By Lorraine Wilson, Co-Founder, Keyba Careers
As an employer recruiting staff and working alongside many other employers through our consulting business at Key Business Advisors, we see where young people and job seekers struggle to secure employment in their chosen field.
This is why, at Keyba Careers, we are passionate about sharing our industry knowledge and helping students understand the World of Work.
The reality is that every student needs more than just qualifications alone. They need the confidence, skills and understanding to stand out from other candidates applying for the same role. They need to be job-ready and understand what employers are looking for when hiring staff.
After all, it’s one thing to get a job, but another thing to keep it.
What Job-Ready Students Do Differently
Having trained and worked with students and job seekers who have successfully gained employment in an industry of their choice, there are a few common traits that I encourage and consistently see.
They’ve Thought About Their “Why”
Before applying for jobs, they have taken the time to reflect on what they are interested in, what they are good at, and where they would like to head in their career.
Rather than applying for every available position, they focus on roles that align with their skills, experience, values and interests. They can clearly articulate why they are interested in a role and why they believe they would be a suitable candidate.
Understanding what drives and motivates us, and setting goals and objectives, is often the first step in setting ourselves up for success.
They Understand Employer Expectations
Understanding the job advertisement and aligning an application to the employer’s expectations is a key part of a successful job search.
Having the right qualifications and technical skills may help someone qualify for a role, but employers also place significant value on soft skills and personal qualities.
These are the skills that influence how we communicate, solve problems, work with others, adapt to change and contribute to a team.
The key is not simply having these skills, but being able to demonstrate them through examples. Students who can effectively showcase their employability skills and transferable qualities are often in a much stronger position when competing for employment opportunities.
Where Students Often Struggle
Entering the workforce can be challenging, particularly in today’s competitive job market.
Many students lack confidence when speaking with employers, business owners or hiring managers. They may feel unsure about what to say in an interview, what questions to ask, how to present themselves professionally or how to demonstrate their strengths.
Others struggle to prepare a strong application, communicate their value to a prospective employer or understand workplace expectations.
In many cases, this is simply because they have had limited exposure to the workplace. Like any new experience, there is a lot to learn.
What Can We Do?
With more than 30 years of workplace experience (yes, I’m showing my age!), I strongly believe in sharing practical industry knowledge to help young people navigate their transition from education to employment.
Don’t get me wrong – young people are incredibly clever and have many skills they can teach me. However, they also benefit from guidance, encouragement and practical skills that help them confidently present themselves to employers.
By helping students build confidence, strengthen their communication skills and understand employer expectations, we can better prepare them for success in the workforce.
Sometimes, a small amount of guidance can make a significant difference.
Preparing Students for Employment Is a Shared Responsibility
Schools do an incredible job supporting students academically and helping them explore future pathways. However, preparing young people for the workforce is a shared responsibility between educators, parents, employers and industry.
The more exposure students have to real-world workplace expectations, employer insights and practical job readiness skills, the more confident and prepared they are likely to be when transitioning into employment.
By working together, we can help students better understand the opportunities available to them and equip them with the skills they need to succeed.
Keyba Careers’ Job Readiness Programs
At Keyba Careers, we have designed our job readiness programs specifically to help young people and job seekers prepare for employment.
Our programs draw on more than 18 years of consulting experience through Key Business Advisors. We don’t just teach theory – we come from industry, recruit staff ourselves and work directly with employers and their teams.
This gives us valuable insight into what employers are looking for, and we are passionate about sharing this knowledge to help students and job seekers feel more confident and better prepared when entering the workforce.
We do this in a number of ways:
Five Online Crash Courses
Designed as practical, self-paced resources to help people develop their job readiness skills. Our courses focus on real-world employer expectations and practical strategies that can help participants confidently pursue employment opportunities.
Group Training Sessions
Interactive workshops that reinforce the online learning experience and can be tailored to participant needs. Topics may include mock interviews, employer expectations, communication skills and workplace professionalism.
Industry Presentations
As experienced business owners and employers, we regularly present to secondary and tertiary students, sharing practical insights, real-life examples and employer perspectives on what it takes to succeed in the workplace.
If you’re supporting students as they prepare for their next step, these are exactly the skills we focus on through our workshops, presentations and online courses.
Whether you’re looking for practical resources, industry-based workshops or job readiness programs, we’d love to discuss how we can support your students.
