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Plan to Achieve Career Excellence

Welcome to PACE! This is an e-learning program designed to guide you through a career planning process. For more information please consult your high school guidance counsellor or employment counsellor at the Department of Post secondary, Education, Training and Labour.

Welcome to Module 4: Workplace Essential Skills

This represents the fourth step of a five part career planning process; 1 2 3 4 5 Identifying Interests Researching Careers The Action Plan Workplace Essential Skills Job Search Strategies In researching you career (

Module 2

), you should have identified formal training (

Module 3

) that you will require to attain your career goal. While the technical, occupation specific skills are important, a diploma or certification will not guarantee you employment nor advancement in your career.

Employers from across Canada and in all types of industries have developed a "wish list" of skills they feel should be added to a person's formal training if they hope to have a long and successful career.

Workplace Essential Skills

The Essential Skills listed on the right are the skills needed for work, learning and life. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to evolve with their jobs and adapt to workplace change.

Through extensive research, the Government of Canada and other national and international agencies have identified and validated nine Essential Skills. These skills are used in nearly every occupation and throughout daily life in different ways and at different levels of complexity.

For more information on the Essential Skills, visit: http://www.esdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/les//index.shtml

Reading Text Document Use Numeracy Writing Skills Oral Communication Working with Others Continuous Learning Thinking Skills Computer Use

Reading Text

Reading Text refers to reading material that is in the form of sentences or paragraphs. It generally involves reading notes, letters, memos, manuals, specifications, regulations, books, reports or journals.

Did you know?

On average, 48% of the Canadian population aged 16 and over scored at the lowest two levels in the prose domain of literacy. The proportion in Newfoundland and Labrador was 55%; in New Brunswick, 56%; and in Quebec, 55%.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily quotidien/051109/dq051109a-eng.htm

• • • • •

Tips to improve your reading skills:

Commit to reading a novel for pleasure every month. Read to your children. Challenge yourself occasionally by researching a topic you are interested in, but know very little about. Expand your vocabulary by picking up a dictionary and learn a couple of new words each week. Seek professional help if you have been diagnosed with a learning disability or medical condition that effects your ability to read.

Resources:

http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newISS_00.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Reading-Skills © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Document Use

Document use refers to; • reading/interpreting documents • the writing/completing/producing of documents.

These two uses of documents often occur simultaneously as part of the same task, e.g., completing a form, checking off items on a list of tasks) It also refers to print and non-print media (computer screen, equipment gauges)

Did you know?

Higher levels of numeracy skill are associated with lower unemployment rates and higher earnings in all countries. However, approximately one third of adults score in the two lowest levels of numeracy proficiency and, in most countries, this is true of at least 50% of the adult population.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-604-x/2011001/con-eng.htm

Tips to improve Document Use skills;

• Make a graph/spreadsheet of your budget, hockey pool, or other statistics you want to track • Complete job applications • Read technical publications or reports • Purchase products that are not pre-assembled and follow the directions • Learn how to operate a piece of machinery or electronic equipment

Resources:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2020058_create-spreadsheet excel.html

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/jobapplications/a/jobapplicatio n.htm

http://measureup.towes.com/english/practice.asp?Selection

=Document_Use © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Numeracy Skills

Numeracy skills refer to the workers' use of numbers and their being required to think in quantitative terms.

Did you know?

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/89-604 x/2011001/con-eng.htm

Tips to improve Numeracy Skills

• Create a personal/household budget and maintain it. • Take a tax preparation course (you could earn a little money too!) • Meet with a financial advisor and ask questions about investment products/strategies. • Perform activities that require measurement (cooking, carpentry, etc)

Resources:

http://www.math.com/ http://www.learner.org/interactives/dailymath/ http://www.lessonplanet.com/ © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Writing Skills

Writing skills refers to writing texts and writing in documents (filling in forms) as well as non-paper-based writing (typing on a computer).

Did you know?

This suggests that a significant proportion of the population of these jurisdictions is at risk of not being able to fully reach their social and economic potential.

http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily quotidien/051109/dq051109a-eng.htm

Tips to improve Writing Skills

• Write letters to friends and family members.

• Set up a Blog or website and document your thoughts, opinions or post interesting stories. • Enroll in a writing class or course that encourages you to write reports and essays. • Submit articles to your local newspaper (letters to the editor, etc.) • Keep a daily journal or diary

Resources:

http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/effWrite.asp

http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/WritingSkills.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Improve-Your-Writing-Skills © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Oral Communication

Oral Communication pertains primarily to the use of speech to give and exchange thoughts and information by workers in an occupational group.

Did you know?

The fear of public speaking is called glossophobia.

Some surveys and research results show that most people have less fear of death than of talking in front of a live audience. Three out of every four individuals suffer from speech anxiety.

Speech Topics Help, Advice and Ideas http://www.speech-topics-help.com/fear-of-public speaking-statistics.html

Tips to improve Oral Communication

• Find opportunities to meet new people • Become a volunteer • Become involved in a local theatre group • Offer to do a presentation at work/school • Join a sports team or hobby group • Work in a customer service position

Resources:

http://www.volunteercentresj.com/ http://www.toastmasters.org/ http://www.wikihow.com/Communicate-Effectively © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Working with Others

Working with others examines the extent to which employees work with others to carry out their tasks. Do they have to work co-operatively with others' Do they have to have the self-discipline to meet work targets while working alone.

