Seven skills you can buy

It's easy to enhance your employability by learning a number of talents at your own pace. Su Quinn outlines a few resources to consider

Looking to develop employer-friendly skills? There are some great resources at your fingertips, if you look past campus careers services and exploit commercial learning programs. A range of inexpensive tuition CD-ROMs, books and cassettes can equip graduates with vocational talents popular with employers, and help snare a well-paid job.

1. Language CDs and cassettes
There are excellent CDs and cassettes available to self-teach foreign languages. The Linguaphone series is a UK bestseller. Popular courses are also offered by Pimsleur, available at and larger bookshops.

"I listened to the tapes for an hour every couple of days. Self-learning meant I never felt stressed or pressured to complete the course. I now possess a very comfortable level of Spanish, and have begun to notice the amount of jobs which require a foreign language," says environmental engineering graduate Martin Kalwak.

"Skill in a foreign language, even if not backed up by a formal qualification, shows potential employees possess a breadth of interest," says Richard Homes of Capital One. "This will enhance employability even if there is no direct link between a foreign language and the role applied for."

2. Touch-typing interactive CD-ROMs
Graduates can purchase interactive CD-ROMs for around £10 from high-street computer stores, and develop strong touch-typing skills in a matter of days. "Using a CD-ROM I developed a skill which I believe has enhanced my employability," says Sean Rafferty, a mature student from Nottingham University. "I now have a permanent job, and believe being able to type quickly makes me a much more attractive employee."

"Graduates who are unable to type quickly and accurately will find great difficulty securing employment in the today's job market, whatever their academic qualifications," says Adecco representative Louise Oliver. "Many employers favour candidates who can type at 50 words per minute or more. This is especially true for temp jobs, which are often the bread and butter for graduates entering the job market."

3. Driving lessons
The vocational benefits of a full-driving licence are often underestimated. It's unusual for graduate jobs to specifically request full driving licences, but many employers need staff who are able to travel easily. National driving schools such as the AA, or BSM allow students to gain instruction in their home town and university town. Click on or

4. Software guides
"The majority of workplaces will expect graduates to have a good understanding of Microsoft Office," says Steve Harvey of UK Microsoft. "Fortunately, getting to know the basics is easy." University IT departments often provide free guidebooks which break down the most useful aspects of Microsoft Office. CD-ROMs are also available from high-street stores, and offer grounding in the basics of Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.

5. Internet guide books
"Many graduates have little idea of how web pages are constructed, how the web works, or why errors occur," says web designer and IT programmer James Tan. "Any potential employee with basic knowledge of website construction is likely to be an asset to an employer.

"The Internet: How to Get Connected and Explore the World Wide Web by Deni Bown is an excellent teach-yourself book, and is available from It's also worth looking in your local library or bookshop for other internet guides and resources."

6. Shorthand books
Shorthand is a low-cost vocational skill to acquire, but it takes time to develop high speeds. A basic Teeline-course book costs around £6, and recommends at least 60 hours' practice for proficiency. A pen and paper are all that is necessary to learn this hugely useful skill.

7. Accountancy distance-learning courses
You can purchase distance-learning courses in Sage payroll and accountancy for around £200. These courses lead to a highly marketable qualification. Click on, or ask your university careers adviser for recommendations on local evening courses.

"I would be very impressed by a potential employee who had taken an accountancy course during university," says Marco Bond, recruiter for London marketing company, Elite Advertising. "Even if it were not directly relevant to the position, it shows the candidate has looked at what the employment market may require of them."

"Graduate job applicants need to be finding ways to stand out," says Charles Macleod of PricewaterhouseCoopers, "and a supplementary course of study is one good way of doing so."