While you’re studying in Community Services you will have the opportunity to acquire transferable skills.
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‘Transferable skills’ are not specific to the program studied and can be applied to a wide range of
employment opportunities. [Source]
What do students tell us about why they chose Community Services?
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A dedicated faculty accompanied them on their learning journey
Small classes led to opportunities for deep/transformational learning.
A diverse student body prepared them for their work in the field.
Critical thinking skills assisted them in finding problems and solving them.
Relationships with students, faculty, and field supervisors enhanced their learning and
employment network.
A diploma or degree put the finishing touches to their resume
Field placement was an opportunity for applying their skills and created an employment edge!
What Skills Do Employers Look For?
Employers want the quick learning, adaptive professional with a reliable work ethic; someone who can
apply critical thinking, to innovate and create solutions in the most challenging of situations. We strive to
continuously improve the employability of our graduates by developing transferable skills in our students
throughout their academic career.
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“Toronto Next: Return on Innovation” (2012), a study commissioned by George Brown College,
determined that today’s Canadian employers share a particular interest in graduates with well-developed
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‘soft skills’ [Source] and the many other ‘employability skills’ commonly attained throughout
postsecondary education. [Source]
Success Stories
“My teachers at George Brown gave me the confidence, and inspired me to think and practice in a way
that would continually empower individuals that I will be working with in the social service field. The
supportive learning environment allowed me to gain new perspective in how to deal with challenging
situations, and taught me advocacy and problem solving skills to build individual and community
competence and capacity. Most importantly, the work placement component of the program gave me the
experience to apply what I had learned in the classroom and carry out in a real life setting. My postdegree education I received at George Brown College definitely left a lasting impression on me and it
equipped me with the fundamental skills that I use in my social work practice.”
Gail Poskitt (2013 graduate, Social Service Worker [Fast-Track] )
The following Venn diagram has been adapted from the “Employability Skills Profile: The Critical Skills
Required of the Canadian Workforce” released by The Conference Board of Canada (2013). [Source]
Academic Skills
•Communication
•Evaluation and Critical Thinking
•Learning and Application
Transferable Skills
Personal Management Skills
•Positive Attitudes and
Behaviours
•Responsibility
•Adaptability
Teamwork Skills
•Planning
•Problem Solving
•Collaborating
•Facilitating