What is employability?

Employability refers to your capacity to move self-sufficiently within the job market to secure work; work effectively in that role, and find new work as required. Individuals should be familiar with the concept of employability because in today's more 'transitory' career environment, 'lifetime job security' is so rare. Given the skills it encompasses, employers now give serious consideration to employability when gauging how valuable an investment a potential employee may be for an organisation. Companies want to know that you'll perform well in the role they're offering now, as well as in any new roles or 'versions' of that role that may arise in the future.

Employability relies both on your job-specific knowledge and skills as well as your attitudes and broader 'soft skills'. Being employable is not only about getting the job initially, but also about your ability to take on new responsibilities and roles within an organisation. Qualities of employability are as important in senior positions as they are in junior or graduate roles, and you should always be looking to develop them. However, simply being in possession of employer relevant skills and knowledge is not enough to enable an individual to move self-sufficiently around the job market, it is critical to understand the job market and be capable of strategically exploiting and marketing your assets to current and prospective employers.

Employability assets...

There are three main employability asset types which need to be considered; fundamental, intermediate and high-level:

• Fundamental assets: Punctuality, reliability and integrity in the workplace; your ability to learn new skills as required; and effective planning and completion of workloads.
• Intermediate assets: These include job-specific skills that relate to the industry and the role you're in, but also generic skills such as written and verbal communication, problem-solving, and a sense of initiative and enterprise.
• High level assets: These skills relate to how you contribute to organisational performance, such as team-working, self-management, and also your awareness of new technologies and changing market trends or industries you're working in.

Again, employability is about gaining employment, working effectively in that role, and finding new work as the need arises, either within or outside of your current place of work. Whilst many of the skills listed above seem to relate to performance on the job, they're also extremely relevant when searching for work. An awareness of new technologies and changing markets, an ability to learn new skills, as well as self-management and initiative are all key personal skills required when ascertaining what role you're seeking and how best to gain employment in that role.

Developing your employability...

Many of the qualities of employability are often thought to be things 'you either have or you don't'. This is a fallacy. In fact, unlike some 'hard skills' which can require access to specialised instruction or equipment, the key features of employability can often be gained through practice and self-testing. Being such universally sought after traits, there are countless websites, books and courses on everything from pubic speaking to 'learning how to learn' and 'becoming comfortable with technology'. Regular stocktaking of your employability assets, and development of any areas you may be lacking in, as well as keeping yourself informed of job market trends is an excellent way to ensure you remain (or become!) a valued asset to employers.