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding
ication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualifica
ance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment tra
earning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding Dependable learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills em
rstanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge
ion qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training People education
know you will qualification
do understanding learning guidance Honesty resources communicati
t training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skillsthe employment training
job and do it well. education qualification understanding learning guidance resou
ployment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding Acting truthfullylearning
at all guidan
wledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification
times. understanding

Generic employability skills

dustry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification unde
ication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry
communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication
knowledge skills employment training education qualifica
Reliable
industry knowledge skills employment training education
ance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment tra
earningSome skills
guidance soughtcommunication
resources by employers mayknowledge
industry seem rather skillsdaunting,
employment attraining
this pointeducation qualification understanding learning guidance People can trustcommunication
resources in you and industry knowledge skills emp
standing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance
in your work. resources communication industry knowledge
in your education, but below are some of the qualities you may have
on understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry kn
on qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communicatio
ducation now which will
qualification be helpfullearning
understanding in anyguidance
job. Refer to thecommunication
resources interactive exercises at
industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources commu
t training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resour
ploymentthetraining
end ofeducation
this guide to auditunderstanding
qualification your skills and qualities.
learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidanc
wledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding
dustry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification unde
cation industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualifica
communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication
A combination of theindustry
following qualities Hardworking industry knowledge skills employment training education
ance resources communication knowledge skillsisemployment
likely to contribute to being
training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry Pro-active knowledge skills employment tra
earning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources
Taking care with your work communication industry knowledge skills emp
standingprofessional in whichever
learning guidance resources career path you
communication choose.
industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge
on understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification andunderstanding
persevere to complete
learning guidance Making things happen
resources communication industry kn
on qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education tasksqualification understanding learninginstead ofguidance
waiting toresources
be communicatio
t training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualificationtold understanding learning
what to do (sometimes guidance resour
ployment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidanc
wledgeDisplaying professionalism
skills employment in anyqualification
training education job is striving for excellence.
understanding Trying to
learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training referred to as showing
education qualification understanding
dustry knowledge skills employment training education qualification
put quality into everything you do is likely to separate the achievers, who understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment initiative).
training education qualification unde
cation industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualifica
communication
make good industry knowledge
progress skills career,
in their employment fromtraining
others.education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education
ance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment tra
earning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills emp
standing learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge
on understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry kn
on qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communicatio
t training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge Enthusiastic
skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resour
ployment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidanc
wledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding
dustry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources Showing real and genuine
communication industry knowledge skills employment Independent training education qualification unde
cation industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources
interest in a job. communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualifica
communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge Not needing skills
to employment
rely on training education
ance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge
other people to get skills
a job knowledgeemployment tra
earning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry skills emp
standing learning guidance resources communication Integrityindustry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance done. resources communication industry knowledge
on understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry kn
on qualification understanding learning guidance Acting inresources
a way thatcommunication
is open industry knowledge skills employment training education Co-operative
qualification understanding learning guidance resources communicatio
t training education qualification
Responsibility understanding learning guidance
and honest; not learning
being resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resour
ployment training education qualification understanding guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment Working welltraining education
with others to qualification understanding learning guidanc
wledge skills employment training education influenced by others
qualification to act
understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding
get jobs done
Being able
dustry knowledge
cation industry
to employment
skills
knowledge
say what
skills
