Written by Tom Davie – Lead Advisor and former Head of Sunderland Futures and the Careers and Employability Service, University of Sunderland
“I dream, I test my dream against my beliefs, I dare to take risks and then I execute my vision to make my dreams come true.” Walt Disney
I’ve always been one for using quotes. To me they are similar to learning outcomes at the beginning of courses; putting into context the training and development to come; ensuring deliverers and participants remain focused throughout on what should be achieved.
Let me indulge a little further in this with another quote,
“Market changes are driving demand for higher skills…Don’t expect to see the market get any less competitive for graduate, [ graduate] apprentice or intern hires.” Stephen Isherwood, Chief Executive, The Association of Graduate Recruiters
I am approaching more closely the circumstances surrounding this blog. From Walt Disney’s vision, to see possibilities, to strategise, and then achieve intentions, we have now progressed to a more contemporary perspective in terms of the challenges facing students to realise their career ambitions in a challenging global labour market.
Both of these quotes to me have significance and a correlation in the context of the newest Epigeum course, Skills and Attributes for Career Success. It has been produced to proactively encourage students to achieve their dreams [ambitions] whatever sector of employment they progress into. But more on this later…
Achieving their ambitions may not come immediately as the famous actor, Sophia Loren, explained when she said, “It took me fourteen years to become an overnight success.”
An interesting assessment, that whatever the talents one may possess, reaching that goal may not be immediate. The film producer, director, audience [substitute employer] may not recognise immediately, in the individual, the skills and attributes that can lead to enhanced organisational ‘prosperity’ by hiring them and promoting them into and within the corporation. Skills and attributes need to be continually explored, investigated and evidenced by the student, employee and the employer for long term achievement and development.
This leads me onto my own quote as to why I believe so passionately and enthusiastically in Epigeum’s most recently published course – Skills and Attributes for Career Success, and equally as to why as Lead Advisor for this suite of courses, I am proud to be part of this expertly written, dynamic and interactive resource and see its benefits to students, universities and employers.
“The courses within it are the tools of empowerment for students to succeed in their career ambitions. Methods of recognising and comprehending the skills and attributes they have and will further acquire that will ultimately lead to continued personal prosperity and growth.”
That has been for me (and may I say all those involved in the development and production in the course) a fundamental key objective of this course. To support students and universities in understanding the key skills and attributes needed to be successful in the workplace and indeed life.
As the artist Mary Dunbar said, “We are gifted in a unique and important way. It is our privilege and adventure to discover our own special light.”
Register here for a free, no obligation institutional trial of Epigeum’s latest online course – Skills and Attributes for Career Success: Developing an Enterprising Mindset.