Employability Skills: What You Need to Succeed By: Jessica Marquez, MBA
State Specialist in Urban Community
Resource Development
Employability skills are the non-technical, transferable skills that make you ready for work. They help you communicate, solve problems, work in teams, and adapt to changing environments. These soft skills that employers often look for first – because they tell them how well you can work, not just what you can do.
Core Employability Skills: Intrapersonal/Personal: positive attitude, reliability, taking initiative, adaptability, flexibility Interpersonal/Social: communication, collaboration, conflict resolution, empathy Cognitive: critical-thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, time management, planning and organizing Digital: ability to use common digital tools, finding and evaluating information Professional: work ethics, professionalism, willingness to grow and learn from others Why these skills matter: Employers value soft skills (human skills) because they can't always be automated. Work-based learning (internships or job shadowing) help students apply and grow these skills in a real-world context. Building these skills can increase your chances of being hired and succeeding on the job. Tips for developing these skills: Listening - use direct eye contact, ask clarifying questions, focus on the speaker Adaptability - take on new challenges, learn from others, seek feedback, set goals Collaboration - communicate clearly, build trust, provide and receive feedback, be a team player Critical thinking - find solutions to problems, think of new ways to complete tasks, ask questions Leadership - taking initiative, seeking mentorship, continuous learning, developmental intelligence/empathy for others Organization - prioritize tasks, develop routines, manage your time, delegate, set realistic expectations/goals Reliability - be on time, stay organized, follow procedures, take accountability, follow through References: Federal Reserve Education. Employability Skills: A Toolkit for Success. Infographic. Web.
https://www.federalreserveeducation.org/resources/infographics/infographic--employability-skills-kc.pdf
U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Few Hiring Managers Think High School Graduates Are Ready for the Workforce." U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, 22 Sept. 2025, www.uschamber.com/workforce/few-hiring-managers-think-high-school-grads-are-ready-for-the-workforce