Vocational courses are set up to give young people the chance to find out more about the world of work. As well as gaining the practical skills, you also get the chance to learn what are called employability skills. Sometimes these employability skills are studied as a separate unit or half unit, but more usually they are built into the units of each course as they are vitally important to a successful career.

What are employability skills?

Some are fairly obvious and are the things which are required in order to be a responsible employee. In this category are punctuality, timekeeping, and attendance. You will first become aware of these elements in school and they are the first comments teachers are asked when giving a reference. Then come things like politeness, appearance, and getting on with customers and fellow workers.

Soft skills ...

This leads us into the area designated as 'soft skills' where working as part of a team is important, as well as following instructions, setting targets, and being flexible. In many jobs an ability to solve problems is very important. Other jobs will require you to think about what you have done and learn from experiences. All of these play their part in making sure that tasks are carried out smoothly and successfully, and therefore ensuring that the company is successful.

Customer skills ...

In some courses students have to develop skills for meeting customers, making them feel welcome, meeting their needs, and taking payment. This is called customer care and is a core activity in courses such as Hairdressing and Hospitality, and of great importance in both retailing and financial services.

Health and safety ...

A positive attitude to health and safety is important in all jobs and absolutely critical in others. Good health and safety practice may include wearing correct protective clothing, following set procedures, carrying out safety checks, or developing the correct hygiene practices. If you fail to meet some of the health and safety procedures you cannot pass some courses and will not get the course certificate.