This document introduces validated self-assessment of employability skills. It explains that employability skills, also known as key competencies or life skills, include communication, problem solving, teamwork, planning, using technology, using information, initiative & enterprise, self-management, learning, and mathematical techniques. It describes a process for students to self-assess their demonstration of these skills at different performance levels through reflection and submission of evidence, which is then validated by an assessor. This validation helps students prove, improve, and apply their employability skills.

1. EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Validated Self Assessment
… how to do it !
Developed by Rob Denton

2. *This presentation will help you answer the following:
1. What are the ‘LINKup Employability Skills’?
2. Why are Employability Skills so important?
3. Why ‘assess’ Employability Skills?
4. Who assesses your Employability Skills?
5. How are your Employability Skills assessed?
6. What are the 3 Performance Levels?
7. How can Validated Self Assessment benefit you?
8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
9. What’s involved in Validation?
OBJECTIVES

3. 1. What are the ‘LINKup Employability Skills’?
Employability Skills are …
Also known as:
Key Competencies
Generic skills
Life skills
DEMANDED by employers today
ESSENTIAL for applying your technical skills in
the workplace
Valuable in ALL areas of life!
Employability Skills

4. 1. What are the ‘LINKup Employability Skills’?
The ‘LINKup Employability Skills’ …
Initiative & Enterprise
Self Management
Learning
Communication
Teamwork
Problem Solving
Planning & Organising
Technology
Using Information
Mathematical Techniques

5. 1. What are the ‘LINKup Employability Skills’?
LINKup Employability Skills Employability Skills Key Competencies
Initiative & Enterprise Initiative & Enterprise
Self Management Self Management
Learning Learning
Communication Communication Communicating Ideas and Information
Teamwork Teamwork Working with Others and in Teams
Problem Solving Problem Solving Solving Problems
Planning & Organising Planning & Organising Planning & Organising
Technology Technology Using Technology
Using Information Collecting, Analysing and Organising Information
Mathematical Techniques Using Mathematical Ideas and Techniques
The ‘LINKup Employability Skills’ …
include Employability Skills & Key Competencies as follows:

6. Job advertisementJob advertisement
2. Why are Employability Skills so important?
JOBS!
“… a self starter, highly analytical,
effective problem solver, a good
communicator ...”

7. 2. Why are Employability Skills so important?
JOBS! Essential skills and attributes:
• High levels of written and oral communication
skills
• Problem Solving and decision making ability
• Ability to work effectively with others as part
of a team
• Ability to work in a changing environment
• Ability to research, write and evaluate
complex issues
Essential skills and attributes:
• High levels of written and oral communication
skills
• Problem Solving and decision making ability
• Ability to work effectively with others as part
of a team
• Ability to work in a changing environment
• Ability to research, write and evaluate
complex issues
Extract from Job & Person SpecificationExtract from Job & Person Specification

8. JOBS
• Employers look for these skills because they want ‘work-ready’ graduates
• Research shows successful companies recruit people with these skills
• Proving you have these skills will help you get and keep a job
LIFE IN GENERAL
• Actually, these skills help you perform effectively in ALL areas of life
2. Why are Employability Skills so important?

9. 2. Why are Employability Skills so important?
Mark Rebecca
Employee HR
Manager
Rebecca (HR Manager) …
“We look for people with very good soft skills, in particular communication,
teamwork and problem solving. We do not employ people who are unable
to work in a team regardless of their technical skills.
When I interviewed Mark, his soft skills such as communication, teamwork
and problem solving stood out by far in comparison to the other people
that we interviewed. And it was for this reason that Mark got the job.”
Advanced Rapid Robotic Manufacturing

10. 2. Why are Employability Skills so important?
Mark Rebecca
Employee HR
Manager
Mark (Graduate and employee) …
It is widely known that many employers look at soft skills first before they
look at qualifications. Therefore presenting only a Diploma or a Degree is
just simply not enough to ensure success at a job interview these days.
Gaining recognition for your soft skills through the Key Competencies
program will give you the edge at a job interview. And I guarantee it!”
Advanced Rapid Robotic Manufacturing

11. 3. Why ‘assess’ Employability Skills?
1. To PROVE your skills (through formal certification)
AND
2. To help you UNDERSTAND and IMPROVE them (through the
assessment process)
TWO reasons…
PROVE & IMPROVE!

