Help learners identify and articulate their personal strengths and experiences, including informal roles, prison work, and volunteer jobs.
Timeline:
Module 2 Worksheet supporting sections 1, 3, 6 and 9
Slide 1: Welcome to Module 2 – Your Strengths & Experience
Today’s focus is on what you bring—your skills, qualities, and experiences. Remember, all experience matters, whether formal or informal, paid or unpaid.
Slide 2: What Are Strengths?
Strengths are things you excel at, either naturally or through practice, such as being a good listener, reliable, quick learner, or problem solver. Reflect on compliments you've received, as they often highlight your strengths.
Slide 3: Activity – Strengths Quiz
Distribute a quiz where learners select statements that describe them, such as “I enjoy helping others” or “I like solving problems.” Then, lead a brief discussion asking, “What did you learn about yourself?”
Slide 4: Life Experience = Valuable Skills
Experience isn’t just from jobs—it also comes from life. For example, parenting develops multitasking and patience, prison work builds routine and following instructions, and helping others fosters responsibility and communication.
Slide 5: Rocket Word – Transferable Skills
Transferable skills are abilities you can apply across different roles, such as teamwork, communication, and responsibility. Ask learners to reflect on which skills they’ve used in various parts of their lives.
Slide 6: Matching Skills to Job Roles (Pair Activity)
Give learners a handout with a list of skills and jobs, and have them match skills to the appropriate roles. Then, discuss as a group, asking if there were any surprises.
Slide 7: Group Discussion – What Are You Good At?
Ask learners to share one skill they’re good at and where they learned it. The trainer models an example first to encourage safe and supportive sharing.
Slide 8: Rocket Word – Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is understanding your strengths and limits, which matters because employers value candidates who recognize their own worth. Ask learners to share one strength they’re proud of.
Slide 9: Reflection – My Strengths & Experience Sheet
Give learners a handout prompting them to list three personal strengths, one experience demonstrating responsibility, and one example of teamwork. Allow five minutes to complete, then have them share their answers in pairs.
Slide 10: Summary & Key Takeaways
Remind learners that their life experiences are valuable and should be owned, as these stories will be used in their CVs. Encourage them to keep their reflection sheets safe for use in Module 3.
To wrap up, recap the key points by emphasizing that all experiences—whether formal or informal, paid or unpaid—are valuable. Point out that strengths come from a variety of life experiences, such as parenting, volunteering, or time in prison, all of which help build transferable skills. Review the important terms from today’s session—strengths, transferable skills, self-awareness, and life experience—to reinforce understanding. You may invite learners to share one strength they discovered or were reminded of during the session, encouraging everyone to participate and praising all contributions. Remind learners to keep their “My Strengths & Experience” sheets safe, as they will use this information in Module 3 to begin crafting their CVs. Finally, preview the next session, which will focus on how to structure a CV effectively. Close on a positive note by affirming that everyone has valuable experiences to own and express with confidence.
What are transferable skills?
A) Skills used only in one specific job
B) Skills you can use in different types of jobs ✅
C) Skills from school only
D) None of the above
Which of these is a strength?
A) Being tired
B) Being on time ✅
C) Being nervous
D) Being unsure
Which experience could show teamwork?
A) Reading a book
B) Cooking for yourself
C) Coaching others in a workshop ✅
D) Going for a walk alone
Which of these is a life experience that could build responsibility?
A) Playing video games
B) Watching TV
C) Caring for a younger sibling ✅
D) Taking naps
What does self-awareness mean?
A) Being good at everything
B) Knowing what your friends think of you
C) Understanding your own strengths and limits ✅
D) Talking about yourself a lot
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