Glossary of Technical Terms and FAQs

Technical Terms

Work ethic – this is a set of skills that an employee should have. Some may be arrive on time or work in a team.

Soft skills –these are skills people have that can help them do task at work or elsewhere for example take leadership, creativity, problem solving etc.

Goals – these are what you would like to achieve after so much work

Strategy – A plan of how you are going to do things

Objectives – These are something you aim to achieve, very similar to goals.

Prioritizing – this is putting something as your top object to complete on your to do list.

Diary – This is used to record events from your past or plan something to do in the future. These usually record the date of when you write to it.

Targets – This is what you what to achieve after so much work again very similar to a goal or an objective.

In-tray – This is either a tray were paper is left on or an email inbox.

Independence – This is someone who is able to work without needing to rely on anyone else for help.

Facts – These are points that can be proved to be correct.

Opinions – These are what people believe to be correct in their own mind but are not proven. People may have different opinions about different things like; “what’s better white or dark chocolate?” some people may believe white and some people may believe dark.

Summarise – This to sum up the points you have put forward in a discussion.

Paraphrase – This to reword what you are just after saying.

Open questions – This is a question which will most likely have many different answers to the one question.

Closed questions – This is a question that will have one short answer.

Probing questions – This is a question that tries to find additional information hat has not yet been figured out.

Frequently asked questions

Q1. What are the main attributes that employers seem to be seeking in a prospective employee?

The main attributes that employers seem to be seeking nowadays in a prospective employee are organisational skills, time management, ability to work in a team work, good verbal communication skills, good written communication skills, ability to work with numbers and creativity. Other attributes that employers may look for are determination, independence, dependability, self-motivation and problem solving so it is important to have all these attributes. 

Q2. What are “soft” skills and why do employers value them so much from prospective employees?

These are skills such as analytical thinking, creativity, diplomacy, effective communication, flexibility, leadership, listening skills, problem solving, team building and a readiness for change. The reason why employers value these skills are because these skills show you are capable to work with others to solve problems or to get tasks completed.   

Q3. What are the main barriers to communication?

Hearing disability, sight disability, distractions, lack of interest, background noise and the list goes on.

Q4. What do the principles of communication depend upon?

The principles of communication depend upon the listener or receiver being able to understand what is being communicated to them. For instance someone who cannot read but can hear will understand verbal communication better than written communication making verbal communication the better option to use when communicating to them.

Q5. Why must you be sensitive to cultural differences or age differences in your audience?

What you say or write may not be intended upon being offensive but may result in being offensive to people with other cultures or people of different ages which is why you should be sensitive of others because someone may end up getting hurt.  

Q6. Why is negative body language a barrier to communication?

Negative body language will show you as being sad or angry, to other people this will a barrier to communication because they may think you are in a bad mood and don’t want to talk to anyone or they may think you might lash out at them for trying to talk to them.