Lesson #2: Comparing Essential Skills Levels

To develop an understanding that the 9 Essential Skills are found in all jobs, but not all jobs use the 9 Essential Skills in the same way.

• Know that the 9 Essential Skills are found in all jobs
• Each job uses the 9 Essential Skills in different ways
• Not every job needs the same level of ability when it comes to Essential Skills

The 9 Essential Skills are found in all jobs. It doesn’t matter what you do, or where you work. If you are on the job, you will use all of the 9 Essential Skills.

Not every job needs the same level of ability when it comes to Essential Skills. Think of the different skills that a lawyer and a janitor needs. Both jobs require reading, but do janitors need to be able to read and understand laws, court documents, and contracts? No, they don’t. But janitors do need to be able to read product labels, instructions, memos and work schedules.

There are many examples of different jobs in the DVD. Below are some pictures and job titles.

Working alone or in a group

• List examples of how each Essential Skill is used in that job
• Compare your answers between jobs. Notice how one job uses a skill in one way, while another job uses it differently.
• Think of your job or the job you want. List how that job uses each Essential Skill.
• Compare the Essential skills used at your job, or the job you want to the other jobs pictured in this activity.

You can print this worksheet to help you with your answers