Students need these skills to succeed in the workplace

When it’s time for students to start working, they’ll need “soft skills,

7/27/20262 min read

Students need these skills to succeed in the workplace

When it’s time for students to start working and/or head to college, they’ll need “soft skills,” otherwise known as job-readiness skills, in addition to academic knowledge and vocational skills.

Soft skills are those characteristics that help you function as an individual (motivation, self-confidence, and flexibility) as well as within a group (teamwork, negotiation, and respect). To succeed in the workplace, these skills are key! After all, if you can’t show up on time, speak up for yourself, or get along with your peers, chances are you’re not going to have a very smooth go of it.

Explicitly teaching students these skills is the best way to give them valuable insight into their strengths and weaknesses. We’ve put together 6 engaging lessons that are not only just right for teaching the job-readiness skills students need, but they are also a lot of fun!

MODULE 1: COMMUNICATION: When you walk into an interview or talk to a boss, you are communicating long before you open your mouth. In the real world, your words are only a small fraction of the message; in fact, studies show that over 90% of face-to-face communication comes down to your body language and tone of voice. The rest is your delivery, your posture, and your presence.

MODULE 2: ENTHUSIASM & ATTITUDE: In the modern workplace, a positive and driven attitude is a critical component of workplace success. When an employer reviews prospective candidates, they look far beyond basic skills, certifications, and training. They are calculating a risk assessment. They want to invest in individuals who tackle tasks efficiently and work well with others.

MODULE 3: TEAMWORK: Think of a basketball team setting up the perfect shot. Only one player scores the basket, but that play only succeeded because of the planning, coordination, and cooperation of everyone else on the court. In the workplace, everyone achieves more when they play their role to win the game. To win as a team, you have to build specific on-the-job habits.

MODULE 4: NETWORKING: Most people think the only way to get a job is by filling out dozens of online applications and hoping for the best. In reality, the most successful workers find jobs through people they already know. This is called networking, and you already do it every single day without realizing it.

MODULE 5: PROBLEM SOLVING: Problems, mistakes, and challenges happen on every single shift, regardless of the profession. Employers don't expect you to be a genius who has an immediate answer to every crisis. Instead, they look for people who can keep their cool, look at the facts, and think on their feet.

MODULE 6: PROFESSIONALISM: Many people think "professionalism" means working a corporate desk job, wearing a suit, or using fancy vocabulary. In reality, professionalism is a combination of responsibility, integrity, accountability, and excellence that applies whenever you are working.