Employability Skills
What are employability skills?
Employability skills are the personal qualities, habits, and abilities that make someone a good employee — such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and reliability.
Name one example of non-verbal communication.
Body language
Facial expressions
Eye contact
Gestures
Tone of voice
Posture
What does OHS stand for?
Occupational Health and Safety.
What is the Fair Work Ombudsman’s role?
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) helps make sure workplaces follow Australian employment laws.
They provide advice to workers and employers, check pay and conditions, and investigate complaints about unfair treatment or underpayment.
What does SMART stand for?
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Name two personal qualities employers value.
Reliability
Punctuality
Positive attitude
Honesty
Motivation
Flexibility
What does active listening mean?
Active listening means fully focusing on the speaker — making eye contact, nodding, not interrupting, and asking questions to show understanding.
Give one example of a workplace hazard.
Wet or slippery floors
Faulty electrical cords
Heavy lifting
Poor lighting
Chemical exposure
Unsafe machinery
Name one right and one responsibility of an employee.
Right: To be paid correctly and work in a safe environment.
Responsibility: To follow workplace rules and perform duties safely and respectfull
Give an example of a SMART goal for school or work.
“By the end of Term 1, I will improve my English grade from a C to a B by completing all homework on time and asking for feedback each week.”
Why is time management important at work?
Time management helps workers complete tasks on schedule, stay organised, reduce stress, and show reliability to their employer and team.
True or False: Teamwork means always agreeing with your team.
False.
Teamwork means listening to others, sharing ideas respectfully, and finding solutions together — not always agreeing.
What is PPE and why is it important?
PPE stands for Personal Protective Equipment.
It’s important because it helps protect workers from injury or illness (e.g. gloves, safety glasses, masks, high-vis clothing)
What is the minimum working age in Victoria?
15 years old (except for some supervised or light work, like delivering newspapers or family businesses, where younger workers may be allowed).
What’s one barrier that might stop someone from achieving their goal?
Lack of motivation, poor time management, distractions, limited resources, or not asking for help when needed.
Give one example of how teamwork can improve workplace success.
Teamwork allows people to share ideas, solve problems faster, support each other, and achieve common goals more effectively.
What’s one strategy to resolve conflict in a team?
Listening to both sides before responding
Staying calm and respectful
Finding a compromise or middle ground
Asking a supervisor or team leader for help if needed
True or False: Only managers are responsible for workplace safety.
False.
Everyone in the workplace is responsible for safety — including employees, supervisors, and managers.
True or False: It’s okay for an employer to pay you less during training.
False.
Employees must be paid at least the minimum wage for their classification — even while training or on probation.
How can feedback help you reach a goal?
Feedback helps identify strengths and areas to improve, so you can adjust your plan and keep moving towards your goal effectively.
You start a new job and notice your coworker is always late. Which employability skill could help you approach this situation professionally?
Communication and problem-solving — calmly talk to your coworker or supervisor, express concern respectfully, and focus on solutions rather than blame.
You and a team member disagree about how to complete a task. Describe how you could communicate effectively to reach a solution.
Calmly explain your point of view, listen to your teammate’s ideas, ask questions to understand, and work together to find a fair solution that helps the team meet its goal.
You notice a spill in the staff room — what should you do?
Clean it up safely if you can, or put up a warning sign and report it to a supervisor or maintenance staff to prevent slips or injuries.
You’re being underpaid. Describe two steps you could take to address the issue.
Check your pay rate using the Fair Work Ombudsman website or your award/agreement.
Speak to your employer or supervisor about the issue calmly and respectfully.
If it’s not resolved, contact the Fair Work Ombudsman for advice or to make a complaint.
You’ve missed several deadlines. How could you use goal-setting strategies to improve?
Break tasks into smaller steps, set clear deadlines, prioritise important tasks, use a planner, and review progress regularly to stay on track.