ABSTRACT
It should be evident from what we have covered that the skills needed for graduate-level work should not be treated as separate and distinct bodies of knowledge but as skills which develop through practice and often rely upon working with other people. Couched within a framework of experiential learning and reflection, we have looked at a range of skills and suggested ways in which these skills could be developed in a work setting. It is important to note that work-related learning may well provide people with the experience to secure a particular job, although its value more often than not lies in providing them with a range of transferrable skills and in improving their employability. Work-related learning allows people to develop their understanding of the skills they have, how these have been developed and how they can be enhanced in the future. The reflective process can be particularly useful in identifying skills and attributes and in articulating these to a third party. The development of one’s employability is not about learning a particular set of skills sealed forever, but it is contingent upon being willing to adapt to new challenges and recognising that careers are never more than a work in progress. This chapter will take a closer look at the relationship between skills and employability and will consider the value placed upon internships as a stepping stone to graduate-level work.
