CI4400 Employability Asset AuditThe purpose of an employability asset model is to enable you

to identify the strengths and weaknesses in your current knowledge and skills profile, and to support you acquire those

assets needed to make a flying start to your professional career in a systematic manner. The key to such planning is to

conduct an audit of your assets and to ensure that you have at your fingertips the evidence that will enable employers to

recognise that they need you in their team!

Task 1 – Review the asset modelTask duration: 10 minutes

Review the employability asset model introduced in the lecture. In particular, ensure you understand what is meant by the following terms:

domain knowledge professional knowledge key skills personal attributes evidence

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Notes

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Task 2 Auditing your KnowledgeTask duration: 30 minutes

Step 1 – Identifying your domain knowledge

Review the domain knowledge, methodological skills, and technical skills you have acquired so far on your other level four modules. If you could only discuss ten items in a job application, which would you choose?

1. PythonProgramming 1In this module I was learning about python and gained some basic knowledge of the programming language

2. Introduction to Java

Programming 1In this module I was learning the basics of Java programming language

3. Programming in JavaScript

Programming 1I have gained basic knowledge of JavaScript programming language in this module

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4. eCommerce

IT ToolboxIn this module I was learning about what e-commerce is and gained deep understanding of this topic

5. Social MediaIT ToolboxThey are interactive Web 2.0 Internet-based applications, where users can post content.

6. Search & Research Tools

IT ToolboxAnalysis of the most popular search engine “Google”

7. Digital trendsIT ToolboxGained knowledge of what digital trends there are out there so keeping up with the trends skills gained

8. Web prototyping (html & CSS)IT ToolboxHypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language for creating web pages and web applications. Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in a markup language.

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9. Web development methodology (AJAX)IT ToolboxAjax is a set of Web development techniques using many Web technologies on the client side to create asynchronous Web applications.

10. Scripting language for Web Prototyping (PHP)

IT ToolboxPHP is a server-side scripting language designed primarily for web development but also used as a general-purpose programming language.

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Step 2 – Identifying your professional knowledge

Beyond your subject knowledge, employers will expect you to demonstrate a range of non-technical competences including the ability to critically assess your work from legal, ethical and societal points of view, an ability to identify the security risks and remedies in systems you will be using or building, and an appreciation of the commercial environments in which your employer operates.Identify five examples of drawn from any of these areas (either from your course or previous experience) that demonstrate you have this wider professional knowledge.

1. Logical and Structured ThinkingProgramming 1thinking outside the box in order to solve problems with software

2. Attention to DetailProgramming 1

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Everything has to be taken seriously and code has to checked properly to prevent errors from accruing

3. Research Research for College Assignments Good research skills gained through practice, finding information on the internet and referencing

4. Strategy planning and managementBusiness modulePlanning is done in order to be focused on the goal and constantly going in a direction to achieve it.

5. Organising the knowledge and informationBusiness moduleOrganisation is a very important aspect. Organising work is important as it keeps everything in place and is therefore easier to use and to look into.

Which areas of professional knowledge would you struggle to demonstrate an awareness of?

Leadership

Communication

Being Patient

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Add new rows as needed

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Task 3 Key SkillsTask duration: 20 minutes

Step 1 – Key skills required in your profession

Search on the Internet for job adverts from a variety of types of jobs in your prospective profession. Identify the key skills each of the employers expects. (Bear in mind that skills required for a new graduate early in their career are very different from the skills expected from more experienced personnel.)

1. Data scientistGoogleBusiness analysis, project management, creativity ,communication and data analysis

2. Product managerAppleLeadership, project management, customer service, Strategy, product marketing

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3. EngineerMicrosoftA creative approach to problem solving, a good understanding of customer care, Excellent interpersonal skills, Good team working abilitiesGood project management skills

4. DesignerAppleCreativity and innovation, Accuracy and attention to detail, Professional approach to time, costs and

deadlines, Excellent time management and organisational skills

5. Network EngineerFacebook

good communication skills, problem solving, a high level of patience

Step 2 – Your top ten skills for the next two years

Make a prioritised list of the top ten key skills you would like to be able to provide evidence for when you finish your

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university studies.

