What Are Employability Skills? [Definition + Top 10 Examples]

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Table of contents

What are employability skills?
Top 10 employability skills in 2024
How to list employability skills on your resume
More skills resources
Employability skills — key takeaways

The secret to landing a job? Employability skills.

These skills are what make you employable, setting you apart in a competitive job market.

We’ve put together a guide that covers the latest research on employer preferences alongside our analysis of the skills we see frequently on the best resumes.

This guide covers:

A working definition of employability skills.
The top 10 employability skills in today’s job market.
Advice for listing these skills on your resume.
Extra resources for other skill sets.

Do you happen to be working on your resume? Try using a AI resume builder. It’s a fast way to make a good resume. All of the employability skills mentioned in this article can be added with just a click.

What are employability skills?

The definition of employability skills is in the name — these are the skills that employers find most appealing. They make you more employable.

Employability skills are a mix of soft skills and practical abilities that help you thrive in any work environment. These include communication, teamwork, problem-solving and adaptability.

Possessing these skills can greatly enhance your versatility as a professional, making you suitable for a variety of roles across different sectors. They also make you hirable — a LinkedIn survey found that 9 out of 10 global executives agree soft skills are more important than ever.

Whether you want to be employed in information technology, nursing or teaching, employability skills are the key to advancing your career. They’re especially important for students, who need these foundational skills to successfully transition from academic environments to professional settings.

Next up — we’ll walk through the top 10 employability skills to help you land the job.

Top 10 employability skills in 2024

Enough talk. Below, we’ve listed the top 10 employability skills for the job market right now. You’ll notice something important — these are all transferable skills, applicable in a wide range of industries and jobs. No matter where you take your career, they’ll come in handy.

1. Adaptability

From pandemics to the growth of artificial intelligence, the last few years have shown that being adaptable or flexible may be the most important employability skill in today’s job market. This skill allows professionals to thrive in a constantly changing environment and to pivot quickly in response to new challenges.

Here are five examples of adaptability skills:

Quickly adjusting to remote work setups.
Learning new software or tools as company technologies evolve.
Shifting project priorities or scopes in response to feedback.
Adapting communication styles to different audiences.
Responding constructively to industry innovations.

2. Data literacy

Good with numbers? Now more than ever, data is essential in the workplace, and not just basic math skills — overall data literacy is where it’s at. Using data to tell a story, create a meaningful chart or make predictive analyses are all skills that significantly enhance decision-making and strategic planning.

Here are five examples of data literacy skills:

Interpreting data sets.
Using analytics tools.
Creating visualizations like graphs and heat maps.
Conducting A/B testing.
Employing statistical methods.

3. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, control and evaluate emotions — both your own and those of others. It plays a critical role in interpersonal interactions, leadership and personal resilience.

Here are five examples of emotional intelligence skills you might see on a resume:

Recognizing one’s emotional responses in high-stress situations.
Demonstrating empathy by acknowledging the emotions of others.
Building and maintaining strong relationships.
Managing impulses and emotional reactions.
Motivating oneself and others to meet goals.

4. Communication

As the modes of communication change, one thing remains the same — the importance of communication skills in the workplace and in everyday life. Mastering both verbal and nonverbal communication is essential.

Here are five examples of communication skills you might see on a resume:

Actively listening to colleagues and clients.
Delivering clear, concise and compelling presentations.
Writing precise, action-oriented emails.
Interpreting and utilizing body language.
Negotiating effectively.

5. Sales

From generating revenue to building relationships, sales skills give you a powerful advantage in the job market. You don’t have to work in sales for sales skills to be a big part of your job. Instead, they can enhance any role that requires negotiation or client interaction.

Here are five examples of sales skills you might see on a resume:

Identifying customer needs.
Developing persuasive pitches.
Building long-term client relationships.
Fielding objections.
Analyzing customer feedback.

6. Collaboration

Teamwork makes the dream work! Corny phrase aside, it really is true that working well with others is only becoming more important in our interconnected world. Successful outcomes often depend on collaborative efforts.

Here are five examples of collaboration skills you might see on a resume:

Coordinating with team members.
Resolving conflicts among team members.
Participating in brainstorming sessions.
Sharing resources and information freely.
Supporting team decisions.