traininginappropriately.
employment
education qualification understanding
training education
Punctual
qualification
learning guidance resources communication industry
understanding learning guidance resources communication
knowledge
industry
skills employment training education qualification unde
knowledge skills employment training education qualifica
you have done, how and
ance resources communication
why youresources
have worked industry
in a knowledge skills employment training education
Always being
qualification
on time or
understanding learning guidance resources communication Fairness
industry knowledge skills employment tra
earning guidance communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills emp
certain way.
on understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skillsready
having things employment
on training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication
Sticking to the rules industry kn
ducation qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication time. industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning
without havingresources
guidance a negativecommu
ployment training education
Owning your actions. qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidanc
dustry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training effect on others.
education qualification unde
communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education
earning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills emp
on understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry
t training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resou
wledge skills employment training education qualification understanding learning guidance resources communication industry knowledge skills employment training education qualification understanding
 12 Employability
Problem solving
Problems can be opportunities as they allow you to see things differently
and do things in an alternative way.
Source www.kent.ac.uk/careers
You solve problems on a daily basis, at school/college
and in your day-to-day life, for example
Finding time to revise for module tests and exams
and hand in coursework on time
Dealing with an awkward customer when working
part-time in a shop or restaurant
Working out why your printer wont respond
Developing a strategy to reach the next level of a
computer game.
Any job will also bring problems to be faced and the
ability to solve problems is valued by employers. You
need to be able to:
Evaluate information or situations
Break them down into their key components
Consider various ways of approaching and resolving
them and decide on the most appropriate of these
ways.
Analytical and critical thinking skills help you to evaluate
the problem and to make decisions. A logical and
methodical approach is best in some circumstances; in
other situations, using creativity or lateral thinking will
be necessary to come up with ideas for resolving the
problem and find fresh approaches. Sometimes you will
need to be able to draw on your academic or subject
knowledge to identify solutions of a practical or technical
nature.
As not everyone has these skills in equal measure, team
working is often a key part towards problem-solving. The
most important thing is to get the job done properly,
not to solve it all by yourself so ask for advice or help
if you need it! Further skills, such as communication,
persuasion and negotiation, are important in finding
solutions to problems involving people.
www.ocr.org.uk
Presenting yourself in a job application
or CV
A CV is a marketing document in which you are marketing: you!
You need to sell your skills, abilities, qualifications and experience
The IDEAL model of problem-solving involves these
steps:
to employers. It is the most flexible and convenient way to make
Identify the problem applications and you can put your personal details in a way that presents
Define the problem you in the best possible light.
Examine the options Preparing your CV is an opportunity for you to audit your
Act on a plan employability skills, include relevant ones in your CV and
demonstrate others especially in the way in which you
Look at the consequences.
communicate. Good business communication is concise
The final stage is to put the solution you have decided and focuses on key facts and therefore your CV should
on into practice and check the results. try to reflect that. By selecting key points and making
your CV fairly economical with words, it leaves scope to
add further details during the interview.
You can also demonstrate attention to detail by
choosing a font size and style that is easy to read, uses
white space well and displaying the contents of your
CV clearly, logically and accurately with no spelling or
grammatical mistakes.
When should a CV be used?
When an employer asks for applications to be
received in this format
When an employer simply states apply to without
specifying the format
When writing to an employer who has not
advertised a vacancy but who you hope may have
one. (This is a speculative application and an
example of being pro-active.)
A CV can be used to make multiple applications to
employers in a general career area but can also be
adapted easily for more specific roles.
Employability 13
What should go in your CV?
There is no one best way to construct a CV; it is yours
to structure in the way you think best. A quirky style
may be appropriate for a job that involves creativity; a
more traditional approach may be best for some roles.
However it should include the following points:
Your personal details, including contact information
Education and qualifications
Work experience
Interests and achievements
Skills
References.
A personal profile is often provided at the start of
a CV but, if used, it needs to be original and well
written, focussing on the value you can bring to the
organisation. Dont just use a phrase such as Im a good
communicator who works well in a team
What makes a good CV?
The best CVs tend to have a lean, mean and clean look
with the use of every inch of space carefully considered,
so dont make your CV too busy: if in doubt, leave it out!
An employer may have hundreds of CVs to read in a
short period of time and only going to select, for
example, five interviewees. If your CV is hard work
to read, unclear, badly laid out, contains irrelevant
information and contains spelling or grammatical
mistakes, they will just move on to the next CV.
www.ocr.org.uk
 14 Employability
Therefore:
structure your CV into bullet points or short
paragraphs
bring out your relevant skills
be concise dont list every exam you have ever
taken and every activity you have been involved in;
decide which are most relevant and/or impressive
be positive highlight your strong points e.g. put
your highest exam grades first
be honest although a CV does allow you to omit
certain detail (such as exam resits) which you might
prefer the employer not to know about. CVs are not
legal documents and you cant be liable for anything
within it, but if a recruiter thinks you are not being
