The word employability gets used a lot in schools, colleges, and career conversations. But what does it actually mean? And why does it matter so much to both students preparing for the world of work and employers looking for new talent?
What Do We Mean by Employability?
Employability is not about having a job right now. It’s about having the skills, qualities, and attitudes that make you ready for work and able to succeed in different roles.
Think of it as your toolkit for the workplace. Employers are not just looking for qualifications; they want people who can:
- Work well with others
- Solve problems
- Communicate clearly
- Adapt to new situations
- Show initiative and resilience
These transferable skills matter across every career, whether you’re going into business, healthcare, engineering, the arts, or anything in between.
Why Employability Matters to Employers
For employers, qualifications are only part of the picture. They need people who can fit into teams, bring fresh ideas, and grow with the organisation.
Employers consistently say that employability skills are just as important as exam results. In fact, in many cases they can be the deciding factor between candidates with similar qualifications.
Strong employability means:
- Less time spent on training basic workplace behaviours
- Employees who are more confident, adaptable, and proactive
- Teams that work well together and solve problems effectively
In other words, employability helps businesses succeed.
Why Employability Matters to Students
For students, employability is about building confidence and opportunity. It’s knowing that you can step into a workplace and contribute from day one.
By developing employability skills, you:
- Make yourself more attractive to future employers
- Open up a wider range of opportunities
- Feel more prepared for interviews, apprenticeships, and further study
- Build a stronger sense of what you’re good at and where you can grow
And here’s the key: employability is not something you suddenly develop after school or college. You build it gradually through experiences in class, hobbies, part-time jobs, volunteering, and even the way you approach challenges in everyday life.
How Startingpoint Supports Employability
At Startingpoint, we believe employability is about more than just grades. That’s why we help students capture and reflect on the full range of skills they’re developing.
With a Startingpoint profile, students can record:
- Strengths and achievements beyond academics
- Teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving experiences
- Personal interests and aspirations
- Feedback and reflections on how they like to learn and work
This creates a fuller picture to share with teachers, employers, or universities. It shows not just what students know, but what they can do, and that’s exactly what employers want to see.
Startingpoint is a student employability platform that has been made to allow pupils to demonstrate their personal growth over time, document achievements that don’t appear on a traditional CV, and reflect on their skills in a structured way. It ensures that employability is visible, measurable, and celebrated alongside academic progress.
Ready for the Future
Employability is about readiness. It’s the mix of skills, behaviours, and attitudes that help you succeed wherever your career takes you. For employers, it means hiring people who are adaptable and effective. For students, it means confidence, opportunity, and a clearer sense of direction.
And the good news is that employability is something everyone can build. Every project, every challenge, every reflection adds to the toolkit you’ll carry with you into the world of work.
Your qualifications show what you’ve studied. Your employability shows who you are and how you can succeed. Both matter, but together, they’re powerful.