1. project management

2. good communication skills

3. problem solving

4. Excellent time management and organisational skills

5. A creative approach to problem solving

6. data analysis

7. product marketing

8. Good team working abilities

9. Excellent interpersonal skills

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Ability to work under pressure

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Task 4 – Personal AttributesStep 1 – Personal attributes valued by employers

Revisit the job adverts you used in Task 3 and record the range of personal attributes employers in your chosen profession value. Synthesising a large number of such qualities, what would be the top ten you should be able to provide evidence for in your employability portfolio?

1. Honest

2. Organized

3. Determination and Persistence

4. Problem-Solving Skills

5. Loyal

6. Flexible

7. Genuine

8. Fast

9. Sensible

10. Trustworthy

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Step 2 – References – who knows you best?

Providing evidence for personal attributes can be difficult. One source of evidence nearly always sought by prospective employers is a reference. Typically three references are sought. If you can, write down the name, job title, and work address of three people of a professional or commercial standing who could give you a reference? Which of the personal attributes identified in Step 1 could they vouch for?

Reference 1Name Maria CebotariJob Title TeacherWork Address 7 derwent walk, sm6 0ub,

wallinton,surreyPersonal Attributes Organised, Sensible, Fast

Reference 2Name Yannick PierreJob Title Store ManagerWork Address McDonald's, Sutton - 168/172 High St

SM2

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Personal Attributes Organised, Responsible, Trustworthy

Reference 3Name Mr D JonesJob Title TeacherWork Address Greenshaw High School. Grennell

Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 3DYPersonal Attributes Organised, Responsible

If you do not have three referees yet (or if you think one of the above will not be able to give you a reference when you graduate), what professional relationships over the next few years could you build that might create a new referee?

Potential refereeType of personHow will they come to know you?Which of your personal attributes do you hope they could vouch for?

Potential refereeType of personHow will they come to know you?Which of your

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personal attributes do you hope they could vouch for?

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The STAR TechniqueThis is a classic approach for answering questions which enables you to give the interviewers a well-structured answer that makes it easy for them to assess you against the person specification. It provides you with a structure to shape your answer, preventing you from waffling or going off on a tangent. Situation: Provide the context which might include where you

were working at the time, what your role was, and any brief background information.

Task: You need to communicate what you were trying to do or achieve in the example.

Action: Describe what actions you took to manage the task in that particular situation.

Result: Show how you made a difference, added value, or had an impact on the business. The outcome could be measurable or simply anecdotal.

Remember, it is impossible to have a successful interview without proper preparation, so putting in the time to prepare some Star examples is more likely to win you the job.

Step 3 – Case Studies – telling stories!

Other sources of evidence for personal attributes are prepared answers for interviews. These stories (or perhaps case study is a more respectable term!) are typically examples of how you demonstrated a particular personal quality or key skill. They are often structured using the STAR Technique described in the opposite page and should be memorised.

For each of the personal attributes you identified in Step 1, if possible, identify a situation or circumstance that you could develop LATER into a case study. Some situations might work for more than one personal attribute, and some personal attributes might have more than one case study.

1. Honest- Admitting to my actions if I’m the one who made the mess and should take responsibility and clean it up.

2. Organized- When there is an important group task, everyone should be involved and getting on with the task. Everything you do should be up to standards.

3. Determination and Persistence- When there is a deadline and work has to be completed so goals are set in order to get through the task.

4. Problem-Solving Skills – When a difficult customer comes into my store.

5. Loyal- Standing up for my colleagues when they need help with something and not turning away from them.

6. Flexible – When I’m asked to do a longer shift at my job to get more accomplished, stepping out of comfort

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zone.7. Genuine – When I’m being open about a problem that

has occurred. So if I’m struggling with coding, I need to be open about it and ask for assistance.

8. Fast – When the task is done quickly such as doing the research quickly.

9. Sensible – When a procedure has to be carried out with a good, thoughtful approach such as a solution to a coding problem.

10. Trustworthy- When I’m put in charge of the store front, I’m responsible and trusted to be in charge of something important.

Note for the future – you can use case studies to evidence your key skills as well as your personal qualities.

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