Getting a Job and Keeping It: The Importance of Measuring Employability Skills
In today's fast-paced and competitive job market, technical skills are no longer the sole determining factor for success. Employers are increasingly recognizing the significance of employability skills in their workforce. These skills encompass a wide range of qualities, including punctuality, attendance, attitude, effort, and teamwork. In the context of the video and film production industry, these employability skills are not just desirable but essential for achieving professional success.
Recently, in a meeting with educators, Daniel Cummings, the Assistant City Manager for Economic and Project Development in Marietta, Georgia, shed light on the importance of employability skills. He shared insights from the local job market, indicating that employers were looking for workers who possessed basic but crucial qualities: the ability to show up on time and pass a drug test. This seemingly straightforward expectation carries significant weight, especially in industries like video and film production, where adherence to strict schedules and seamless collaboration are critical.
Even jobs in beautiful Marietta, Georgia are missing entry-level employees.
Mr. Cummings further emphasized that the job application process itself is evolving. One Marietta-based business even conducted interviews via text, showcasing the changing landscape of recruitment. In this instance, nearly 150 applications were received, but shockingly, only about 30 applicants responded to the interviewers. This emphasizes how important it is for job seekers to not only possess technical skills but also demonstrate employability skills, even during the application process.
Now, let's delve into the specific employability skills that are crucial for success in video and film production:
1. Punctuality:
The fast-paced nature of video and film production demands adherence to strict schedules. Delays can lead to costly setbacks and impact the overall quality of the project. Being punctual not only ensures that workflows run smoothly but also shows respect for the valuable time of fellow team members and stakeholders.
2. Attendance:
Consistent attendance is of paramount importance for video and film projects to progress efficiently. Collaborative creativity is at the core of the industry, and when team members are absent, it can disrupt the flow of ideas and compromise the final product.
3. Attitude:
A positive attitude is contagious and can greatly influence the working environment during video and film production. A supportive and optimistic atmosphere encourages creativity, problem-solving, and effective communication among team members.
4. Effort:
Putting in dedicated effort during video and film production reflects a commitment to delivering high-quality work. Employers value individuals who take pride in their contributions and strive for excellence in every aspect of their work.
5. Teamwork:
Video and film production projects involve multiple stakeholders, each with unique roles and responsibilities. Effective teamwork is crucial for successful coordination, cooperation, and problem-solving. A cohesive team can achieve far more than individual efforts alone.
In light of the importance of these employability skills, educators have a role to play in preparing their students for the job market. One effective approach is for each teacher to create a spreadsheet to track the progress of their students, perhaps by class. This allows them to assess and provide feedback on punctuality, attendance, attitude, effort, and teamwork. By instilling these skills in students early on, educators can better prepare them for the demands of the video and film production industry.
Employability skills are a fundamental aspect of achieving success in the video and film production industry. Technical expertise is essential, but it is the combination of technical skills and employability skills that will set professionals apart in a competitive job market. As job application methods evolve, the importance of these skills becomes even more apparent. By recognizing the significance of employability skills and fostering them in students, educators can contribute to the growth of a workforce that is not only technically proficient but also equipped with the qualities that make them valuable assets in the dynamic world of video and film production.
We are including this as a project guide that you can use with your students. You will want to copy it to your Google Drive first and remove our awesome watermark. You can also create an easily accessible spreadsheet that allows you to have each class on a single page, where you can make notes on each student as needed. It really will help when you tell mom that her angel was on his phone and not giving maximum effort on a certain date. Remember… in education it is all about #CYA.
Remember, you are the expert in your classroom. You are the expert in your content area, but you are also the expert in getting and keeping a job. It is up to you to model these professional skills for your students, and to set a high bar for them to follow--then don’t let them miss it.
Meet the Author, Josh Dempsey
Josh Dempsey is a video and film teacher at Marietta High School in Marietta, Georgia. With nearly 20 years of experience in the classroom, Josh is just as excited as his students to keep learning about the power and possibilities of this visual medium. He invites you to follow his students and their work online by following them on social media @bdn_marietta.
Josh loves traveling with his wife, Megan, and their two kids, and more pets than should be allowed. If you want to follow their adventure and get some tips and tricks for RV travel and epic road trips, check them out on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/eastrollswest/.
Adam, your resident IB film teacher, wants to help your students walk the talk. How understanding the Big 4 (mise-en-scene, editing, cinematography, and sound design) can transform student analysis and filmmaking.