Top 5 employability skills that every high school student should develop

The employability of a high school student is not often discussed as the focus is always on the next level of education. In the current educational system, students are trained with the intent to first clear competitive exams and/or prepare for higher studies in Ivy League Universities.

As high school students approach the end of their secondary education they would, nonetheless, have started to think about their future career goals and how to achieve them. While academic success is crucial, it's not the only factor that goes into creating a successful professional life.

Employers often seek candidates who possess a combination of both technical and soft skills. Therefore, it's essential for high school students to develop employability skills that will prepare them for the workforce. In this article, we will discuss the top five employability skills that every high school student should develop. Given that these skills take a long time to build, a focused effort to inculcate these skills must start at the school level itself.

1. Communication Skills

   Effective communication is crucial not just in the workplace but in any relationship, at any stage of one’s life. While the school curriculum focuses on language studies with an introduction to literature, grammar, etc the softer nuances are often missed out.

   Students need to be guided and trained to be good listeners. Empathetic communication taught well can help students deal with issues amongst themselves and in the outside world.

   While high-school classes go through the rut of “letter writing”, the advent of the internet has greatly changed the landscape of communication. In this milieu, schools need to re-evaluate the communication skills that need to be taught to students.

   The age-old mechanism of class discussions and debates, presentations, and writing essays are time-tested ways to improve communication skills in any language. Additionally, drama clubs and elocution teams help the student overcome their inhibitions and enhance their communication skills further. These activities help students learn how to express their ideas clearly, listen to other's opinions, and respond appropriately.

2. Teamwork and Collaboration Skills

   There are very few jobs that do not require a person to interact with other people efficiently to get the job done. Working effectively with others is a skill that every employer holds in high value.

   A handful of students who play team sports at the school level are showcased as the symbol of teamwork. What about the majority that may not be into team sports?

   Project studies that are only introduced at undergraduate levels can be introduced at high school or lower classes even. To work with people of different temperaments, to understand and manage conflict, and be able to collaborate and compromise to progress towards the goal are life skills that would prove to be immensely valuable to students.

   Encouraging students to build a body of work as a volunteer throughout their school life would also help them learn to understand people from different backgrounds, and collaborate across the board to achieve success.

3. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving

   In an era when children are bombarded with visual and auditory stimuli at an unprecedented rate, it becomes very easy to be subjected to manipulative messages.

   The ability to think through the information before them, to reason, and to arrive at logical conclusions, therefore, assumes paramount importance.

   Moreover, critical thinking promotes self-reliance, increases creativity, and stimulates curiosity. Children who are raised to think critically ask plenty of questions and never accept information at face value; they are always curious as to the "why" behind events.

   Students can improve their critical thinking and problem-solving skills by participating in activities that require them to solve complex problems. For example, they can join math clubs, science teams, and robotics clubs. These activities help students learn how to analyze information, evaluate options, and develop solutions.

4. Time Management

   School children, perhaps, face the biggest dichotomy around time - they have their whole life ahead of them but they do not have any time left in their day as it is filled with classes, additional coaching classes, and extra-curricular activities.

   While at school, they follow a timetable and may engage in a lot of activities. But a large part of it may not be a conscious, mindful act on their part. Parents and teachers can encourage students to plan their schedules and help adjust the same to achieve optimal results.

   Such training which will help them prioritize tasks, manage their schedules, and meet deadlines will go a long way in managing their lives beyond school.

5. Adaptability and Flexibility

   Children are more adaptable and flexible than adults. But as they grow up, many seem to lose this inborn ability. It is perhaps the result of fear setting in - the fear of stepping out of one’s comfort zone, the fear of taking risks, the fear of failure, and so on.

   This is yet another “skill” that needs to be inculcated early on. While aspects like Time Management imply a certain rigidity, every once in a while, children need to be assured that it is ok to move away from rigid routines.

   Young adults observe and learn more. Therefore the onus is on parents and teachers to lead by example. They need to be given the assurance that it is ok to fail as long as they learn from it and move on.

   Take risks, think through the pros and cons and if the decision turns out to be a mistake, help the children to adapt and move ahead.

   Students can be encouraged to move out of their comfort zones. For example, they can join exchange programs, study abroad programs, and summer camps. Working on special projects for the underprivileged in society will also go a long way in helping to adapt to new circumstances.

   Today, students are spoilt for choice. But that does not always mean they do not need structure and guidance. A carefully planned educational system that is also constantly monitored for course correction will go a long way to ensuring that our children get the best possible support and training.