Findings from an interview-based study on employability skills
WELCOME
This site shares findings from our multi-year research project about employability skills in technical fields. Download our Working Stronger and Smarter handbook (PDF) to learn more about our research and findings along with resources and ideas for educators and employers.
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LATEST RESEARCH PRODUCTS
Check out these FREE resources for career and technical educators:
See our instructor-designed, classroom-tested curriculum for developing professional skills throughout your career certificate program here.
Learn more about how researchers and community college educators co-developed the curriculum and see recommendations for helping educators learn how to develop their students’ professional skills here.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Employability skills are non-technical skills necessary for career success.
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HOW THEY DEVELOP
Employability skills develop over time with repeated practice.
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TEACHING EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Educators and employers who work with early career technicians have developed many strategies for teaching employability skills.
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Everyone will be learning on the job.
- Interviewee, IT Employer 15
The big foundational skill is not being afraid to make a mistake.
- Interviewee, Advanced Manufacturing Employer 14
A lot of the curriculum does not have business at its core, and we need more of that. I’ve been pushing that.
- Interviewee, IT Educator 12
It’s very difficult to motivate a person into a learning cycle if that’s not something that someone has an interest in doing.
- Interviewee, IT Employer 16
I think the first thing you look for in an employee is they’re embracing what we do as a business and understanding their part in that.
- Interviewee, Advanced Manufacturing Educator 6