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Skills Employers Want and how to get them

Skills Employers Want and how to get them. Lisa Boniface The Centre for Continuing Education McMaster University November 3, 2010. Agenda. Skills employers want Lifelong learning – the concept Career planning Types of education. Skills Employers Want. Technical skills Soft skills.

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Skills Employers Want and how to get them

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  1. Skills Employers Wantand how to get them Lisa Boniface The Centre for Continuing Education McMaster University November 3, 2010

  2. Agenda • Skills employers want • Lifelong learning – the concept • Career planning • Types of education

  3. Skills Employers Want • Technical skills • Soft skills

  4. Skills Employers Want • Employers can train for technical skills • Soft skills take many years to develop • Soft skills trump technical skills • Reported by employers as difficult to find

  5. How many are doing the job today that you thought you would be doing when you were 23?

  6. Lifelong Learning – the concept A typical career path • Get your first “adult” job - through your network • Exposed to a field of work or type of position • Likes and dislikes - Leads to projects, other jobs • Develop skills, understand strengths and preferences

  7. Lifelong Learning – the concept • Years of service ≠ job security • Portfolio of skills • Current and relevant to the market • Constantly develop yourself • Technical + soft skills • Employee and employer need to invest

  8. Career Planning Assess your current position • Do a SWOT analysis • What are you good at, what do you love • Where do you need to develop • Look at performance appraisals • Talk to your supervisor, colleagues, family, friends • Reflect on your career

  9. Career Planning Establish goals and plan • Be purposeful • Where do you want to be in 1, 3, 5 years? • Identify skills for development • Decide how and when you will do this

  10. Career Planning • Do this every 3-5 years • Cyclical – learn from experience • Do it yourself or get help • Spouse, friend • Career counsellor • HR resource person

  11. Stay Informed • What is going on in your field of work? • Read the newspaper and journals • What new skills are going to be required? • Look at job postings • What are other people doing? • Who is getting ahead?

  12. Types of Education Formal education • Value of a University degree • College diplomas • University certificates and diplomas • Graduate, professional school Do something formal a few times throughout your career

  13. Types of Education Professional development • Workshops • Non-credit courses • Lots of soft skill development • Free stuff through your employer • Conferences

  14. McMaster Continuing Education • Certificate and diploma programs • Many lead to professional certification • Professional development courses • Custom training

  15. Types of Education Informal learning • Join a book club • Volunteer • Sports teams • Take on projects – put your hand up • Professional journals • Learn as a staff team • Mentoring

  16. Closing Thoughts • Learning for the sake of learning • Be purposeful and invest in yourself • Develop your portfolio of skills • Be proud of your accomplishments • Be a good example – for your kids

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