7. Critical thinking

Ideally, you want every member of your team to be a critical thinker. The ability to think through problems gives you a certain level of independence. No one has to watch over your shoulder, allowing for more dynamic and efficient teamwork.

Here are five examples of critical thinking skills you might see on a resume:

Analyzing complex data.
Evaluating the pros and cons of different strategies.
Applying logical reasoning.
Challenging existing processes and suggesting improvements.
Conducting in-depth research.

8. Time management

We live in the age of distraction. The average person spends roughly 2.5 hours a day on social media. All of this makes time management skills incredibly important. Mastering these skills ensures that you can complete tasks more efficiently while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Here are five examples of time management skills you might see on a resume:

Prioritizing daily tasks to ensure critical projects are completed first.
Setting clear goals and deadlines to guide day-to-day activities.
Using tools and apps to organize tasks and reminders.
Delegating responsibilities to others when appropriate.
Monitoring time spent on tasks.

9. Cross-cultural competency

Yet another skill that’s related to a globalizing economy. Understanding and appreciating cultural differences is important in wider swathes of the job market than it was 10 or 20 years ago. Being proficient in this area enhances teamwork and customer interactions in a diverse global marketplace.

Here are five examples of cross-cultural skills you might see on a resume:

Communicating with team members from various cultural backgrounds.
Adapting business practices and communications to accommodate cultural norms.
Showing sensitivity and respect for cultural differences.
Navigating language barriers and using translation tools.
Demonstrating knowledge of international markets.

10. Leadership

Leadership is always a significant skill. Your ability to inspire a team can determine the success of projects and the growth of your organization. Strong leadership fosters a positive work environment and drives business success.

Here are five examples of leadership skills you might see on a resume:

Motivating and inspiring team members.
Making strategic decisions.
Managing team dynamics.
Developing the skills and careers of team members.
Setting professional standards for ethics and integrity.

How to list employability skills on your resume

Are you learning about employability skills because you’re looking for a job? If so, you should make sure these skills are well-represented on your resume. Adding them to your resume is simple. You can do it in just three steps. Here we go.

Step 1

Identify skills in the job listing

The key to impressing an employer — customizing your resume.

Employers get so many cookie-cutter resumes, where the job seeker uses the same document for every application. They’re impressed when they get resumes that are clearly tailored to the job description.

Not only that but job listings also include keywords. These keywords are programmed into applicant tracking systems (ATS) that quietly reject resumes that don’t use the right words.

This isn’t a myth. One study found that 75% of resumes never make it to a human. Nearly all Fortune 500 companies utilize these systems.

Step 2

Put those skills in your skills section

Return to your resume with those skills in hand.

Add a skills section. Use bullet points to make it easier to read when your resume finally does make it to a human. If you’re trying to emphasize a specific skill set, you might also want to create a section for core competencies. Here, you can dig into the three or four skill areas most valuable to the employer.

Pro Tip

If you’re changing careers or you’re new to the field, you might find a functional resume a better match for your goals. Also known as a skills-based resume, this format emphasizes your abilities and accomplishments rather than a chronological work history.

Step 3

Weave skills throughout your resume

Your resume is full of opportunities to highlight your skills.

When detailing your work history, don’t just list your job duties. Instead, describe how you applied specific skills to achieve results. For instance, mention projects where you utilized leadership and teamwork to exceed goals.

In your professional summary or resume objective, tailor your statement to reflect the skills most relevant to the job you’re applying for. Similarly, in your education section, include any relevant coursework, certifications or experiences that demonstrate essential skills, even if they’re not directly related to your field.

Now, let’s explore how you can continue to develop these skills effectively.

More skills resources

Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Maybe one of our other skills guides can help:

Employability skills — key takeaways

Employability skills will help you land a job

Employability skills improve your job prospects by showing your ability to thrive in a professional setting.
Most employability skills are soft skills

These include critical thinking, communication and teamwork, which are vital across all jobs and industries.
This skill set is largely transferable between industries

Skills like adaptability and leadership are valued in virtually every field, making career transitions smoother.
Add relevant skills to your resume

Highlighting these skills on your resume directly connects your capabilities to the needs of potential employers.

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Don is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with more than 10 years’ experience creating digital content, including four years helping job seekers develop their careers. He holds an M.S. in Journalism from Northwestern University.