How to improve employability as a young person

Research shows that 40% of UK employees don’t have the right qualifications for their current roles which can leave them without the skills and confidence they need to succeed. This can be especially hard for young people struggling to enter the workforce because, in many cases, it is their first real experience of being in the workplace.  

As a consequence, too many young people have been unable to develop the ‘soft skills’ employers are looking for that are not learned in the classroom. These skills can include fundamentals such as reliability, punctuality, work ethic and communication skills.

The qualifications gained at school or college are important – but employers also want to know what ‘employability skills’ you have. These are general skills that employers look for in their workforce – qualities such as being able to communicate well with others or knowing how to work as a team. 

The good news is that you don’t have to be in work to learn them – you can start developing these skills whilst in school or college. 

How can you improve employability as a young person? 

Here are 3 ways we encourage young people to learn new skills and develop their existing ones in order to improve their current and future employability. 

Take an employability or skill development course

There are lots of courses out there aimed at getting young people ready for the workplace. These employability, life skills and skill development courses help to build the key skills employers are looking for while often also improving general life skills.

Total People offer work life skills courses, which are tailored programmes that develop the skills today’s employers are looking for. Not only do they provide excellent work experience opportunities, but they give extra support to young people aged 16 to 18 or aged 19 to 24 with an Education Health and Care (EHC) plan.

Our varied courses aim to nurture young people, allowing them to grow at their own pace and develop the right work and life skills for a successful future.

Our programmes are designed to help young people get ready for an apprenticeship or job if they need extra skills or experience. We focus on ensuring they can achieve the right job know-how for their chosen career while gaining valuable workplace experience.

Sign up to clubs and societies

Young people should seize any opportunity that comes their way, whether it's in school, college, or university. Join clubs and organisations because the abilities you gain from working as part of a team will set you apart from other applicants.

Those who have served as captain of a sports team will find it much simpler to discuss leadership characteristics than those who have not participated in extracurricular activities. Participation in groups and teams indicates organisational abilities, self-management, and teamwork.

Help out in your local community

Employers are searching for the right person for the appropriate job and talking about something you like doing is one approach to position yourself as the ideal candidate. For example, if you are a youthful caregiver for a relative or do the weekly grocery shopping for an elderly neighbour, include it on your CV in order to make your CV stand out to employers. 

Many young people believe that noting this type of experience is irrelevant for job applications, yet employers value it just as much as paid work or volunteering so it is important to always include it on your CV. 

Find out more about apprenticeships for employers or call our team of friendly experts on 0371 705 1059.