Essential Skill 1: Reading Text

Reading sentences or paragraphs. For example: notes, letters, emails, magazines, manuals, regulations, books, reports, product labels, legal agreements. Includes words on paper and words on a screen.

Essential Skill 2: Document Use

Understanding visual images such as graphs, lists, tables, drawings, symbols, signs, maps, labels, forms, x-rays. The visual display or arrangement gives meaning to the content.

Essential Skill 3: Numeracy

Using numbers and being able to think in terms of “amounts”. For example: Money math, Scheduling or budgeting/accounting, Measurement/calculation, Data analysis, and Estimation may require solving problems by using numbers.

Essential Skill 4: Writing

Writing words to share ideas. For example: Writing notes, emails, letters, reports, orders, logbook entries, text messages. Includes “pen and paper” writing and keyboarding.

Essential Skill 5: Oral Communication

Speaking and listening to share thoughts or information. For example: greeting, telling stories, giving advice, sharing ideas, facilitating, coordinating tasks, explaining, discussing. Can be face-to-face, or using technology.

Essential Skill 6: Working With Others

Interacting with family, friends, community members, students and co-workers to accomplish tasks together.

Essential Skill 7: Thinking Skills

Using your brain to: Solve problems, Make decisions, Think critically, Plan and organize tasks, Remember and Find information

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Essential Skill 8: Digital Technology

Using technology. For example: computers, cell phones, GPs, digital cameras, iPods, and MP3s, gaming devices, computerized cash registers, Blackberries, iPhones. Includes using the Internet and email.

Essential Skill 9: Continuous Learning

Gaining skills and knowledge throughout life. Includes: Learning how to learn, Understanding your learning style, Knowing how to find resources and learning opportunities.

Workplace

Essential Skills: The skills needed to navigate the workplace effectively

Bow Valley College: navigating the workplace effectively: More Information

Body Language That Gets the Job!

You sound great on the phone, by e-mail and in social media. Don’t blow it in person. Christine Jahnke, author of The Well-Spoken Woman, speaks to Forbes to give a everyone a few pointers so you can leave a lasting impression.

More Information

Skill builder: Body Language in the Workplace

This video gives an overview of body language in the workplace: More Information

Essential Skills – Portfolio Program Workplace Manitoba (WEM)

A short tour of Canada’s Essential Skills and their impact on employability, in plain language. Part of the “Introduction to Essential Skills ePortfolio” program from Workplace Education Manitoba (WEM) and Workplace Prior Learning and Assessment (WPLAR). More Information

Essential Skills Day! – September 30th, 2016

Workplace education helps provide a foundation for lifelong learning as people and businesses grow together. Literacy and essential skills are at the core of workplace education. Improving workers’ skills creates a more productive workforce, a more competitive economy, and an… Continue reading →