Building the Skills Employers Actually Want

by Dr. Lee Viar

January 6, 2026

While technical knowledge matters, employers consistently emphasize something else: soft skills. Critical thinking, communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence are often what separate capable employees from exceptional ones.

Adult learners are uniquely positioned here. Many already bring workplace experience, problem-solving ability, and interpersonal skills into the classroom. Education helps refine and articulate those strengths.

AI and digital tools can support this development when used intentionally. For example, students can practice presenting ideas, receive feedback on professional writing, or role-play leadership scenarios. Discussion boards, group projects, and reflection assignments aren’t just academic exercises, they’re training grounds for real-world collaboration and decision-making.

Just as important is learning how to think, not just what to know. Courses that challenge assumptions, encourage debate, and ask students to apply theory to lived experience build durable skills that last well beyond graduation.

Ways to strengthen workforce-ready skills:

• Treat assignments as professional practice, not just grades.

• Reflect on how leadership theories connect to your work experience.

• Seek feedback and revise, learning happens in iteration.

• Practice explaining complex ideas clearly and concisely.

Helpful resources:

• World Economic Forum – Future of Jobs: https://www.weforum.org

• National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE): https://www.naceweb.org

• Harvard Business Review (Free Articles): https://hbr.org

A degree opens doors, but skills are what help you walk confidently through them.