One of the many important purposes and outcomes of your college experience is gaining a combination of knowledge and skills. Two types of skills are essential to employment and to life: content skills and transferable skills. Content skills are intellectual, or “hard,” skills you gain in your academic field. They include writing proficiency, computer literacy, and foreign language skills. Computer literacy is now a core skill like reading, writing, and mathematics. You can apply content skills to jobs in any field or occupation.
Certain types of employers expect extensive knowledge in your academic major before they consider hiring you; for example, to get a job in accounting, you must have knowledge of QuickBooks or of Microsoft Excel’s advanced features. Employers will not train you in basic applications or knowledge related to your field, so remember to be prepared to speak of your qualifications during the interview process. Remember for most college students, it’s sufficient to have some fundamental knowledge. You will learn on the job as you move from entry-level to advanced positions.
Transferable skills are general skills that can be applied in a lot of settings. Some transferable skills are listed and described below:
Skills | Abilities |
Communication | -Being a clear and persuasive speaker-Listening attentively-Writing well |
Presentation | -Justifying-Persuading-Responding to questions and serious critiques of presentation material |
Leadership | -Taking charge-Providing direction |
Teamwork | -Working with different people while maintaining control over some assignments |
Interpersonal | -Relating to others-Motivating others to participate-Easing conflict between coworkers |
Personal traits | -Showing motivation-Recognizing the need to take action-Being adaptable to change-Having a strong work ethic-Being reliable and honest-Acting in an ethical manner-Knowing how to plan and organize multiple tasks-Being able to respond positively to customer concerns |
Critical thinking and problem solving | -Identifying problems and their solutions by combining information from different sources and considering options |
Transferable skills are valuable to many kinds of employers and professions. They give you flexibility in your career planning. For example, volunteer work, involvement in a student professional organization or club, and having hobbies or interests can all build teamwork, leadership, interpersonal skills, and effective communication abilities. Internships and career-related work can offer you valuable opportunities to practice these skills in the real world.
Ability to work in a team structure
Ability to make decisions and solve problems
Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work
Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization
Ability to obtain and process information
Ability to analyze quantitative data
Technical knowledge related to the job
Therefore, the ideal candidate is a team player and good communicator who can make decisions and solve problems and prioritize.
Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers, Job Outlook 2014 (Bethlehem, PA: National Association of Colleges and Employers, 2013).