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 food science and nutrition 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
• Sound planning and 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
• Able to relate well with people of all interests, backgrounds and abilities

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:

• The ability to use clinical data
• High levels of motivation to achieve results
• The ability to absorb and impart clinical and technical information
• Willingness to work in a variety of different areas

Initiative and enterprise that contributes to innovative outcomes:

• Demonstrated ability to be innovative, resourceful and adaptive to change  
• Ability to network and influence individuals
• The capacity to think on your feet, deal with uncertainty and embrace change

Other attributes that food science and nutrition employers are seeking:

• Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant area of specialty (such as dietetics)
• A history of building excellent customer/patient relationships
• Broad knowledge of the health care industry