12. 4. Who assesses your Employability Skills?
Assessment is based on SELF ASSESSMENT.
YOU take control of your assessment and YOU benefit directly…
YOU SELF ASSESS your performance, so
YOU UNDERSTAND your skills, so
YOU KNOW HOW to improve them, so
YOU can PROVE & EXPLAIN them at a job interview, so
YOU GET THE JOB! … plus many other benefits.
YOU !

13. 4. Who assesses your Employability Skills?
Trainers, employers & peers offer great support but if THEY
control the assessment then …
THEY ASSESS your performance, so
THEY UNDERSTAND your skills, so
THEY can PROVE & EXPLAIN your skills at a job interview, so
THEY GET THE JOB ????
YOU !

14. 4. Who assesses your Employability Skills?
“Who is responsible for developing (and assessing) generic skills?”
“The lecturer does make a big
difference, and so does your
employer, but at the end of the day
… its YOU!”
“Well I think its up to the
individual”
“I think the ultimate
responsibility is yourself.
But its more of a contract
between myself and the
facilitators or teachers”
“Its definitely the student’s
responsibility”
From video - Generic Skills:
Views and experiences of
workers and students.
Courtesy of NCVER

15. 5. How are your Employability Skills assessed?
• You Self Assess your Employability Skills performance
• as part of any suitable course or work activities (NOT extra activities!)
• against clear criteria on Validated Self Assessment sheets
• at one of 3 Performance Levels
• and submit samples of evidence to your assessor for Validation
Using a process called …
Validated Self Assessment

16. 6. What are the 3 Performance Levels?
PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1 - FOLLOW given guidelines to achieve set goals
PERFORMANCE LEVEL 2 - CHOOSE from a range of available strategies,
information and resources to achieve goals
PERFORMANCE LEVEL 3 - CREATE new strategies, or modify existing strategies,
to meet the specific needs of a real life context
• Performance Levels indicate how self-directed you are in
performing the Employability Skills
• The more self-directed you are, the higher the performance level
*IMPORTANT: Ensure you clearly understand the differences between these Performance Levels
Increasing
Self-Directedness

17. 6. What are the 3 Performance Levels?
PERFORMANCE LEVEL 1 - FOLLOW given guidelines to achieve set goals
PERFORMANCE LEVEL 2 - CHOOSE from a range of available strategies,
information and resources to achieve goals
PERFORMANCE LEVEL 3 - CREATE new strategies, or modify existing strategies,
to meet the specific needs of a real life context
• All Performance Levels are important
• It is beneficial to prove that you can perform at every level
• Achieving higher levels does not automatically mean you have
achieved the lower levels
Increasing
Self-Directedness

18. 7. How can Validated Self Assessment benefit you?
It is designed to help you develop your
Employability Skills ‘Know
How’
enabling you to…
• Identify your Employability Skills
• Prove your Employability Skills
• Improve your Employability Skills
• Apply Employability Skills effectively anywhere
• Talk convincingly about your Employability Skills at job interviews
Employability Skills

19. 8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
Step 1: IDENTIFY a suitable activity to demonstrate an Employability Skill
Step 2: COLLECT the appropriate Validated Self Assessment sheet
Step 3: NOMINATE the appropriate Performance Level
Step 4: REFLECT on the criteria for your nominated Performance Level
Step 5: IDENTIFY samples of evidence to address the relevant criteria
Let’s consider each step in turn …

20. 8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
Step 1: IDENTIFY a suitable activity to demonstrate an Employability Skill
This can be ANY suitable course or work related activity including:
• a class activity
• any self directed learning activity
• a course assessment task
• industry project or work experience
• committee meetings (eg Student Representative Council)
• special events
• ANY activity RELEVANT to your field of study or work

21. Step 2: COLLECT the appropriate Validated Self Assessment sheet
Sam Brooks
29 Feb 2003
Library Orientation Activity
Collect the appropriate Validated Self Assessment sheet for the
Employability Skill you wish to assess.
Available from ‘LINKup Assessments’ on homepage after you Register.
Enter your Name, Date and title of the Assessment Activity
8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?

