MARKETABLE SKILLS
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Career Readiness Handbook reports
that employees with postsecondary education (degrees and certificates earned after
high school) earn an average of “74 percent more than those who have a high school
diploma or less”. Being able to vocalize the skills you’ve developed in college, and
being able to translate your lessons and assignments into practical, hands-on, job
related expertise is one of the most important steps you’ll take as you begin your
profession, and it’s the first step you should take as you enter the job market. There are
two kinds of marketable skills that you develop in your college classes.
Hard skills (like writing an email) are specific, direct skills you have learned and
demonstrated. These are usually easy to explain. You might say, “I performed
this procedure successfully,” or “I researched and wrote this proposal.”
Soft or transferable skills are qualities of effective, productive, cooperative
employees, but they are often more difficult to connect to coursework. After all,
how do you connect a skill like listening to your math homework?
Drawing from the handbook’s list of transferable skills, here are some skills that are
particularly relevant to this course.
Short report: Analyzing, developing evaluation strategies, expressing ideas
Memorandum: Reporting information, using the internet, using email
Infographic: Providing feedback, using social media, including others, being
curious about other people
Instruction manual: Using databases, learning new technology, teaching,
writing concisely
Resume and application letter: Editing, communicating professionally through
writing, advocating for yourself, pursuing opportunities, asking for what you want,
telling others what you do well
Annotated bibliography: Identifying resources, gathering information,
organizing
Proposal: Creating ideas, identifying problems, imagining alternatives, solving
problems, setting goals, defining needs, persuading
Oral presentation: Speaking effectively, expressing ideas, facilitating
discussions, using presentation software
Collaborative Project Cycle: Setting goals, developing rapport, being sensitive,
listening, conveying feelings, providing support, motivating, sharing credit,
cooperating, representing others, perceiving feelings, asserting, managing time,
meeting goals, enlisting help, accepting responsibility, setting and meeting
deadlines, making decisions
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Career Readiness Handbook reports
that employees with postsecondary education (degrees and certificates earned after
high school) earn an average of “74 percent more than those who have a high school
diploma or less”. Being able to vocalize the skills you’ve developed in college, and
being able to translate your lessons and assignments into practical, hands-on, job
related expertise is one of the most important steps you’ll take as you begin your
profession, and it’s the first step you should take as you enter the job market. There are
two kinds of marketable skills that you develop in your college classes.
Hard skills (like writing an email) are specific, direct skills you have learned and
demonstrated. These are usually easy to explain. You might say, “I performed
this procedure successfully,” or “I researched and wrote this proposal.”
Soft or transferable skills are qualities of effective, productive, cooperative
employees, but they are often more difficult to connect to coursework. After all,
how do you connect a skill like listening to your math homework?
Drawing from the handbook’s list of transferable skills, here are some skills that are
particularly relevant to this course.
Short report: Analyzing, developing evaluation strategies, expressing ideas
Memorandum: Reporting information, using the internet, using email
Infographic: Providing feedback, using social media, including others, being
curious about other people
Instruction manual: Using databases, learning new technology, teaching,
writing concisely
Resume and application letter: Editing, communicating professionally through
writing, advocating for yourself, pursuing opportunities, asking for what you want,
telling others what you do well
Annotated bibliography: Identifying resources, gathering information,
organizing
Proposal: Creating ideas, identifying problems, imagining alternatives, solving
problems, setting goals, defining needs, persuading
Oral presentation: Speaking effectively, expressing ideas, facilitating
discussions, using presentation software
Collaborative Project Cycle: Setting goals, developing rapport, being sensitive,
listening, conveying feelings, providing support, motivating, sharing credit,
cooperating, representing others, perceiving feelings, asserting, managing time,
meeting goals, enlisting help, accepting responsibility, setting and meeting
deadlines, making decisions
