Maharashtra SSC Employability Skills ITI cheat sheet

Employability skills are the non-technical capabilities (communication, teamwork, problem solving, digital literacy, work ethic) that make a technically skilled person hireable and retainable.

Technical skill gets the interview; employability skills get and keep the job - employers consistently rank reliability, communication and teamwork above raw trade knowledge for entry-level ITI recruits.

Core cluster to memorise: communication, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, self-management, safety awareness, financial awareness.

Hard skills are trade-specific and certified (welding, wiring, machining); soft/employability skills are transferable across every trade and every employer.

Formal sector employment means a written contract, statutory wages, PF/ESI and defined hours; informal sector work lacks these protections and is generally less stable.

Wage employment, self-employment and apprenticeship are the three main post-ITI pathways; apprenticeship is time-bound training with a stipend, not a permanent job.

A résumé for an ITI pass-out lists trade certificate, ITI trade and year, practical projects, apprenticeship/NTS details, and 2–3 references - keep it to one page.

An interview answer to 'tell me about yourself' should run 60–90 seconds: name, trade, training, one practical strength, one example, and interest in the role.

Communication = Sender → Message (encoded) → Channel → Receiver (decoded) → Feedback; noise at any stage distorts the message.

7Cs of effective communication: Clear, Concise, Concrete, Correct, Coherent, Complete, Courteous.

Active listening means full attention, no interruption, paraphrasing back ('So you mean…'), and asking clarifying questions.

Non-verbal components and typical weight: body language/posture ~55%, tone of voice ~38%, words ~7% (Mehrabian's often-cited split, valid mainly for feelings/attitudes).

Formal channel = written, recorded, hierarchical (email, memo, report); informal channel = the grapevine, fast but unreliable and unverifiable.

In a workplace email: subject line states purpose, one idea per paragraph, greeting and sign-off, and no slang or ALL CAPS (reads as shouting).

Feedback sandwich for corrective feedback: specific positive → the specific behaviour to change → encouragement/next step; never attack the person.

Barriers to communication: physical noise, semantic/jargon mismatch, psychological (fear, prejudice), cultural, and organisational (long chain of command).

Hardware = physical parts (CPU, RAM, keyboard, monitor); software = programs (OS, applications). Firmware sits between them on the device.

RAM is volatile working memory, cleared on power-off; storage (HDD/SSD) is non-volatile and keeps data. More RAM helps multitasking, not storage capacity.

1 byte = 8 bits; 1 KB = 1024 bytes, 1 MB = 1024 KB, 1 GB = 1024 MB, 1 TB = 1024 GB.

File path structure: drive letter → folder → subfolder → filename with extension (e.g., C:\ITI\Notes\report.docx). Extension identifies file type: .docx, .xlsx, .pdf, .jpg, .mp4.

Shortcuts to know: Ctrl+C copy, Ctrl+X cut, Ctrl+V paste, Ctrl+Z undo, Ctrl+S save, Ctrl+P print, Ctrl+F find, Alt+Tab switch apps.

Strong password rule: 12+ characters, mix of upper/lower case, digits and symbols, unique per account; never share OTPs - no bank or office asks for an OTP.

Phishing signs: urgency, spelling errors, mismatched sender address, unexpected attachment or payment link; verify by calling the official number, not the link.

Digital payments: UPI uses a VPA (name@bank); never scan a QR code to receive money - scanning only sends. Check payee name before approving.

Entrepreneur = identifies an opportunity, takes risk, mobilises resources and organises production; self-employment applies this to one's own trade.

Business plan sections: idea/product, market and customers, competition, operations, pricing, finance (cost, revenue, break-even), and risk.

Break-even quantity = Fixed Cost ÷ (Selling Price per unit − Variable Cost per unit). Below this volume the business makes a loss.

Working capital = Current Assets − Current Liabilities; it funds day-to-day operations (raw material, wages, electricity).

Sources of finance: own savings, friends/family, bank term loan, MUDRA loans (Shishu/Kishore/Tarun tiers), and government trade/self-employment schemes.

