SKILLS MATTER


There are regular reports that businesses in the UK are finding it more and more difficult to find candidates with the right skill set required for the job in hand. Georgia Woolford examines the fit for the DofE.


help ensure young people are equipped with the skills they need to get a job and thrive in the workplace.


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The poll of over 500 UK business leaders sought their opinions on the usefulness and credibility of soft skills, such as resilience, confidence and determination, that a young person develops from pushing themselves out of their comfort zone and facing new and exciting challenges. The research revealed that nine in ten business leaders said that those with strong soft skills often advance quicker in the workplace than those without. The polling also revealed that 95% of UK senior managers regard soft skills as equally or more important than exam results. Some 98% recommend that young people invest more time in enhancing skills such as communication, teamwork and leadership to get ahead of the game in the competitive job market. The results came as no surprise to UK businesswoman and Dragon’s Den investor, Deborah Meaden, who said: “I would actively encourage young people to get involved in extra-curricular activities and volunteering. Achieving a DofE Award is a brilliant way to gain recognition for all the effort put in and shows potential employers a candidate has great communication, confidence and teamwork skills, which are indispensable in the workplace.” According to the poll, respondents felt that the term ‘soft skills’ did not adequately reflect their importance. British entrepreneur and ex- Dragon’s Den investor, Sarah Willingham, was amongst the 82% that believe ‘real life skills’ or ‘core skills’ give the term more gravitas and better highlight the key message: when it comes to employability, the value of those skills cannot be underestimated. Three quarters of senior managers said that the traditional format of CVs does not showcase soft skills in the best light. The DofE has launched a CV template, available on the LifeZone (accessed via eDofE), which enables participants to highlight their DofE skills and experiences. Achieving a DofE Award shows that a young person is willing to commit, is driven and determined. An important benefit to achieving an Award is that it enables young people to demonstrate that they have these skills at interviews. The CV template has been created to help participants recognise and identify the soft skills and attributes they have developed through their DofE. This helps them develop a good work ethic and attitude that many employers are looking for in applicants.


Help your young people to make the most of the skills they gain by encouraging them to visit the LifeZone within eDofE.


DofE Magazine Issue 29: SPRING 2018


he lack of so-called ‘soft skills’ in young people is often the missing ingredient for employers. Whilst academic achievements will always be a key measure of a young person’s ability, research commissioned by the DofE in 2017 shows that extra-curricular activities, such as the DofE, can


Why soft skills matter


We surveyed over 500 UK business leaders on the importance of hiring young recruits with soft skills like leadership, teamwork and communication


Survey results


9/10


revealed that young people with strong soft skills often progress faster in the workplace


95%


believe soft skills are equally as important as academic achievements alone


98%


say young people should invest more time enhancing their soft skills to complement academic achievements


I encourage young people to get involved in extra-curricular activities and volunteering…a DofE Award is a brilliant way to gain recognition


Deborah Meaden


UK businesswoman and Dragon’s Den investor


75%


believe that the traditional CV layout does not showcase soft skills in the best possible way


86%


look favourably on a candidate who shares evidence


of extra-curricular activities on their social media


UK employers regard soft skills as more important than academic achievements


1 in 3 Recommendations Maximise your CV Highlight


extra-curricular activities such as the DofE that demonstrate soft skills


Develop soft skills


Invest time in developing the crucial soft skills sought by UK businesses


Try new things


Volunteer in an area which could help you develop specific soft skills


Use resources Visit the


DofE LifeZone for employability tools such as the CV builder


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