About
In this blog, we discuss what are the important skills that help students get a job. In other words, we map core employability skills. This is important for students who go abroad. It is necessary that they understand about what are the job prospects after finishing their course. Every student wants the benefit of a good job and here we explore the skills required. The article is based on research by the Cambridge University Press & Assessment.
What skills do you need to get the job you want?
There has been a lot of research in recent years on this subject. It is clear that international students are more and more focused on employment outcomes after their studies abroad. And that means they need to choose their course carefully.
Making the right decision
The decision making around where and what to study is heavily influenced by the students’ priority to prepare for their careers. Depending on what they want to be once they finish their study, they need to choose the course and university carefully.
English-speaking skills
For many students, building English skills is an important part. This helps them to prepare for their academic programmes abroad. Plus, it also prepares them for the world of work after graduation.
As per research, there is evidence of the links between English proficiency and career success. According to a research in Malaysia, https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/ET-06-2017-0089/full/html “English is essential in improving employability. Initiatives to improve the level of English among [students] must continue to be put in place. University students should be made aware of the different language skills sought by employers early in their university education.”
What is the relation between English proficiency and employment earnings?
More studies have demonstrated similarly strong links between English skills and employment earnings. Therefore, there is stronger focus on graduate outcomes in student planning for study abroad as well. A survey by the QS Intelligence Unit suggested that students see employment prospects as the most important benefit of international education. This was the case even before the pandemic.
A recently released Employability Skills Framework from Cambridge University Press & Assessment throws light. It maps in more detail the types of essential skills that students will need for their careers. The interesting point is that language learning is itself an important way to developing the types of soft skills that are in demand in the labour market.
Languages and Core Skills
Besides English, learning an additional language already involves development of core skills. These are communication, collaboration and critical thinking. This makes the development of these skills especially suited to language learning.
For holistic development of students beyond university learning, languages are useful. They connect you to the world. Also, they are a huge asset in your future choice of career. Whichever university you choose, make sure to learn at least one new language. It opens doors into your future!