This article was originally published on Plotr*
Communication skills are a key part of your skillset when you’re in the world of work. Use the ideas below to work on your game and build your skills for job-hunting glory.
1 . Help the community
Get yourself a volunteer gig doing anything that gets results in the real world. It can be work in your local community, helping older people, or another cause that’s close to your heart.
Actively engaging with people is a great way to get comfortable working with others and give all your skills a good workout. Plus, employers love selfless people who go the extra mile. Just sayin’.
2. A blog a day…
Keeping a record of your life and/or passions is a great way to work on your communication skills, as well being as a useful careers development tool.
Doing a blog forces you to develop your ability to create a narrative, to put information in a story structure and express it to other people. Basically, it makes you better at giving people information in a way that’s interesting and easy to understand.
You have options, too. It can be handwritten, it can be an online blog… or if you’re feeling adventurous, what about putting it on YouTube?
IMPORTANT: Stay safe online
3. Read
There are many benefits to picking up books. Some of the best ones include expanding your vocabulary, improving your memory and knowing more about, well, everything. Books are a great tool that help you say things the way you want to and speak beautifully. And they’re usually pretty cheap too.
4. Learn about body language
How you communicate isn’t just about the words you use. Body language plays a big part in what you say. If you tell an interviewer you’re confident but you avoid eye contact, it undermines what you’re saying.
This summer, spend some time learning about what your body says about you when you think it’s keeping quiet. There are plenty of books, videos and articles on the subject.
5. Join a sports team
As well as a great way to make new friends, finding a sport – particularly a team sport – to take part in is great for building your skills. You’ll learn what it means to be part of a team and get some powerful exercise for your communication skills.
Chat with your friends, go to your local leisure centre, check notice boards or ask your teachers to discover activities available near you.
6. Join the debate
Taking part in a public debate, making presentations or even giving a pop quiz is a great experience to add to life’s CV. It shows you have the confidence to stand up and say something, and proves you have great comms skills.
If there’s a debate team at your school, college or university, get involved. If there are any other opportunities for public speaking, get involved.
7. Teach English abroad
If you’re over 18 and looking to build on your communication skills (as well as your CV) why not consider teaching English abroad? By helping other people learn English you’ll inadvertently improve your own communication skills. You’ll also show how smart, confident and trustworthy you are, too.
Once you get a qualification from TEFL you can teach all over the world…
* What skills and knowledge do you need to land a work opportunity that’s right for you? How can you make the most of what you’ve already got in order to present your best self to employers? Plotr has advice, opportunities and detailed info on routes into over 700 careers, whatever your background and study/work choices. You can even get fresh insights and inspiration when you play the Game to discover careers that would be a great match for you. To find out more click here!
