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Helping School Leavers Know: What Skills Really Matter to Employers
Discover what employers are really looking for in young adults. Learn about the importance of personal qualities, soft skills, and digital literacy in today's job market. Find out how miFuture supports school leavers in building these essential skills.
Gem Hallett
January 27, 2025
Hello Teachers and Parents 👋
As we guide our young adults through their final years of school, it’s important to understand what employers are really looking for.
Surprisingly, it’s not about the subjects, grades and qualifications they have.
We speak to your school leavers all the time and the level of stress and anxiety that’s caused by outdated advice or perceptions of what employers actually want is heartbreaking - so let’s change that today!
Employers know school leavers don’t have advanced skill sets and years of experience, and they also don’t care what grades they got in History or Geography in year 10! They are more keen than ever to know who these young individuals are as people, the qualities they possess, and the soft skills and digital literacy they’ve developed so far.
Why Personal Qualities Matter
Employers value qualities like reliability, collaboration, resilience an self motivation. These traits can often be more important than specific qualifications because they show whether a young person can fit into a company’s culture and if they’ll contribute positively.
💡Encouraging our school leavers to develop and understand how they demonstrate these qualities will help them stand out when it comes to application or interview time.
The Importance of Soft Skills
Soft skills are those non-technical skills that relate to how we work.
They include things like communication, planning and organising, problem-solving, and time management. These skills are crucial because they help young adults navigate the workplace, collaborate with colleagues, and handle challenges effectively.
💡Employers know that these skills are developed over time and through various experiences, not just in the classroom. Helping young adults reflect on times they’ve demonstrated these skills is good self awareness and interview preparation.
Digital Literacy is Essential
In today’s workplace, having a good grasp of digital tools and platforms is essential. Digital literacy means being able to use technology effectively and responsibly. Whether it’s basic computer skills, social media savvy, or understanding how to use productivity software like word, PowerPoint, Google Drive or Teams, being digitally literate is a bonus for employers.
💡 Understanding Digital and AI Literacy: A Guide for Parents and Teachers is a post I write with plenty of tips for developing Digital Literacy for the future of work.
Our Role in Supporting Them
At miFuture, we’re here to simplify this process for school leavers. We want to help them see the value they can bring to future employers and the skills they should be focusing on right now.
🤩 Our goal is to support them in understanding and building a strong foundation of qualities, soft skills, and digital literacy that will help them move towards and secure higher valued roles.
How You Can Help
As teachers and parents, you play a crucial role in raising the awareness of this, and moving on from the perception that subjects, grades, and qualifications are the be all and end all!
Encourage your young adults to engage in activities that help them grow these areas, whether it’s through volunteering, part-time jobs, or online courses. Help them understand that it’s not just about what they know, but who they are and how they can contribute.
Thanks for reading, and let’s keep the conversation going. If I can be of any more help, let me know.
You've got this 😎✌️
Gem Hallett,
miFuture Founder
miFuture.co.uk | @miFutureHQ
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