Employers are shifting how they evaluate candidates, and the trend is clear: skills matter. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), nearly two-thirds of employers use skills-based hiring practices when making entry-level hires. This means employers are placing less emphasis on GPA or major, and more on whether students can demonstrate job-relevant skills.
The challenge is not only building skills but also knowing how to talk about them. Many students struggle to connect their experiences to the skills employers seek, which makes it difficult to showcase their strengths in a resume, cover letter, or interview. This disconnect, often called the skills articulation gap, shows that students need more support in learning how to recognize and communicate what they bring to the table. Research from the University of Waterloo reinforces that students benefit when they are guided through this process.
As faculty and staff, you can help close this gap. By supporting both skill articulation and skill-building in your courses and programs, you can equip students with the tools they need to succeed.
From Identifying to Articulating Skills
One of the most challenging aspects of the job search process is skill articulation, communicating skills effectively to employers. Skill articulation is a skill in itself, and it connects directly to the NACE Career and Self-Development competency.
Here are a few strategies to help students practice:
- Ask prompting questions when they describe experiences: What was your role? How did you demonstrate your skills? Can you share an example?
- Use the “Articulating Skills and Experiences” assignment, which helps students identify times they have demonstrated NACE competencies. They then practice describing these examples using the CAR (Context, Action, Result) method.
- Encourage practice with Big Interview, an online platform where students can record responses to common and industry-specific interview questions. Reviewing their delivery helps them refine their answers, strengthen communication skills, and build confidence.
Building Skills: Tools You Can Use Right Away
Once students learn to articulate what they can do, the next step is ensuring they have experiences that allow them to grow their skill sets. Here are two simple, ready-to-use activities that can help students build and reflect on skills:
1. Forage Virtual Job Simulations
Students select a free, employer-designed program that simulates real workplace tasks. They gain practical, career-relevant skills while also learning about different roles or industries. Afterward, they reflect on what they learned and identify next steps for growth.
2. Job Analysis and Exploration Assignment
Students search for their ideal future job and analyze the description to evaluate their interest in the role. They assess which skills they already have and which ones they still need to develop, creating a clear roadmap for growth.
Faculty who have used these assignments report positive results. Dr. Estefania Flores-Ortiz, Spanish professor, shared:
“In my 15 years as a college instructor I haven’t seen a project that worked so well. Students really put work into it because they were talking about something they cared about and had meaning to them. They had the opportunity to reflect on their personality, the skills they already have and the ones they need to be ready for the job market, and think about how they could use their abilities as Spanish speakers to boost their career.”
Join Us for a Skills-Based Hiring Pop-Up
Want to learn more about how you can integrate these tools into your teaching or student programming? Join us for our upcoming event:
When: Wednesday, October 1
Where: Fleishman Career Center, UU133 (next to the Marketplace)
Time: 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
No appointment is necessary. Drop by to meet with our team and explore strategies to support your students with skill development and articulation.
To learn more about how the Fleishman Career Center partners with faculty and staff, visit our Faculty and Staff Community Page.