honest you are likely to be rejected. If you get the
job and are subsequently found to have lied, either
deliberately or by omission, then you may be subject
to disciplinary action or dismissal.
Some employers may spend as little as 45 seconds
skimming a CV before branding it not of interest,
maybe or of interest.
How long should a CV be?
There are no absolute rules but, generally, have no more
than two sides of A4 paper. Never back a CV; use a
separate sheet of paper for each page. Put your name in
the footer area so that it appears on each sheet.
If you can fit all relevant details on to a single sheet, that
is fine but take care not to leave out important items,
to crowd the page or use a font that is too small to read
comfortably.
If you are posting your CV, dont fold it put it in a full-
sized A4 envelope so that it doesnt arrive creased.
It is important to attach a brief covering letter to your
CV, giving information about your suitability for the job
and your availability. Find the name of the most relevant
person in the company to write to. Dont just write to
the Managing Director or to whom it may concern!
Links to interactive exercises to further your
understanding of CVs as well as examples of good and
bad covering letters are given at the end of this guide.
www.ocr.org.uk
Application forms
An application form is designed to bring out the
essential information and personal qualities that the
employer requires. Some application forms are quite
lengthy and the time needed to fill out these forms is
seen as a reflection of your commitment to the career.
This is the reason that some large companies will not
accept CVs and use their own application forms.
A CV must be truthful but does allow you to gloss over
your weaker points. An application form which you
have signed to confirm that the contents are true is
a legal document and forms part of your contract of
employment if you are recruited.
Some dos and donts before your complete a paper
based application form.
DO
Do read the form carefully and follow all instructions
Photocopy the application form and do your first
draft on that to make sure that you can fit everything
you want to include in the space available
Use black ink your form will probably be
photocopied (so that several people within the
company can have a copy) and this makes it easier
to read. these points in the covering letter too.
Proof read your draft or get someone else to do so
to check for mistakes in spelling or grammar
Do make sure you are using the right form - some
employers have different forms for different job
functions.
Find a quiet place to fill out the actual form. Keep
coffee cups, bars of chocolate and small children
well out of the way!
Research the company, the career area and the
actual job for which you are applying. Make sure you
can offer the qualifications, experience and personal
skills required.
DONT
Use a standard application form or CV where the
employer specifies that you should use their own
application form.
Write on the actual application form until youve
written and checked a draft version.
Keep a copy of each completed application form. If
you are invited to an interview it is incredibly helpful to
remember what you have told the employer!
Presentation
without filling it in. In which case, download it or print it
The form should be neat and tidy with no crossings out
or correcting fluid. (Doing a draft first should help to
avoid this.)
Try to fill all the space provided. Leaving too much blank
space may make your application look as if you dont
have the required skills or cant be bothered to include
enough detail.
Include a covering letter with your form to highlight your
main skills and selling points. If, in the form, you feel
there is not enough space to say all that you need, put
save what you have done and can return to the form to
General points
Be informative and detailed but concise. (This is another
example of written communication being one of the
key employability skills.) Give the employer the essential
detail but leave them wanting to invite you to an
interview to find out more!
Keep in mind the skills and qualities that the employer
is looking for and answer questions in ways that
demonstrate you have these qualities.
Dont miss out any questions or dismiss anything as
irrelevant. For example, holiday jobs, work experience
and/or voluntary work questions can be used to
demonstrate your motivation and a range of skills.
Dont make lists. Reading, films, sport under Interests your answer, use the word count function of your word
will not tell the employer anything useful about you.
So give details of the extent of your interests and your
involvement in clubs, societies and achievements related
to them.
Links to interactive exercises to further your
understanding of completing applications foms are
given at the end of this guide.
Employability 15
Online application forms
Increasingly companies are using online application
forms rather than paper-based ones. They make the
job application more efficient and practical for you and
the recruiter. However most of the same rules apply as
for paper applications its only the medium which is
different so learn good paper-based application skills
first.
Applications are usually sent and handled securely so
that only you and the employer have access to your
details so normally you will have to register and make up
a password.
Some applications allow you to view the whole form
so that you can make a rough draft first. Some questions
may be compulsory and you may not be able to access
the next page until you have filled them in. In either case,
make sure you read the instructions carefully first so you
know what you have to do.
Some forms expect you to complete it one session
and may crash when you submit it, or before, so make
sure you save your answers frequently. Others will be
saving your answers as you go along, so you dont have
to start again if the system crashes. You may be able to
complete at a later point.
You can cut and paste points from your CV or other
applications. Its a good idea to do this for longer
questions and you can re-use some points for use
in further applications. Online forms may not have a
spelling or grammar checker so use your word processor
to allow you to do this. However, remember that spell
checkers cant find all mistakes so try to get someone
else, with a high level of literacy, to check what you have
keyed in.
Never use informal English, as if you were
communicating electronically with friends! As with a
paper application form use good quality English and
give evidence to show relevant skills.
If a question specifies a maximum number of words for
processor. Going over the word count suggests you
cant follow instructions or are not able to make your
answers concise.
Check the form carefully before you click submit. If you
do accidentally submit an incomplete form, ring or email
the company straight away and ask them to delete your
application, so you can start again.
www.ocr.org.uk
 16 Employability Employability 17