MSME/Udyam registration gives formal recognition and access to schemes, subsidies and easier credit for small enterprises.

Market research basics: identify the customer, find the price they will pay, check competitors, and test demand on a small scale before large investment.

GST: registration becomes mandatory above the turnover threshold (₹40 lakh for goods, ₹20 lakh for services in most states; lower for special category states) - verify current limits.

Hierarchy of controls, most to least effective: Elimination → Substitution → Engineering controls → Administrative controls → PPE. PPE is the last line of defence.

PPE by trade: safety goggles/face shield for grinding and welding, welding helmet with correct shade, leather apron and gloves, ear plugs/muffs above ~85 dB, safety shoes, helmet, harness for height work.

Fire classes and extinguishers: A (solid) water/ABC, B (flammable liquid) foam/CO2/ABC, C (gas) shut off and use ABC/CO2, D (metal) special dry powder, E (electrical) CO2 or dry powder - never water.

PASS for fire extinguisher: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of fire, Squeeze the handle, Sweep side to side.

Electrical safety: lock-out/tag-out before maintenance, verify dead with a tester, use ELCB/RCCB and earthing; never work on live circuits alone.

5S workplace order: Sort (Seiri), Set in order (Seiton), Shine (Seiso), Standardise (Seiketsu), Sustain (Shitsuke).

Safety signs: red = prohibition/fire equipment, yellow = warning, blue = mandatory action, green = safe condition/first aid/exit.

Report every incident and near-miss; a near-miss is a free warning that prevents the next injury.

Occupational health hazards: physical (noise, heat, vibration, radiation), chemical (dust, fumes, solvents), biological (bacteria, fungi), ergonomic (repetitive strain, poor posture), psychosocial (stress).

Silica dust from cutting/grinding concrete causes silicosis; control by wet cutting, local exhaust ventilation and a fitted respirator (P2/N95 or better).

Noise action level: hearing protection required from 85 dB(A) over an 8-hour day; risk rises sharply as level increases (3 dB increase ≈ double the sound energy).

Ergonomics for desk/bench work: screen at eye level, elbows ~90°, feet flat, back supported, and a 5-minute break or stretch every 30–45 minutes.

First aid essentials: cool a burn under running water for at least 20 minutes; for chemical splash to eyes, flush with clean water for 15+ minutes and seek help.

Waste segregation: green bin = wet/biodegradable, blue = dry recyclable, red = hazardous/biomedical, yellow = infectious/clinical (where applicable).

3Rs of environmental care: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - in that order of priority; energy and water saving at the workplace counts as pollution prevention.

Personal hygiene at work: wash hands before eating, no eating in the work area, change out of contaminated clothing, and shower after heavy dust/fume exposure.

Work ethics = punctuality, honesty, responsibility, respect, confidentiality, and doing quality work without supervision.

Integrity test: would you be comfortable if your supervisor saw exactly what you did? If not, don't do it.

Confidentiality: employer data, customer details, drawings and pricing are not to be shared outside the workplace - including on social media.

Conflict of interest: do not accept gifts, side jobs or favours that could influence work decisions; declare it to the supervisor instead.

Attendance and leave discipline: inform the supervisor in advance, follow the leave-application process, and hand over pending work before going.

Professional communication under pressure: address the problem, not the person; never argue with a customer in front of others - escalate politely.

Quality responsibility: check your own work against the drawing/specification before handing it over; rework is a cost the customer pays for.

Digital ethics: do not use office systems for personal trading, do not install unlicensed software, and do not share login credentials.

Eisenhower matrix: Urgent+Important = do now; Important+Not urgent = schedule; Urgent+Not important = delegate; Neither = delete.

Pareto principle (80/20): roughly 80% of results come from 20% of tasks - identify and protect the high-value 20%.

Parkinson's Law: work expands to fill the time available; set a fixed deadline for each task to prevent drift.

Time log method: record activities in 15–30 minute blocks for one week to find the real time-wasters before planning.

SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound - 'finish the panel wiring by Friday 4 pm' beats 'work harder'.

