Employability refers to the suitable qualifications a candidate has achieved and the experience they have had in the past.
All employers generally require their staff to have obtained at least an academic qualification at GCSE level (Level 2). The majority of employers ask for at least C grade in English and Maths. Generally, the more qualifications someone possesses, the more employable they are; as employers look for people who are skilled and knowledgeable. Sainsbury’s require their staff to have good English and Maths as staff that work on the POS deal with money and talk directly with customers.
Official qualifications are important to employers as it shows that the personal has the knowledge and has understanding of a subject. For example, without a C grade GCSE in Maths there is no proof that the candidate is capable of carrying out essential basic day to day Maths tasks.
In addition to qualifications, experience is also essential in obtaining a skilled job. Although experience isn’t essential when starting at the bottom of the career ladder; a candidate with experience in a similar role will make them more employable as they already understand and have knowledge about the role. As Sainsbury’s is a large organisation, many jobs exist that have different levels of responsibility and importance. For example, management roles within a branch of Sainsbury’s will require the candidate to have had previous experience working in a managerial role. On the other hand, General Assistants who work on the shop floor ensuring that all products are available and assist customers; are not likely to require any previous experience as the job does not include a high level of responsibility.
Employability skills are just as important as qualifications and experience as it’s the skills that make the candidate different from all the other applicants.
It has been defines as; “A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.” CBI
Every employer is looking for a specific set of skills from job-seekers that match the skills necessary for the role. There are a general set of skills which most employers would expect employees to demonstrate. In particular; communication skills and team working skills are extremely important in the Sainsbury’s workplace.
What skills are Sainsbury’s looking for in their employees?
During the recruitment process Sainsbury’s are looking for people who possess a wide range of skills. These skills could be communication skills, team player, language skills or leadership skills.
In particular for Sainsbury’s, communication skills are essential for any role within the organisation. Communication skills are essential in any job as in every job it is essential to communicate with other colleagues and the public. Communication skills are essential for people who wish to work in Sainsbury’s stores. It is also important for Sainsbury’s to recruit people with the skills and work ethic that will represent the overall image of the organisation.
Communication skills fall in to 7 sub-categories;
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Telephone skills; the ability to be confident and speak professionally on the phone.
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Presentational skills; although most people find presenting difficult, it is a skill which can be mastered with practise. Generally presentations need a logical structure and need to be clear and concise.
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Giving and receiving criticism; in the workplace it is important to let other people know feedback on what they have done, however it is equally important to listen carefully to others people’s feedback about you. Praise is also very important as it is a powerful motivational tool.
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Motivating and supporting; all employees need motivation to do their job to their full potential. Employees feel motivated when they are told they have done something well and generally if they are working in a positive atmosphere.
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Persuading and negotiating; persuading involves the ability to convince another person to take a certain action, whereas negotiating involves discussing in order to reach a mutual agreement. Influence encompasses both of these.
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Listening is an essential skill as it is important to listen to others in order to take into consideration their opinions and thoughts. Good listening skills involve making good use of body language, eye contact, gestures and humour.
Every year Sainsbury’s recruit hundreds of people; most of which will work assisting in the operation of the store. General Assistants, who work on the shop floor of Sainsbury’s, deal directly with the customers, especially if they are working at the Point of Sale. For this reason; it is essential that employees have good communication skills; so that they can communicate effectively with colleagues and customers. Sainsbury’s may also consider employing people who possess language skills, as many of their stores are located in areas where the local community is not English, especially in areas of London.
In addition to employees who work on the shop floor, Sainsbury’s also employ a number of people who work behind the scenes; in offices and at their HQ in London. For office roles, such as administrative roles; communication is even more important as duties may involve telephone communication; in which a good telephone manner is necessary and writing letters and emails; in which good written skills are necessary.
Team working skills is very attractive to employers. All employers are keen to employ people who demonstrate problem solving, co-operation and work effectively in teams. Team working involves working confidently in a group, being confident about speaking and sharing ideas with other colleagues and being assertive. It is important for employers to recruit people who possess good team working skills as organisations are increasingly encouraging employees to work together to complete tasks and projects.