Targetjobs.co.uk has a great on line Interviews

simulator for trying out electronic
application forms Getting an interview is an achievement in itself. Only a small proportion
www.selectsimulator.com of applicants are selected for interview so youve already made a positive
impression to have been invited to an interview!
Selection tests
Some online applications also incorporate selection
tests. These may be:
aptitude tests for example, multiple choice verbal PREPARE
and numerical reasoning tests CAREFULLY RESEARCH
THE JOB, INDUSTRY AND BODY LANGUAGE
personality tests matching your responses with
EMPLOYER. PREPARE SMILE, MAKE EYE
profiles of successful employees
ANSWERS TO POSSIBLE CONTACT AND SHAKE
cultural fit tests to see if your values match the QUESTIONS. Dress smartly HANDS
organisations culture. THIS SHOWS YOUR
INTEREST IN THE JOB
Questions about your AND COMMITMENT
There are links to some example aptitude tests at the
end of this guide. CV or application form
MAKE SURE YOU READ
THESE AGAIN CAREFULLY
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

INTERVIEW SKILLS

SELL YOUR USPS (UNIQUE

HAVE QUESTIONS TO ASK
SELLING POINTS)
E.G. WHAT TRAINING
THE SKILLS AND QUALITIES HYPOTHETICAL
WOULD I RECEIVE; HOW
THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT QUESTIONS
MIGHT I PROGRESS IN
FROM OTHER CANDIDATES E.G. HOW WOULD YOU
THIS CAREER?
DEAL WITH AN ANGRY
CUSTOMER
COMPETENCY QUESTIONS
E.G. DESCRIBE A SITUATION
WHERE YOU WORKED IN A
TEAM

