Employability skills - what employers are seeking!

During your course, you should be asking yourself "What can I do to improve my chances of getting a job when I graduate?"

The first step is understanding what the employers in your field are seeking in candidates. Below is a list of the 8 employability skills, and under each are the current key skills that nursing and midwifery employers value. We found this information by searching for relevant jobs on seek.com.au.

Being aware of the key skills required in your field, will help you search for opportunities to build on these skills and then you will be able to demonstrate them in your resume and during interviews.

The 8 employability skills

Communication that contributes to productive and harmonious relations between employees and customers:

• Ability to communicate well with patients and staff, both orally and in writing
• Effective interpersonal skills
• Ability to remain professional, mature, compassionate and confidential in a variety of situations

Planning and organising that contributes to long and short term strategic planning:

• Ability to prioritise and focus on assigned tasks
• Excellent time management skills

Teamwork that contributes to productive working relationships and outcomes:

• Ability to form constructive and effective professional relationships with existing consultants and staff
• Ability to work within a multi-cultural health care team
• Enjoy working with colleagues

Problem solving that contributes to productive outcomes:

• Possess strong analytical skills
• Ability to develop strategies and implement these into action
• Demonstrated ability to provide leadership

Technology that contributes to effective execution of tasks:

• Demonstrated competency in the use of computers
• Experience with medical software

Self-management that contributes employee satisfaction and growth:

• Highly developed self-management skills
• Possess knowledge and confidence in own ideas

Learning that contributes to ongoing improvement and expansion in employee and company operations and outcomes:

• Coachable and interested in expanding both professionally and personally
• Demonstrated commitment to continuing education and professional development
• Willingness to participate in a 24 hour shift work roster to deliver patient care

Initiative and enterprise that contributes to innovative outcomes:

• The capacity to think on your feet, deal with uncertainty and embrace change
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for the clinical care of patients
• Have confidence in performing tasks

Other attributes that nursing and midwifery employers are seeking:

• Current registration with APHRA to practice as a Registered Nurse
• Understand appropriate procedural skills, (including intubation, resuscitation and invasive monitoring)
• Understand and abide by ethical practices
• Demonstrated commitment to quality improvement, patient safety and risk management
• Knowledge of contemporary health issues