New platform content: ‘First Job’ learning module

The Persona Life Skills online learning platform now includes a new teacher-facilitated learning module, 'First Job', in which students learn social-emotional life skills to help them prepare in advance to make a smooth start in their first job.

20-Apr-22

By Dr Leila Khouja Walker, Chief Product Officer

In the Persona Life Skills social-emotional online learning platform, 'First Job' is a new 60 min teacher-facilitated learning module, where students learn how to prepare in advance for a new job. This new module is part of a growing library of modules covering different aspects of Life Transitions, including Work Experience, Interview Ready, and Leadership.

Students are taken on a journey through preparing mentally for their first day at work, thinking about appropriate behaviour to make a good first impression, and the importance of time management. They are given tips for making a smooth start at work, and become more aware of areas to be mindful of when interacting with new colleagues, including when working from home.

Questions and activities in this module help students develop three social-emotional life skills, through a personality insights lens:

• Being Adaptable – Being able to adapt my thinking and communication, to achieve positive outcomes
• Speaking Formally – Speaking Formally to others, eg. giving a presentation or in an interview
• Time Management – Managing my time, so I don't disappoint myself or others

In the 'Get Your Bearings' warm-up, students consider what they might need to think about in the days before they start work, and how their mix of personality styles could affect this preparation. They are given scenarios to help them plan for their first day, and prepare to adapt to the workplace.

In the 'Explore' knowledge acquisition section, students are asked to consider the importance of Time Management – a key skill to help with getting along with colleagues and performing well at work – and how their Persona might influence their control over their own time. They also work on tips for working remotely from home, a common situation in the post COVID-19 world.

As students reach the 'Viewpoint' plenary at the end of the module, they are asked to reflect upon strategies they would like to use as they get ready to start their first job, so they feel well prepared and are able to make that all-important good first impression.

First Job is part of the Discovery Islands curriculum – the Persona Life Skills life challenge learning modules. Teachers with a free account can play through this module. A subscription is required to make it available to students. 

Persona Education offers free access to its Persona Life Skills e-learning platform for secondary schools and colleges interested in developing their students’ social-emotional life skills, to boost wellbeing and employability. To request a live demo of the platform please get in touch – we would love to talk to you!

About the author: Dr Leila Khouja Walker has been working in the education sector for 25 years. An ex-teacher and pastoral deputy head, she is now a respected edtech and pedagogy thought leader, leading development of the personality insights life skills e-learning app Persona Life Skills, at the Bristol based edtech company Persona Education Ltd. www.persona-life.com