Tertiary Catalogue

The ability to work independently is a crucial workplace skill that is noticed and appreciated by busy managers and supervisors. Employees who can set their own goals, manage their time and workload and take responsibility for their actions are invaluable in all lines of work. In the bookshop, the opportunity to earn a promotion in the future interrupts all of Emma’s more urgent short-term goals. Meanwhile, Martin realises that getting a job done quickly rarely means getting it done well when he runs into a smelly situation for which only he can be blamed. In this interactive video, viewers see self-management (and the lack of it!) in action. Show Less

Organising and prioritising assigned tasks helps employees to work independently and take control of their own time and workload. When tasks are well-planned and ordered by urgency, it is easier to identify when help is needed, which saves time and stress. Emma realises the practicality of a to-do list, Martin learns that there is no shame in delegation and, while Lucy thought she had carefully organised her daily tasks, she hadn’t planned for the unexpected. With interactive scenarios taking place in retail, hospitality and construction settings, this video aims to show students the practicalities of good planning. Show Less

Learning is a lifelong skill. Far beyond their initial workplace training, employees must keep learning to stay up-to-date and adapt to changing technologies. Therefore, recognising individual learning styles is important, as Dan finds out when Emma instructs him on a new responsibility. Meanwhile, Lucy sees an opportunity to increase her skillset and Martin discovers that learning can be a shared journey, not just an individual one. Through interactive questions, students will develop an understanding for the importance of, and practical strategies for, continued learning in the workplace. Show Less

A strange bearded man in a lady’s nightdress called Granny? A six-year-old wooden boy boasting years of experience running leisure centres? Carol Peters runs one of her own, and is interviewing job candidates, but she’s beginning to wonder about the Enchanted Fairyland Employment Agency. Little Pig was the only authentic candidate who was well-prepared with questions of his own. Show Less

Carol Peters doesn’t have much time for recruiting in the cut and thrust of managing a leisure centre. So she’s taken on the services of Enchanted Fairyland Employment Agency, but candidates like Wicked Queen (Becs), Hansel (minus Gretel) and Rapunzel don’t curry any favours when they’re late for the interview. And BB Wolf and Puss-in-Boots just don’t present well. Little Pig though is another story… Show Less

Rapunzel bombed out when Carol Peters interviewed her for a leisure centre position. Years of captivity and her ultimate rescue paint a perfect picture of resilience, problem-solving know-how and willingness to work in a team…but she didn’t think of that. Sadly, few Enchanted Fairyland Employment Agency candidates knew about being positive and relaxed in job interviews. Except for Little Pig – he could write the textbook. Show Less

Carol Peters is always prepared and she expects the same in prospective employees. Alas, most of the candidates from Enchanted Fairyland Employment Agency, including Wicked Queen, BB Wolf, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, did no research into her company, and clearly hadn’t practised answering interview questions. Only one stood out – Little Pig who shone with his research and ability to convincingly answer questions with confidence. Show Less

Enchanted Fairyland Employment Agency candidates stack up like a lesson in how-to and how-not-to, in terms of communication during a job interview. Sitting opposite is Carol Peters, dealing with a snoozing Rapunzel, an awkward “Granny”, Wicked Queen’s expletives, the nose-picking Pinocchio and Gretel’s accusations that the affable and witty leisure centre manager is a witch. We see the how-to when Little Pig enters the room. Show Less

Working in a team brings together colleagues with diverse experiences and knowledge skills from all over. These insights are invaluable in the workplace, especially when things go wrong. Even though Dan ’has just started working at the bookstore, he brings a lot of experience to the job. Paul and Lucy discover that sharing the load in times of stress is in everyone’s best interests, especially particularly during the lunch rush. Martin discovers realises the importance of safety on a construction site means there’s no room for pride. Interactive questions throughout this video help learners to understand the importance of teamwork, and practical ways to develop this skill in the workplace. Show Less

Taking the care and time to gather information and analyse a situation could be the pivotal steps that prevent workplace injuries and unhappy customers. Even though Lucy is eager to do well at her new job, she quickly learns that she doesn’t know everything just yet. And when Martin reacts too quickly to an unhappy client, he discovers that there are steps to be taken before making any rash decisions. Learners interact with the scenarios being played out in the kitchen and construction site as they develop their soft skills to solve problems in the workplace. Show Less

Communication in the workplace is more than speaking and listening, as Emma, Lucy and Martin quickly learn. Whether you are serving a customer, receiving instructions, or being assertive in the interests of safety, understanding messages and being understood and understanding others is pivotal in the workplace. As viewers interact with demonstrations of both ineffective and positive communication in retail, service and construction settings, this interactive video aims to develop young adult learners’ soft skills to improve communication in the workplace. Show Less

Dehydration can be a problem in the workplace, no matter where you work. It can lead to accidents, illness and injury. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of dehydration can help to avoid these problems. This animated health and safety training video snippet highlights one way to keep an eye on your level of hydration while at work. Show Less

It's important to remember to carry out a risk assessment regularly by looking out for hazards and reducing risk. This snippet outlines the differences between risks and hazards and is a reminder to "stop, look, assess and change" any hazards you see in the workplace. Show Less

Being distracted by your mobile phone at work can affect more than just productivity. Distractions caused by mobile phones can raise serious risks in many different situations . This animated safety training video snippet is a reminder to avoid being distracted by your mobile phone in the workplace or while driving. Show Less

