Digital Skills Career Progression

Overview

Framework:
RQF
Level:
Level 1
Unit No:
Y/618/3645
Credits:
3
Guided learning hours:
24 hours

Aim

This unit provides learners with an opportunity to explore the importance of digital skills in the workplace, not just in the digital and IT industry, but also other industries. Learners will learn how digital skills are required in different types of job roles, and the digital skills valued by employers to establish a successful career in today’s digital economy. Learners will also identify their own career/progression goals and plan how they will develop their digital skills to meet their intended goals.

Unit Learning Outcomes

1

Know the digital skills that are valued by employers. 

  • Industry specific: technical knowledge, working procedures and practices, etc.
  • General: skills: communication, interpersonal skills, planning skills, organisational skills, time management, team working, numeric skills, creativity, problem solving, etc.
  • Attitudes: determined, independent, integrity, tolerant, dependable, leadership, confidence, self-motivation, etc.

Assessment Criteria

  • 1.1

    Identify the different types of digital skills that are valued by employers. 

2

Know the digital skills required in different job roles. 

  • Digital skills covers a broad range of roles across a number of sectors, for example, spreadsheet software is not only used by accountants and consultants, these skills are also essential to administrative, HR assistants and a number of other roles. Forklift/delivery drivers and warehouse workers also need digital skills as they need to know how to use inventory management systems.
  • Learners need to be aware that digital skills can be categorised in the following ways:
  • Baseline digital skills - digital literacy skills that employers ask for in the vast majority of jobs across all sectors in the labour market include: spreadsheet and word processing tools such as Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word, as well as enterprise management software like Oracle and SAP. These proficiencies are increasingly becoming a basic skill required for a majority of occupations.
  • Digital/IT skills - competences in and/or knowledge of IT tools including computer programs and programming languages.
  • Specific digital skills - digital skill requirements for more technically oriented jobs in areas such as customer relationship management (CRM) software, computer networking, digital media and design software, social media tools, and search engine analysis.

Assessment Criteria

  • 2.1

    Describe how people use digital skills to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.

  • 2.2

    Identify the digital skills required for a specific job role.

3

Be able to produce a digital skills development plan to meet intended career/progression goals.

  • Learners need to prepare for employment/progression and think about the different roles and sectors, such as the digital and creative industries where roles in software and programming, networking support or digital design are in demand, or the finance, marketing and machining and manufacturing industries where roles in data analysis, digital marketing and computer-aided design are required.

Assessment Criteria

  • 3.1

    Outline intended digital skills career/progression goals.

  • 3.2

    Produce a plan to develop digital skills to meet intended career/progression goals.