Developing Conceptual Framework for Life Skills: The Employability Requisite in the Hospitality Industry

New generation needs fundamental life skills in order to achieve their full potential. Life skills also known as psychosocial competencies are considered essential for employability, social inclusion, and individual growth. This study has a twofold objective, firstly it makes a distinction between the terms skills, life skills, soft skills and competencies as these terms often overlap in the literature reviewed; secondly, the study also explores whether life skills are required by graduates for employability in the hotel/hospitality industry. A critical review of the extant literature on soft skills, employability skills, competencies and employer’s expectations with an emphasis on soft skills, from different sources, was conducted. A psychosocial competency framework was established. It was determined that the three domains of psychosocial competencies – the personal, social and cognitive domains impact job performance. Finally, a framework for life skills for employability was conceptualized for the hotel industry. This study contributes to the existing knowledge by developing a strong foundation of life skills. Individuals will be able to develop employability skills needed for the job. The study also gives the scope for an academia – industry interface for developing a life skills customer centric curriculum as it is a futuristic requirement for enhancing employability. Key Words: Life skills, Soft skills, Competencies, Employability, Hotel Industry, Conceptual frame work.