Create a wow response by quality preparation and interview skills. Arriving on time for interview, looking sharp and well-laundered are just a few of the many steps towards getting the job. Be familiar not only with the job, but the company and the industry it is in. Do your research. Have a clear, direct and correctly punctuated résumé; itemize your skills, education and experience without drowning people in information. The interns learn to develop their ability to talk up their strengths with simple yet powerful examples. The more they practice job interview answers the better they become. They learn to beware of being vague, adding too much information or asking the wrong questions. Show Less

Welcome feedback without defensiveness and continually improve. Dion hears some tough feedback from Carol who explains why she would not hire him. It’s important for everyone to welcome feedback – both positive and critical feedback, but Sam gets defensive when Michael offers feedback on his latest policy document. Dion is taken aside by Marcus to discuss his behavior and Marcus encourages to perform better. Dion deals with the setback well, an opportunity to learn from mistakes. Tammy seeks advice on how to give Sanjay feedback. Marcus leads a session on how to give and receive constructive feedback. Dion and Carlos give each other feedback and Casey gets feedback from Tammy. Everyone learns to appreciate feedback. Show Less

Find ways to learn new skills, manage your emotions and speak impressively. Cutting Edge wants people who are enthusiastic and keen to build their skills and focus on learning. Carol and Serena are not impressed with Dion’s performance to date. Steve advises intern Tatiana to be a sponge and soak up new ideas and courses in order to remain valuable to her employer. Carlos wants Steve to be his coach and Dion asks Michael if he can work alongside him. Dealing with difficult people is a major skill for anyone, as Carlos discovers when Steve teaches him to be Zen in conflict situations. Serena coaches Dion and Tatiana to present themselves positively and ‘talk up’ their skills. And Carlos encourages Dion to apologise to Carol, which he does. Show Less

Surprise people with knowledge, experience and self-awareness. Dion considers he is a hot new prospect for the company but Michael tells him he’s arrogant, snarky and a know-it-all. Sam, Serena and Steve help the interns to recognise their strengths and to surprise people with their research and knowledge and show how it can be of benefit to the company. Sometimes people have skills that can be built into strengths. Tatiana concedes she is argumentative; Steve explains that seeing the other side of things is a strength when it comes to understanding a client’s perspective. It is also an asset in negotiation and customer skills. The interns both acknowledge they have learned more about themselves and their attitudes to work – and self-awareness is critical for improvement. Michael is touched by Dion’s genuine passion for his work and ends up telling Dion none of the staff liked him when he first arrived. Show Less

Plan for success, manage yourself efficiently, prioritise to get results. The Cutting Edge team can be messy and organised, something that the VP, Serena, dislikes intensely. Carol is not happy with Casey’s Post-it notes. Serena stresses the importance of taking notes and looking competent and efficient, especially when one is new to the job. The best way to get organised is to determine priorities. Sherry explains how to break things down in order of what needs doing first, second and later. When it comes to planning, Marcus shows how without a plan for the emergency drill, nothing goes right, and Serena ends up injured at the bottom of the stairs. One person’s lack of organisation creates a ripple effect on the team. The interns learn about the importance of being on time and keeping promises, and how to best manage pressure and multi-task effectively. Show Less

Speak at meetings, volunteer to help and collaborate with others. It’s ‘Blue Moon’ day at Cutting Edge. Marcus tells his team it’s about pulling ideas out of the blue and working on them collaboratively. Dion has trouble staying awake but learns that his body language shows he is not interested. He discovers the importance of contributing to meetings, not just giving smart remarks. When Michael and Sam argue about mess, Sam is quick to point out Michael needs to complain less and actually share the workload to resolve it. The interns are encouraged to be resourceful, solve problems and show initiative. When Serena reports a breach of office security, Dion volunteers to do something about it. His disguise to test security doesn’t fool Carlos, but he is praised for his willingness to help solve the problem. Marcus is proud when Dion suggests ‘Do your best every time’ at the team training session on service. Show Less

Speak with confidence, overcome personal blocks and be assertive. Confidence is a necessary part of the workplace. Casey is marked immediately as a person lacking confidence. She needs to become aware of how she talks and comes across. As Sam points out, changing her intonation and using fewer vague indecisive words like “I think” and “maybe” will convey a more positive impression. Casey gets some helpful coaching from Sanjay who has no issues with being assertive. Carol and Michael inform Dion that assertiveness is not a matter of wearing power glasses. Good advice is given about changing negative thinking. Steve coaches Tatiana in turning situations to their best advantage and the importance of requesting help. Show Less

Dress for success, be enthusiastic and introduce professionally. The new Cutting Edge interns, Dion and Tatiana have not got off to their best start. Dion is very casual about arrival times and what he’s wearing to work, while Tatiana is negative and blasé. Carol and Steve explain the importance of dressing appropriately for work, and the necessity of a firm handshake and good eye contact. Serena sets Dion straight on the importance of details (such as knowing her correct title and name) and listening politely when others speak. Show Less

Be clear about your goals and steps to achieve them and persist. It’s time to get serious about goals – but not Dion! Everyone at Cutting Edge knows the importance of goals: Carol is always setting them, Steve wants to be best in sales, Tatiana would like to be an international attorney. Dion wants to be president of the United States – but he has no steps in place to achieve this, and he must be realistic. Goals must be specific, and Dion must make his goals measureable and achievable by putting viable steps in place, they must be relevant and achieved within a set timeframe (SMART goals). Persistence is needed to get through the challenges and obstacles. Show Less