To-do list discipline: maximum 5–6 priority tasks per day, written the previous evening, with the hardest task first (eat the frog).

Punctuality rule: arrive 10–15 minutes early; being late once is an accident, being late habitually is a discipline problem.

Delegation and escalation: pass on a task only with clear instructions and a deadline; escalate blockers early, not at the deadline.

Tuckman's stages of team development: Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing (→ Adjourning). Conflict in Storming is normal, not failure.

Belbin team roles include Plant (ideas), Resource Investigator, Coordinator, Shaper, Monitor Evaluator, Teamworker, Implementer, Completer-Finisher, Specialist.

Stages of team development are about roles and relationships; a team that never disagrees is often avoiding problems, not solving them.

Active listening plus 'I' statements ('I felt the deadline was unclear') reduce defensiveness compared with 'you' accusations.

Assertiveness vs aggression: assertive = state the issue, the impact, and the request; aggressive = attack the person; passive = stay silent.

Giving feedback: describe the specific behaviour and its effect, not the personality; ask for the other person's view before suggesting a fix.

Cross-cultural and generational teamwork: avoid slang and assumptions, confirm understanding, and respect different communication styles.

Conflict resolution steps: cool down → clarify the facts separately → find common ground → agree on an action → follow up later.

PDCA cycle: Plan → Do → Check → Act; repeat until the problem is closed.

5 Whys: ask 'why' repeatedly (typically five times) to move from symptom to root cause.

Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram categories: Man, Machine, Material, Method, Measurement, Environment (6M).

Root cause vs symptom: fixing a symptom removes one failure; fixing the root cause prevents the whole failure class.

Brainstorming rules: generate many ideas first, defer judgement, encourage wild ideas, and combine/improve on others' ideas before selecting.

Decision matrix: list options against weighted criteria and score each; the highest weighted total wins, and the weights must be agreed first.

Critical thinking checks: Is the source reliable? Is the sample big enough? Is correlation being mistaken for causation? What evidence would change my mind?

DMAIC (Six Sigma) sequence: Define → Measure → Analyse → Improve → Control.

Career progression after ITI: apprentice/NTS → skilled technician → senior technician/supervisor → foreman/manager, or self-employment.

Vertical mobility = promotion up the hierarchy; horizontal mobility = moving to a related trade or role at a similar level.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) under NSDC/Skill India allows experienced workers to be assessed and certified without repeating full training.

NSQF levels describe competency; an ITI pass-out is typically placed at a level consistent with its trade certification, and higher NSQF levels require further training.

Upskilling routes: advanced modules under ITI (craft instructor training, technician/supervisor courses), apprenticeships, and industry certifications.

A learning plan should be written with a target date and a measurable outcome (e.g., 'complete a PLC basics course by March').

Keep a portfolio: certificates, project photos, apprenticeship logbook and employer references - it is evidence when you apply for the next job.

Digital learning sources: SWAYAM, NPTEL, Skill India Digital, and trade-specific manufacturer training - verify the provider is recognised.

Simple interest = P × R × T ÷ 100; compound interest grows on principal plus accumulated interest, so it always exceeds simple interest for the same rate and term.

Rule of 72: years to double money ≈ 72 ÷ annual interest rate (at 12%, about 6 years).

EMI on a loan covers interest first and principal later; a longer tenure means a lower EMI but a higher total interest paid.

Savings vs current account: savings earns interest and suits individuals; current is for businesses, usually pays no interest, and allows unlimited transactions.

Accounting equation: Assets = Liabilities + Capital (Owner's Equity). Every transaction keeps it balanced.

Debit/credit rule: debit increases assets and expenses; credit increases liabilities, capital and income.

Budget = expected income − planned expenses; a surplus is savings, a deficit must be funded by borrowing or cutting costs.

Keep records: receipts, invoices, wage register and a simple cash book; separate business and personal money to know the real profit.

Insurance basics: life insurance protects dependents; health insurance covers hospital costs; both need honest disclosure of facts at proposal.