Employability Skills and Workplace Communication
What the exam tests
Employability skills are the NSQF-mandated generic skills that sit alongside technical training: communication, self-management, teamwork, digital literacy, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, green skills and customer orientation. Questions usually test communication in practice - emails, calls, meetings, feedback - rather than definitions.
Core rules
- 7 Cs: clear, concise, concrete, correct, coherent, complete, courteous.
- Active listening: attend, do not interrupt, paraphrase to confirm, ask open questions.
- Email: meaningful subject line; one topic; greeting with name; short paragraphs; attachment mentioned in the body; professional signature; proofread before sending.
- Phone: answer within three rings, greet with organisation and your name, ask permission before holding or transferring, thank the caller, let them end the call.
- Non-verbal cues: eye contact, open posture, steady tone - these carry much of the message face to face.
- Barriers: physical (noise), semantic (jargon, weak English), psychological (fear, prejudice), organisational (no clear channel).
Worked example
Original line: Send report fast, I need it today. Rewrite: Subject: Sales report for 12 May - needed by 4 pm. Body: Dear Ms Rao, could you please send the sales report for 12 May by 4 pm today? I need it for the client review. Thank you. Reasoning: the subject names the item and deadline, the request is specific and courteous, a reason is given, and no commands or capitals remain.
Traps
- Using Reply All when only one person needs the reply.
- Writing in ALL CAPS, which reads as shouting.
- Leaving the subject blank or using a vague one like Update.
- Sharing a colleague's personal data on a call without consent.