THE ACE OF SOFT SKILLS: ENHANCING

EMPLOYABILITY

Heenaba ZalaDept. of English

M. K. Bhavnagar Universityheenabazala05@gmail.com

Why this? What is the purpose this

discussion? Facing an interview http://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=5tfcfsijXyk

Two types of Skills:

Skills

Soft Skills

Hard Skills

The difference between Soft skills and Hard skills:

Soft skills: Soft skills is an abstract concept. Soft skills are behavioral skills. Soft skills are essential to reach from bottom to top. Soft skills stay forever.

Hard skills: Hard skills are technical. Hard skills are specific and teachable. Hard skills may get defunct over a period of time due to the changing technology.

Soft skills:

Soft skills are those skills – over and above the technical knowledge and expertise in the chosen field – required for and individual to relate to and survive and succeed in his or her environment.

Characteristics of Soft Skills: Soft skill are that ‘touchy freely stuff’ Soft skills are conspicuous by their

absence in an individual Soft skills apply across the board to an

industry Soft skills are not ‘quantifiable’ and tend

to be subjective Defining ‘how good a person’s soft skills

are’ is somewhat culture dependent.

The changing business environment and its impact on Soft Skills:

Mushrooming of demands “Tear that wall down”- by Ronald

Reagan. It’s TECHNOLOGY. Technology has

changed the business dramatically. Geography is a history. Cross cultural interaction: Linguistic

barrier and Cultural difference http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-

bHA6IR-QI

How to succeed in Business world? How to create “A Room of One’s Own”?

Success

Etiquette

Communication

Attitude

ACE dimensions of Soft skills:

Etiquette“How to

do”

Attitude“want to

do”

Communication

“What to do”

Attitude: Attitude is about having the right mental make-up and a desire to interact with the people and environment. It requires the willingness and ability to blend oneself with the environment.

Communication: Communication is the ability to express that attitude, conviction and technical skills in a form that can effectively reach the intended audience and persuade them to take the actions that one desires them to take.

Etiquette: Etiquette are commonly accepted protocols, norms and conventions that are needed to be followed to achieve effective communication.

Problems at workplace: Different people, different mentality Work pressure Language barrier Cultural difference Fail to work as a team

Employability skills:

THANK YOU