In a series of mentoring sessions organised by Blueprint for All, a selected group of year 12 learners have had the privilege of engaging with industry leaders to delve into a range of life and vocational skills.
Blueprint for all work with young people, communities and organisations to provide them with tangible opportunities to thrive. This session, led by experienced professional Yanmo, focused on personal transferable skills development.
With nearly two decades of experience in various fields including hospitality and aviation, Yanmo brought a wealth of practical knowledge, showcasing how transferable skills can be applied across different working environments. After introducing herself, she engaged with the learners to explore their future aspirations, which ranged from aspiring air traffic controllers to budding 3D modellers.
Yanmo guided the learners through the process of identifying their personal skills, emphasising the importance of self-reflection. Thought-provoking questions such as "What comes easily to you?" and "What do you gravitate towards?" encouraged the learners to recognise their inherent strengths.
The session continued with a deep dive into the concept of hard and soft skills. Yanmo explained how transferable skills combine both types and provided practical advice on effectively implementing these skills in various professional scenarios.
| Hard skills are measurable and have quantifiable abilities. They are technical skills required for a job e.g programming, typing, graphic design, data analysis etc Soft skills are your people skills that cannot be quantified or measured e.g communication adaptability, creativity, problem solving etc |
Learners then actively participated in reflection exercises. They shared personal anecdotes that showcased their communication skills, described situations where they successfully handled pressure, shared examples of overcoming challenges, and discussed methods for staying organized and managing time effectively. These self-reflection exercises enabled the learners to identify and articulate key skills such as adaptability, creativity, communication (both verbal and non-verbal), problem-solving, resilience, leadership, teamwork, relationship building, and time management.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Yanmo for her informative mentorship and to Blueprint for All for organising such impactful opportunities for our young learners.
