Form 11 

Reading

Reading skills practice: Skills for the 21st-century workplace – exercises

 Have you got the skills you need for the 21st-century workplace? Read about what employers are looking for and test yourself to see if you are prepared! Preparation Fill the gaps with the correct phrase from the box.

 

1.analyse information

 2.communicate well

 3.problem   solving

  4.good at making decisions

  5.the 21st century

 6. age of technology

 We are living in 1 _________________________. Some people call it the 2 _________________________. We need to learn skills such as 3 _________________________ and we need to be able to 4 _________________________ with other people around the world. Employers are looking for people who can 5 _________________________ well, people who are able to recognise whether information is reliable or not. They also like people who are 6 _________________________ without asking for help.

Reading

Skills for the 21st-century workplace

Have you got the skills you need for the 21st-century workplace?

We need to develop all kinds of skills to survive in the 21st century. Some, like ICT skills and knowledge of the digital world, are taught explicitly in schools in the UK. Here are five less obvious ones for you to think about. These are the sorts of skills that employers may ask you questions about in interviews, so it’s a good idea to think about how good you are in these areas. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Imagination

In the age of technology that we are living in now, it is no longer enough to keep on making the same products. Employers need people who can imagine new approaches and new ideas.

Think: Think of an object or gadget you use every day. How could it be improved? Can you think of three improvements?

Problem solving

Employers will value workers who are able to see problems before they happen and come up with creative solutions.

Think: Imagine you are organising an end-of-term social event at school. Think of some problems that you could face. Can you think of any solutions?

Communication skills

Workers will have to be good communicators. They will have to be able to negotiate and discuss key issues and also write in a clear way without using too many words.

Think: How do people communicate with each other in the 21st century?

Critical analysis

Employers want workers who are able to recognise the difference between information that can be believed and false information.

Think: Use the internet to find out three facts about a celebrity or famous figure. Can you verify the information by checking other websites?

Decision making

Individual workers have a growing amount of responsibility. It is important to be able to evaluate a situation and be confident in making a decision.

Think: Which three things could you do to (a) be healthier (b) do better at school and (c) help others? Make a decision now to do at least one of these things. Then … just do it!

Skills for the 21st-century workplace

Skills for the 21st-century workplace

Are the sentences true or false?

8 items remaining

1. 21st-century skills are not taught in schools in the UK.

True

False

2. Employers like workers to be imaginative.

True

False

3. Employers want workers to think about possible problems.

True

False

4. Employers like workers to be original when solving problems.

True

False

5. Future workers will need to be able to write concisely.

True

False

6. People communicate with each other less in the 21st century.

True

False

7. Employers believe it is useful to know a lot of information about celebrities.

True

False

8. Employers don’t want workers to make decisions without asking them.

True

False

Are the sentences true or false?

8 items remaining

1. 21st-century skills are not taught in schools in the UK.