Qualifications

The qualifications required for any vacancy will vary from industry to industry and from job to job. There is no one formula for determining the qualification level for a particular post and there are a number of factors to bear in mind when setting the qualification requirements in any vacancy.

Level	Type	Qualifications
4-8	Chartered/ Professional/ Management	Higher Level Qualifications, eg, Degrees, Postgraduate Qualifications, Higher National Diplomas and Certificates NVQ Level 5 NVQ Level 4
3	Advanced/ Technician/Skilled/ Supervisory	GCE A Level AS/A2 Advanced, Progression and Extended Diplomas VRQ Level 3, eg, BTEC National Diploma NVQ Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
2	Intermediate/ Operative/ Semi Skilled	GCSE Grades A*-C Higher Diploma VRQ Level 2, eg, City & Guilds Progression Awards NVQ Level 2 Apprenticeship Young Apprenticeship
1	Foundation/ Skills	GCSE Grades D-G Foundation Diploma VRQ Level 1, eg, OCR Nationals NVQ Level 1
	Entry Level	Certificate of (Educational) Achievement

For some entry-level vacancies, specifying a high number of qualifications might be inappropriate, taking pay and duties into consideration.

Other vacancies, such as Apprenticeships with specific course entry requirements, may need to specify a minimum qualification level.

The Connexions Vacancy team can offer you more information and advice. Call free on 0800 073 8700, Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm and ask for the Vacancy team.

Sector Skills Councils

Sector Skills Councils are Government-sponsored, employer led organisations providing strategic leadership for education, training and skills development in specific economic sectors in the UK. Sector Skills Councils work with the Government and awarding bodies to ensure that qualifications meet the needs of employers and individuals. For more information visit the Alliance of Sector Skills Councils website.

Soft Skills

Research has shown that there are other skills and qualities which employers want from their workers. In addition to good literacy, numeracy and IT skills, employers want applicants to demonstrate a positive attitude and motivation. These qualities are often referred to as 'soft skills'.

Employers want the people they employ to:

Have good written and verbal communication skills
Be honest and have integrity
Have good team-working skills
Have good inter-personal skills
Be highly motivated and show initiative
Have a strong work ethic
Have good analytical skills
Be flexible and adaptable in work
Have good IT skills
Have good organisational skills

When choosing suitable candidates for interview or employment, you may wish to consider these skills and qualities with the same importance as formal qualifications.

Pay and qualifications

The national minimum wage is a legal right which covers almost all workers above compulsory school leaving age. However, Apprentices under age 19 and Apprentices over age 19 and in the first 12 months of an Apprenticeship do not qualify for the national minimum wage.

Employed Apprentices must be paid at least £95 per week but many employers offer more in order to attract the right candidates.

Many employers are prepared to pay higher wages to people who have the qualifications and skills that they want. For example, an electrician that requires qualifications up to Level 3 can earn a national average of around £28,700* a year and a nurse requiring Level 4 qualifications (equivalent to degree level) earns a national average of around £30,000* a year.

The Connexions Vacancy team can offer you more information and advice. Call free on 0800 073 8700, Monday-Friday 8.30am-5pm and ask for the Vacancy team.