Did you know?

About nine out of 10 Canadian workplaces today employ up to four generations of workers and nearly half of the Canadians who work in a multi-generation environment admit to experiencing a clash with older or younger workers, according to a new poll by Monster Canada. http://content.monster.ca/13258_en CA_p1.asp

Tips on improving your Teamwork skills

• Join a sports team (as a participant or coach) • Volunteer as a committee member • Seek out opportunities that require you to act in a organizational/supervisory capacity • Work in an area of customer service • Get to know your coworkers/classmates • Make it a priority to understand what makes your boss happy

Resources:

http://www.volunteercentresj.com/ http://www.personalitydimensions.com

/ © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Continuous Learning

More and more jobs require continuous upgrading, and all workers must continue learning in order to keep or to grow with their jobs.

The following are important components of learning: •

knowing how to learn

•

understanding one's own learning style

•

knowing how to gain access to a variety of materials, resources and learning opportunities Did you know?

Up to 70% of today’s new and replacement jobs require post-secondary credentials. © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Tips to encourage Continuous Learning

• Watch educational programming • Resolve to do one new thing every day (keep it small and simple) • Volunteer to do a job that no one else is willing to do • Talk less, listen more

Resources:

http://www.ehow.com/ http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Free online training resources!

http://workroom.homestead.com/online-training resources.html

Thinking and Problem Solving

Thinking Skills differentiates between five different types of cognitive functions. However, these functions are interconnected.

Did you know?

70,000 is the number of thoughts that it is estimated the human brain produces on an average day.

Did you know…

day by a single human brain than by all the telephones in the world. The energy used by the brain is enough to light a 25 watt bulb.

http://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/fun_fa cts_about_the_brain.html

Tips to improve Thinking and Problem Solving

• Do puzzles (crossword, jigsaw, games) • Read material that challenges you to think • Keep up to date on news and current events • Look for better ways of doing things • Repair something that has broken instead of replacing it • Help someone in need

Resources:

http://www.freepuzzles.com/ http://www.sharpbrains.com/ http://www.braingle.com/ © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

Computer Use

Computer Use indicates the variety and complexity of computer use within the occupational group.

Did you know?

The number of text messages sent every day is twice the population of the planet.

exceeds 10,000,000,000!

90% of the world’s data has DOUBLED in the last 2 years!

Tips on improving Computer skills

• Purchase or obtain regular access to a computer • Take courses on how to use the internet and common software applications • Keep updated on new technologies (Blu-ray, digital music formats, Smart phones, etc) • Use email and social networking sites as part of your communication strategy with friends • Set up online banking, bill payment and/or to make a purchase through an online vendor

Resources: Did you know…

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/ http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/ http://www.cnbb.nb.ca/ © The Work Room (www.careersthatwork.ca) 10142014SC

What do I do with this information?

A good strategy is to develop a skills inventory based on the essential skills. A skills inventory helps you to discover your strengths and weaknesses. This could help you to discover career options based on your talents.

Developing a skills inventory is invaluable in preparing you for job interviews, as you can easily discuss you skills with an employer and provide examples.

A skills inventory is a three part process:

1. Assess your current skill sets 2. Keep a record of new and/or improved skills as you develop them 3. Re-assess and document your success in your skills

Putting it all Together

Summary of Module 4: Workplace Essential Skills

This step is about developing skill sets that will help you secure employment and perform to a high standard in your career.

The skill sets that employers feel are essential to success in any job are;

Reading Text Oral Communication Document Use Working with Others Numeracy Continuous Learning Writing Skills Thinking Skills Computer Use

Every one of these essential skills are introduced and developed through the school system. Mastery of these skills requires your dedication to keep practicing and continuously learning.

Putting it all Together

A career planning workbook and career coaching guide for parents are available from a Work Room coordinator as part of the PACE e-learning modules. In the workbooks are exercises that you can complete and track your career plan (an example is shown on the right).

No matter what methods you use to build a

skills inventory , make sure you keep a

record. It could be in a diary, personal blog or lists stuck to your refrigerator. Just make sure it is somewhere that is prominent and noticeable every day.

Reward yourself as you acquire new skills and find ways to keep them sharp through practice.

Congratulations!

You have completed

Module 4: Workplace Essential Skills

of the PACE e-learning series.

You can revisit this module at any time to review the material or visit website links and resources that it contains.

If you are working on your career plan with an employment counsellor, guidance counsellor or career coach, you should discuss with them the information contained in this module before proceeding to the next module in the series.

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Transcript Slide 1

Plan to Achieve Career Excellence

Welcome to Module 4: Workplace Essential Skills

Workplace Essential Skills

Reading Text Document Use Numeracy Writing Skills Oral Communication Working with Others Continuous Learning Thinking Skills Computer Use

Reading Text

Tips to improve your reading skills:

Document Use

Tips to improve Document Use skills;

Numeracy Skills

Tips to improve Numeracy Skills

Writing Skills

Tips to improve Writing Skills

Oral Communication

Tips to improve Oral Communication

Working with Others

Tips on improving your Teamwork skills

Continuous Learning

Tips to encourage Continuous Learning

Thinking and Problem Solving

Tips to improve Thinking and Problem Solving

Computer Use

Tips on improving Computer skills

What do I do with this information?

Putting it all Together

Putting it all Together

Congratulations!

Module 4: Workplace Essential Skills

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