Skills Employers Want in College Graduates

Competencies

National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has identified career readiness as the attainment and demonstration of requisite competencies that broadly prepare college graduates for a successful transition into the workplace. The eight competencies associated with career readiness are:

Career and self-development

Proactively develop oneself and one's career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one's strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one's organization. View example behaviors of career and self-development.

Communication

Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization. View example behaviors of communication.

Critical thinking

Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information. View example behaviors of critical thinking.

Equity and inclusion

Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism. View example behaviors of equity and inclusion.

Leadership

Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals. View example behaviors of leadership.

Professionalism

Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace. View example behaviors of professionalism.

Teamwork

Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities. View example behaviors of teamwork.

Technology

Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals. View example behaviors of technology. 

e-Learning Soft Skills Program

Communication

Humility

How to be approachable, authentic, and open to alternate ideas/approaches. Including a DiSC personality profile assessment.

Communication

Communication styles and techniques; appropriate use of different communication methods. Including an assessment to identify your preferred communication style.

Conflict

Managing conflict and identifying your conflict management approach. Includes an assessment of your conflict management style.

Critical Thinking

Ethical Character

Identify your core values and how they contribute to your ethical character. Including an assessment exercise that helps you reveal your core values.

Personal Judgment

How to make good decisions and exercise workplace appropriate personal judgment. Appropriate social behaviors in the workplace. Includes an assessment about how well you control your impulses in situations of personal judgment.

Problem Solving

Basic problem solving techniques to help be part of the solution. The assessment included evaluates your problem solving skills.

Time Management

Ways to manage your time wisely and avoid procrastination. Including an assessment to determine how well you manage your time.

Collaboration

Diversity and Inclusion

Recognizing and appreciating the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and beyond. Including an assessment that reveals how you consider aspects of diversity and inclusion.

Self-Confidence

The importance of self-confidence and taking responsibility for and pride in ourselves. Including an assessment of your level of self-confidence.

Teamwork

Techniques for working well with a team of others toward a common goal. Including an assessment about how well you work in a team environment.

Creativity

Positive Attitude

Approaching work with a positive attitude and displaying this to co-workers and customers alike. Including a self-assessment revealing your attitude.

Initiative

Approaching work with a positive attitude and displaying this to co-workers and customers alike. Including a self-assessment revealing your attitude.

Flexibility

Recognize that change is a normal part of work, and understanding how to accept change gracefully and participate in change efforts. Including an assessment of your tolerance of ambiguity.

Work Ethic

Being productive, reliable, diligent and loyal to organization’s purpose, mission, and values. Includes a personal work ethic assessment.