www.ocr.org.uk www.ocr.org.uk
 18 Employability
The purpose of the interview
The interviewer has an indication of your suitability from
your CV or application form but now wants to assess you
in person to see if you match the requirements of the
job, how well you express yourself and your motivation
and enthusiasm.
Use the advice below to make the most of the interview
opportunity rather than be fearful of it.
Preparing for an interview
Research the career area for which you are applying and
remind yourself why you are interested in this career.
Enthusiasm is important.
Research the employer too. From the company website,
or using a search engine, find out things like:
Size of the organisation
How long has it been in business
What are its future plans
Who are its main competitors
What sort of reputation or public image does it have
What types of training and development does it
have.
Re-read your application form as if you were the
interviewer and try to anticipate questions that might be
asked. Also think about any awkward points that might
be picked on and how youd handle them.
Take a small notepad and pen with you to jot down any
points you are told during or at the end of the interview.
After the interview, write down any difficult questions
you were asked so you can think of better answers
should you need to in the future.
Prepare some questions to ask the employer.
www.ocr.org.uk
Employability 19
What to wear During the interview Drive was listed as one of the top ten skills that
employers want. Drive is the determination to
Whatever the job, you want the interviewer to remember Shake hands firmly and warmly but wait to be invited
get things done, to make things happen and to
you for your personality and performance not the one to sit down. A firm handshake may communicate
look for better ways of doing things. This may be
with the weird tie/the short skirt/the nose stud etc. If sociability and friendliness which are usually desirable
regarded by some employers as more important
you look smart you will feel confident and make a good qualities whilst weak handshakes may indicate being
than sheer intelligence. Drive or determination may
first impression. Once you have the job, you can wear introverted or shy. As a handshake is at the start of the
be assessed on application forms and at interviews
whatever the employer approves of (many organisations interview it sets a positive tone.
by asking you questions about when you faced a
have a dress code).
Smile and keep up good eye contact with the challenge or made a significant achievement in your
So the first rule of dressing for interviews is you cant interviewer. life. You may be able to evidence this through your
go wrong by being boring and conventional! interests, for example, training for a sporting event
You may be offered tea or coffee. Accept this if you feel
or learning to play a musical instrument to a high
You may well be interviewed by someone as old as your it will help you relax but its fine to refuse, politely.
grandparents so ask them what they think of your choice grade.
Try to relax. Dont perch on the edge of your chair but
of clothes for the interview rather than a friend of your
dont slouch either. Try not to fidget.
own age.
Speak clearly and not too fast. Give yourself a moment Links to interactive exercises to further your
understanding of interviews are given at the end of
to think before replying. Try to avoid phrases like you
this guide.
Arriving for the interview know.
Plan how you will get to the venue allow time for
traffic jams or the bus/train being late. You could even
There are no right or wrong answers to interview
try out the journey in advance? Aim to arrive about 10
questions. The impression you give, is as important as
minutes early. (Certainly arriving late will not display
what you say. Try to be yourself; if you have to put on a
your employability to best effect!) Time waiting in
completely false act to get through the interview, will it
reception can help you to prepare yourself. There may
really be the right job for you?
be publications about the employer or their industry to
read and youll have chance to relax and focus before
you go in. Be polite and friendly to everyone you meet,
including receptionists and security staff.
First impressions
These are very important as they set the tone for the
rest of the interview. Many interviewers will make
a decision about the candidate within the first two
or three minutes. Snap judgements may be made
about your trustworthiness, attractiveness, likeability,
competitiveness and aggressiveness and the rest of the
interview will confirm or deny these opinions.
Interviewers may be put off by a weak handshake or
lack of eye contact, by poor body language or by poor
posture. For example, slumped shoulders suggest lack of
confidence.
Smiling appears to be a central ingredient
for successfully interviewing for a job.
www.ocr.org.uk
 20 Employability
Employment legislation
There is a wide variety of employment legislation to protect your
rights and safety at work, to ensure that you are treated fairly, receive a
minimum wage and paid leave.
An employer must have policies and procedures
to make sure that all employees are aware of their
rights and responsibilities under these laws. This will
normally be done through induction when you start
work, your contract of employment and, depending on
the employer, you will have a staff handbook so that
important information is easily accessible to you.
It is also important to know what your employer expects
of you, what you are entitled to in return for wages and
the procedures you must follow to be safe at work and
keep within the law. You should refer carefully to the
documentation provided by the employer. If youd like to
find out more about employment legislation, see OCRs
skills guide on legislation, available from www.ocr.org.uk.
The Employment Rights Act 1996
This Act requires certain terms and conditions to be
set out in a single written document which must be
provided to employees within two months of starting
work. The terms and conditions will include statutory
rights those protected by law and contractual rights
those negotiated between the employer and the
employee.
The written statement must include:
the names of the employer and the employee
the date on which employment began and when
continuous employment began
rate of pay, intervals of payment and any other
benefits
hours of work
holiday entitlement
place of work and the address of the employer
the job title and a brief description of the role
the period for which employment (if temporary) is
expected to continue
www.ocr.org.uk
Employability 21
Employment Act (2008)
This Act strengthens, simplifies and clarifies key aspects
of UK employment law and brings together parts of
previous employment legislation.
It sets out details for resolving disputes between
the employer and employee, makes changes to the
enforcement of the national minimum wage and
strengthens the powers of Employment Agency
Standards inspectors.
any collective agreements affecting terms and
conditions, for example, employment issues pre- Source: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
agreed between the employer and trade unions www.bis.gov.uk
affecting all workers
The Citizens Advice Bureau website gives information
