FAQs
Unlock the Hidden Skills Employers Really Want — and How to Build Them
What are employability skills?
Employability skills are non-technical, transferable skills and personal attributes that help individuals effectively gain and maintain employment. They include social, emotional, and context-sensitive non-technical skills essential to adapt and thrive at work.
Why are employability skills important?
Employers consistently state that these skills are just as critical—if not more so—than technical skills. They help individuals adapt to different job roles, collaborate with others, handle workplace challenges, and grow professionally.
Are emotional skills like resilience and motivation really considered employability skills?
Absolutely. Skills like emotional self-regulation, motivation despite setbacks, and the ability to collaborate with diverse individuals are highly valued by employers and part of formal frameworks.
What types of employability skills are there?
Employability skills typically fall into three clusters:
Applied Knowledge (e.g. literacy, numeracy, technology use)
Effective Relationships (e.g. communication, teamwork, emotional intelligence)
Workplace Skills (e.g. planning, decision-making, digital adaptability).
What are examples of personal attributes that contribute to employability?
Employers value traits such as reliability, integrity, motivation, adaptability, and resilience.
What else affects my performance at work besides skills?
A range of factors like your autonomy, task complexity, motivation, self-belief, support, cultural norms, and workplace environment affect how well you demonstrate your skills.
Is the Employability Skills Framework used to grade people?
No. It’s a developmental guide — not a grading or scoring system. It’s meant to help individuals understand where they are and how to grow, not to judge their worth.
Can I be ‘good at’ a skill without being an expert?
Yes. The Core Skills for Work Framework breaks down development into five stages: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Capable, Proficient, and Expert. You may be “Capable” in teamwork but only an “Advanced Beginner” in digital tools. Skill development is contextual and gradual.
Why do I struggle with skills I’ve used before in a new job?
Because employability skills are context-dependent. Even if you’ve solved problems or led teams before, a new environment with unfamiliar systems or protocols can temporarily reduce your performance until you adjust.
How do I show my employability skills on a resume or in an interview?
Provide concrete examples using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to show how you used a skill in practice. For example, “Led a team project that required resolving a conflict and delivering the outcome under a tight deadline” demonstrates both teamwork and problem-solving.
What’s a skill most people overlook at work?
Working with roles, rights, and protocols” — understanding how to operate within legal, social, and organizational expectations — is vital and often assumed, not taught.
Can these skills be taught in schools and training programs?
Yes. The Employability Skills Framework is widely used to integrate these competencies into training packages, curricula, and lesson plans at schools, TAFEs, and universities.
Are employability skills assessed formally?
While they are not always graded like academic subjects, some programs use rubrics or assessment tools to measure progress. Educators may also incorporate skill demonstration into project-based assessments or work placements.
Can I be “good at” a skill without being an expert?
Yes. The Core Skills for Work Framework breaks down development into five stages: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Capable, Proficient, and Expert. You may be “Capable” in teamwork but only an “Advanced Beginner” in digital tools. Skill development is contextual and gradual.
Can I learn employability skills through language classes?
Yes. Language learning often naturally develops communication, critical thinking, and cultural awareness — which are essential employability skills. The Cambridge framework even maps this integration.