Be Curious

Being Curious. It actually is a valued transferable skill that employers look for in a new hire. It stands next to imagination, problem solving, critical thinking, open-mindedness, and flexibility.

Transferable skills are abilities learned throughout life that are relevant (transferable) across all professions and workplaces. Sometimes referred to as soft skills. Antonym: Career-specific skills, also known as hard skills. Transferable skills are valuable as markers of your ability to work effectively in teams or to lead.

Questions are an excellent indicator of curiosity. Questions, not answers! For homeschooling parents, you might need to hear this. You don’t have to have the answers, you just need to encourage your student’s curiosity. Practice this sentence: “That’s a great question!” or when your student does share a thought, encourage exploration without having to be right. Practice this answer: “Tell me more.”

Learning Something New

A recent TED Talk suggests that in just 20 hours, or 45 minutes a day for one month, we can learn a new skill. Teach your student these steps and you’ve developed a highly employable self-teaching student!

1. Identify what you want to learn and deconstruct the skill. Learn the most important elements first.
2. Learn enough to self-correct and be okay with making mistakes. The more you learn, the better you will become at self-correcting.
3. Remove the barriers to practice. If helpful, build in a study buddy: music, coffee, a friend.
4. Practice at least 20 hours. This is enough to overcome the frustration barrier.

Don’t stop there. Model what you are teaching! As homeschool conferences are canceled and we are spending more hours at home, I am learning a few new skills myself: Delivering workshops using Zoom, video editing, using Google Maps to plan bike trips, and making corn-hole boards with my husband. What’s on your list?

Cultivating Transferable Skills

Start by informing yourself about what soft skills are and being aware of your own. Remember to view weak points as opportunities for development and strengths as a natural gift. The best way to develop either in your student is through experiences. Encourage your student to be involved: Join a club or team, travel abroad, volunteer, teach others, try a new hobby, work a short-term or part-time job, seek opportunities to serve others.

The results can be amazing. Use this rubric to measure your student’s progress:

• I can produce unique products.
• I can ask questions to advance and develop my thinking and work.
• I can identify themes and use these to make predictions.
• I can find opportunities to pursue personal passions.
• I can design my own learning experience to seek out new opportunities.

Build your personal examples into talking points and be ready to share with an employer for a winner interview.

Copyright © 2020 Cheri Frame – All Rights Reserved.

Category: Blog