July 15 is World Youth Skills Day, who’s aim is to “recognize the strategic importance of equipping young people with skills for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, and to highlight the crucial role of skilled youth in addressing current and future global challenges”, as described by UNESCO-UNEVOC. In other words, World Youth Skills Day is a time to remember the importance of getting our youths ready to be successful young adults in the real world.
With a focus on employment, we want to do our part in educating youths to be successful in the workplace. We have highlighted 3 key areas: interview, job performance and getting ahead.
Interview
The interview is one of the most important aspects of employment. It is your potential employer’s first impression of your character and will determine whether you will get a job. Here are our top tips for a successful interview:
1. Be on time. It is best to be a few minutes early.
2. Check how you look. Wear clean, professional clothes.
3. Have a positive attitude. Show enthusiasm to be there.
4. Bring a copy of your resume and references.
5. Don’t chew gum during your interview, but it’s a good idea to bring a mint.
6. Try not to say things like “ummm” or “hmmm”.
It’s also good to be prepared with answers to questions they might ask you. Think of questions that they might ask. A good way to come up with questions is to think of the kind of job it is. Will you deal with people? You may be asked about how you treat your customers. Will you need to work with money? You may be asked about your math skills. Download this free Mind Map to get started with potential questions an interviewer may ask. Fill in the empty bubbles with any other questions you can think of.
Job Performance
How you act on the job is important, as it can either lead to greater things, or help you lose your job. Here are the DOs and DON’Ts for workplace behavior:
Getting Ahead
Thriving on the job is an important step for youths to move up at their place of work. They can receive promotions, or be transferred to new cities, or gain valuable skills and relationships that can help when looking for another job someplace else. Here are some strategies to help you thrive in the workplace:
Be On Time – We’ve already discussed how being on time is an important step throughout each employment stage. It’s no different here. Being on time and ready to work will show that you are reliable.
Be Prepared – Know what your responsibilities are and what deadlines need to be met. Show that you can start a task without being told. This will show that you have initiative and can work with minimal supervision.
Be Sociable – Make sure you get along with the people around you. This can be your boss, your co-workers, or your customers. Be friendly, but also be professional. This will show that you have good work ethics.
Be Flexible – If you’re done all of your tasks, look around and see what else needs to be done. Don’t wait for direction if you can help it. Don’t be afraid to upgrade your skills. Take classes to learn new things about your job field.
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