Session 2: Unlocking core skills for personal and professional growth

Introduction

Have you observed a growing trend in recent years where job advertisements and requirements emphasise core skills and personal qualities? For example, a job description for a role at the Open University outlines the requirement for effective communication, initiative, and leadership amongst other skills. Meanwhile, a role at Sport England specifies organisational and interpersonal skills. Why not undertake a quick search for a job advert that aligns with your desired position. It would be beneficial to explore the skills employers typically seek for that role. Are these skills already within your possession, or do you need to further cultivate them?

Figure 1 Three men playing basketball

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Three men playing basketball. One player is using a wheelchair.

Figure 1 Three men playing basketball

As a reminder from the previous session, these skills can be referred to as ‘employability skills’, rather than technical (or hard) skills which focus more on the knowledge and capabilities that a person possesses.

During this session you are going to delve into the ‘Core Skills’ domain of the Open University’s Employability Framework, which encompasses:

• Communication
• Problem-solving
• Collaboration
• Numeracy
• Digital and information literacy

You will explore how these skills are nurtured through sports activities and subsequently transferred to the professional environment, thereby enhancing your overall competence as an employee and increasing your employability prospects.