terms relating to sickness, notification of sickness, about your rights at work
pay relating to this period and rules relating to
www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/employment/basic_
statutory sick pay *
rights_at_work.htm
n d inge n
sta idanc icatios
pension arrangements r
e n l on g
undng gummue skilucatiarnin
length of notice that the employee is entitled to
rnies co ledg g ed g le ationent
receive or required to give to terminate employment e a
l rc ow nin din nic ym
ou n ai s
disciplinary rules and procedure as well as the
n u o
r s stry knt trderstaommempl
e o u rce
u e c n res lls
appeals and grievance procedure. * ind loymion unrces skillsficationce e skicati
p u i a g fi
additional details in working outside of the UK for emlificat resoledgequal guid wledquali ourc
a e o s s
more than one month. qu danc knowationrningry knation ce re skill
gui ustry educg leandusteducuidanledgeualific
* This information may be in a separate document so indiningandinion i ning ng gknowon q reso
that its easy to access. tra derst nicatt traiearni stry ucati ancedge
un mmu men ing l indu g ed guidowleucatio
co ploy tand tion ainin ning ry kn ed arnin
The above are the legal minimum terms and conditions em ders unicant tr lear dust ining g le icati
un mm yme ding n in t traandin mun mp
but most contracts contain other items too such as co plo stan catio men erst com ills e cat
method of payment, maternity entitlements and terms emnder uni ploy und rces sk alifi gu
for altering or varying the contract. u mm em tion sou edge qu ing o
co kills ifica e re owl tion arn icati
s ual anc kn uca g le un e
Self-employed workers, some trainees and those q uid stry ed din mm ledg en
working for less than a month are not covered by these g ndu ing tan co ow ym
i rain ers rces kn plo
provisions. t und ou stry em ing
res indu kills train
s
www.ocr.org.uk
 22 Employability
Ongoing training and development
Lifelong learning is one of the skills that employers have identified
as being of importance to employability for current and future
roles. Enthusiasm and motivation to continue training, and learning,
throughout your life using both formal and informal learning is likely to
increase your employability and lead to a fulfilling career. Existing skills
can be developed and improved and new skills can be acquired.
It is not sufficient to think that you have the skills -
you have to be able to provide convincing evidence
too. Deconstruct your social, study and employment
activities to reveal and evaluate the skills that you
regularly use. Make use of your existing involvement in
extra-curricular activities, undertaking work experience,
part-time work, volunteering and involvement in clubs
or societies or consider becoming involved in such
activities. The knowledge and experience acquired will
add to the skills acquired through academic study.
Employability skills mean that an employee adds value to
the organisation and has the skills and qualities to help
organisations move on in the face of continuous and
rapid economic and technological change.
Underpinning all these attributes, the key
foundation must be a positive attitude:
a can-do approach, a readiness to take
part and contribute, openness to new
ideas and a drive to make these happen.
Source: http://www.cbi.org.uk/media/1121435/cbi_uuk_
future_fit.pdf - CBI report entitled Future Fit
www.ocr.org.uk
Employability 23
Resources
Some of the following resources could be helpful to audit your
employability skills and improve your CV, completing application forms
and coping with interviews:
Moving On is a free resource from the BT Learning and The following resources are reproduced with permission
Skills programme which offers easy-to-follow online of the University of Kent Careers Advisory Service www.
modules to help young adults aged 14-19 to learn more kent.ac.uk/careers who own copyright.
about themselves, the skills they need in life and work
Contact Bruce Woodcock (bw@kent.ac.uk) for details.
and how best to develop and demonstrate these as they
identify and apply for jobs that are a good fit for their
personality, interests and skills. Available as an iPhone What are your strengths?:
app too:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/strengths.htm
www.btplc.com/Responsiblebusiness/
Supportingourcommunities/Learningandskills/ Identify your work related interests:
Freeresources/ResourceView.aspx?id=58 www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/InterestsProfile.htm
Personal Skills Journey consists of a series of twelve Analyse your employability skills:
PDF downloads designed to provide young people
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsinventory.html
with knowledge and skills to help in the transition from
learning to the wider world:
www.btplc.com/Responsiblebusiness/ Which jobs will suit my skills?:
Supportingourcommunities/Learningandskills/ www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsjobs.htm
Freeresources/Personalskillsjourney/index.htm
I want to work in :
Careersbox have worked together to identify seven
fundamental stages of the interview process and www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm
presented them in fun and educational bite size levels:
www.careersbox.co.uk/films/level7/ Skills game - Match the employability skills with their
descriptions:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/cards5.html
Explore your skills and match them to world of work and
training opportunities:
www.careersbox.co.uk/skillsexplorer/ CV quiz:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cvquiz.htm
Good and bad covering letters:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/goodbadcovlet.htm
General application form:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/exampleaf1.htm
www.ocr.org.uk
 24 Employability
Bad application form:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/badaf.htm

Difficult application form:

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/difficultapplications.htm

Psychometric tests:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/psychotests.htm

Interviews - Common questions and how to answer

them:
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/ivquest.htm

Interview skills quiz:

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/ivquiz.htm

Body language quiz:

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/nvc.htm

Time management quiz:

n d ing
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/time.htm d e rsta ces try ent
un ing esourindusloymation e
rn r p c c
lea ance ationls emualifi uidaunstry
d ic il q g
gui munge sk tion ning n indnt
a r o
comwled educg leanicati oymeation ce
knoiningandinmmu empl alific uidanustry
traderstes coskillson quing gn indnt
un ourc dge ucati learnicatiooymeation
res owleg ed ing mun mpl alific
kn inin stand com ills en qu ing
tra der rces e sk atio earn y
un sou ledg educ ng l rces dustr
re now ng ndi sou n in
k aini rsta e re atio kills
tr nde anc nic e s nt
u uid mu edg me
g om owl loy ing
CONTACT c kn US p in
em tra
Staff at the OCR Customer Contact Centre are available to
take your call between 8am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
Were always delighted to answer questions and give advice.

Telephone 01223 553998

www.ocr.org.uk
www.ocr.org.uk