Handy school of thought
EXTRACURRICULAR activities, work experience and vocational education can increase employability skills and help school students better explore future career options.
Research by global education technology provider Instructure has found students want to be taught more life skills, with two in three believing schools do not do enough to prepare them for life outside the classroom.
The concern is shared by almost three-quarters of parents, the research reveals.
Meanwhile, 61 per cent of students, along with 73 per cent of parents, want more exposure to different working environments, such as offices and worksites, believing it will help to make better career choices.
Louise Murphy, who is the career counsellor at St Aloysius College in Adelaide, says students looking to increase their future employability should immerse themselves in extracurricular activities that rely heavily on communication, team work, perseverance, time management and other life skills.
“All of those skills are things that are hard to academically teach but are part of a lot of extracurricular activities,’’ Murphy says.
“If you play a team sport, or you are part of a school committee or another group like that, that’s a great opportunity to learn employability skills.
“If you’re doing Scouts, they even test your skills [to achieve badges and awards] so you can see what you’re good at.
“Sometimes students feel nervous about particular activities and you have to manage those feelings of stepping outside your comfort zone, but that’s OK.
“Life skills are often about doing something that seems a little bit difficult and then growing from that.’’ She says after-school and voluntary work, as well as work experience, can improve life skills while also providing an insight into different occupations.
“Doing a [vocational education] course at school is another great way of exploring a career option, and allows you to learn much more about an industry than just talking to someone about it,’’ Murphy says.
Eloise Labaz, who has just finished her Year 12 exams at St Aloysius College, was encouraged by her school to join the Art Gallery of South Australia’s Neo Advisory Committee, which organises bimonthly gallery events for teenagers.
Eloise, 17, says her involvement not only increased her passion for the arts but provided valuable employability skills.
“It was a unique opportunity that included all those facets of problem-solving, critical thinking, being part of a team and being a good communicator,’’ Eloise says.
“Those skills are going to be incredibly important when I’m looking for employment.’’