22. 8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
Step 3: NOMINATE the appropriate Performance Level

Sam Brooks
29 Feb 2003
Library Orientation Activity
Identify the ‘Level’ that reflects how ‘self-
directed’ your approach was and tick your
‘Nominated Performance Level’

23. 8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
Step 4: REFLECT on the criteria for your nominated Performance Level
Criteria includes:
• General descriptions
AND
• Performance ‘Level’ criteria

24. 8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
Step 4: REFLECT on the criteria for your nominated Performance Level
Read the criteria for your ‘Level’ … VERY CAREFULLY
Think about what you did in your activity that meets the criteria EXACTLY
Tick the appropriate ‘Level’ criteria if you believe you achieved it


25. 8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
Step 5: IDENTIFY samples of evidence to address the relevant criteria
Refer to section 1.2 of assignment sheet for clear statement of purpose of information
IDENTIFY one sample of evidence to meet the criteria EXACTLY:
Important:
You DO NOT need to explain your evidence in detail … just clearly state, ‘point-out’ or
reference it. Evidence could include …
• a brief statement of what you did
• a specific reference to relevant sections in a document or report for the activity
• Trainer/Employer signature verifying demonstrated competence of criteria


26. 8. What are the steps involved in Self Assessment?
*** An EASIER WAY to get started ***
Start with the Interactive Forms making self
assessment MUCH EASIER including…
• audio tracks explaining the criteria
• examples of evidence
• simplified layout
• enter your evidence online
• and much more!
Assessment Forms available
from homepage in two formats:
Word or Interactive

27. 9. What’s involved in Validation?
Step 1: SUBMIT completed Validated Self Assessment to assessor
Step 2: Assessor VALIDATES that your evidence meets the criteria
Step 3: Assessor RECORDS all successful validations
Step 4: Assessor provides FEEDBACK to help you improve
Let’s consider each step in turn …

28. 9. What’s involved in Validation?
Step 1: SUBMIT completed Validated Self Assessment to assessor
Submit the Validated Self Assessment sheet (along with any attached evidence)
to the assessor responsible for the activity you have performed.
Step 2: Assessor VALIDATES that your evidence meets the criteria
The Assessor simply…
(1) Reads your evidence
(2) Checks that it clearly & fully meets the relevant Performance Level criteria
(3) Validates each satisfactory sample of evidence
To achieve validation for the Employability Skill your evidence must satisfy *all
criteria for your nominated Performance Level.
(*NOTE: Assessor may accept up to TWO criteria achieved at a different Performance
Level OR not achieved)

29. 9. What’s involved in Validation?
3. Assessor RECORDS all successful validations
Successful validations are recorded.
Unsuccessful assessments are not recorded but are
valuable learning opportunities to prepare you for
future assessments.
EXAMPLE:
“VSMART” Student Management System (TAFE SA, TTG)
Records the number of successful assessments for each
Employability Skill plus a log of evidence.

30. 9. What’s involved in Validation?
4. Assessor provides FEEDBACK to help you improve
Carefully read any assessor feedback
and feel free to discuss it with them. This
is a great way to continue to improve
your understanding and skills.
EXAMPLE:
You may receive feedback on a LINKup
Review Sheet giving you specific
recommendations to help you improve.

31. C
om
m
unicaton Problem
Solving
Team
w
ork
Planning
U
sing
Technology
U
sing
Inform
ation
Initiative
&
Enterprise
… a framework for life
Validated Self Assessment will help you
LINKup your Employability Skills
SelfM
anagem
entLearning
M
athem
aticalTechniques

32. Rob Denton
TAFE SA
Tea Tree Gully Campus
rob.denton@tafesa.edu.au
(08) 8207 8192
EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Validated Self Assessment