Standing out from the crowd: how your everyday skills can impress employers
When you're applying for construction jobs or a place on a course, it helps to stand out.
Construction qualifications like NVQs/SVQs and work experience are important but general skills picked up in your own time can also give you an edge when it comes to applications and interviews. These are called employability skills.
There's no hard list of employability skills to help in your search for construction jobs but, if you think about it, you might realise that you have some already. They can include:
These aren't usually the kinds of things you can pick up in a class or through qualifications, although if you live in Wales, the Welsh Baccalaureate does cover a wide range of them. You might naturally have these skills, but it's better to have examples of how you have built them and use them day to day.
The smallest house in Great Britain is in Conwy, Wales. It's 3 metres high, and has a floor space of only 1.8 square metres.
Maybe you play sports, are part of a club or help out with a family business? You can connect activities like these to lots of the skills above.
Playing a sport can show that you're motivated and communicate well with teams. If you've ever been captain or led a training session that could show leadership.
Any hobby needs focus and dedication. A collection can show you're great at research. If you're learning an instrument or language, that could mean you stick to goals.
Helping out at a charity or in the community shows commitment and reliability. If it's in a shop, perhaps you're good with numbers and people.
Even if you're not involved with any of the activities above, there's always time to start building employability skills for future construction jobs. If there's a charity that really interests you, ask them if they need help. This can be as easy as dropping into a charity shop on the high street.
To learn more about the potential skills you might need when working in building jobs, check out our Roles In Construction Animation
The earliest evidence of carpentry in Europe is in North Yorkshire - an excavated floor made of wooden boards there was dated to 11,500 years ago.
Charities are always open to extra help and volunteering can really develop your skills, as well as being rewarding. Find out more at CharityChoice
This type of volunteering usually affects people closer to home than charity volunteering. You could find yourself cleaning up a local playground or helping an elderly neighbour with DIY. Find out more at do-it.org or visit the National Council for Voluntary Organisations website.
If you're aged 15, 16 or 17 you can take part in NCS. You'll learn a lot of life skills, take trips and get involved in making your community a better place. Learn more about National Citizen Service. (England only)