The Employability Skills Checklist

By: Thomas Broderick, Edited by: Rebecca Munday

Last updated: July 30, 2025

A March 2025 Society for Human Resource Management article reports that job-seekers are facing a much tighter job market this year compared to 2024. With more people applying for fewer open positions, applicants need to stand out from the competition. One way to make yourself more competitive is to develop recession-proof soft skills.

Learn more about the employability skills that can help you launch or advance your career.

Top 10 employability skills

1. Communication

edX interviewed tech recruiter Holly Lee to learn which employability skills most benefit job-seekers. At the top of Lee's list is communication skills. According to Lee, communication takes the top spot because "practical communication skills will enhance team collaboration, enabling the successful completion of projects through both verbal and written communication, as well as the ability to influence others."

Great ways to develop your communication skills include:

• Performing mock interviews.
• Using a grammar checker to uncover mistakes.
• Practicing good business communication skills.

2. Interpersonal skills

Good communication skills act as the foundation for interpersonal skills. Lee tells job applicants that "skilled relationship builders manage disagreements constructively by demonstrating empathy and care, which contributes to a positive workplace culture." Employers across all industries want professionals who can work well with others and resolve conflicts appropriately.

You can improve your interpersonal skills in many ways, such as:

• Listening actively.
• Showing people respect.
• Examining what you plan to say before you say it.
• Using logic, rather than emotion, to guide your responses.

3. Adaptability

Adaptability, also known as flexibility, enables you to respond effectively to a dynamic work environment. According to Lee, adaptability helps employees successfully "innovate solutions to complex problems," even in hectic, unforeseen situations.

You can become more adaptable by:

• Reviewing new information with a positive mindset.
• Viewing change as a good, rather than a negative, thing.
• Trying out new roles and responsibilities.
• Letting go of frustration about things outside your control.
• Staying up to date about changes affecting your role, company, or industry.

4. Teamwork

Lee notes that employers want professionals with advanced teamwork skills because "effective team players contribute to a productive and positive work environment. When individuals are satisfied in their roles and encouraged to innovate, they can develop exceptional products and services." In other words, people who can work well with others benefit their employers significantly.

You can show your teamwork skills by:

• Offering support to team members in need.
• Doing everything you promised to do.
• Responding positively to feedback.
• Examining your assumptions and discarding those holding back your team.

5. Problem solving

According to Lee, "the workplace faces a range of diverse challenges, including conflicts in employee relations, difficulties in project execution, and the need to meet the company's operational goals." Understanding and solving these problems requires composure, critical thinking, and flexibility.

You can become a better problem solver by:

• Considering the problem or issue from different angles.
• Holding off on judging others' ideas or suggestions.
• Using convergent and divergent thinking best practices.
• Identifying whether cognitive rigidity is holding you back.

6. Time management

Time management is essential in school, work, and everyday life. Lee suggests that you set "clear expectations and ensure accountability for yourself and your cross-functional team to achieve a common goal." Doing so ensures that you and your team meet managers' deadlines.

Improving your time management skills involves:

• Listing tasks from most to least important.
• Reflecting on how you typically use your time at work.
• Using a planning tool, such as a desk calendar or smartphone app.
• Setting reasonable time frames for short- and long-term goals.

7. Leadership

Even if you do not hold a leadership position, learning leadership skills can help you advance your career. Understanding leadership styles can also make you a more effective teammate and communicator. Lee argues that these skills help you "command attention and engage everyone in the room," allowing you to stand out as a job applicant and an employee.

Improving your leadership and management skills doesn't require a degree. Steps you can take on your own include:

• Researching conflict management strategies.
• Practicing your communication skills.
• Learning from mentors at your job.
• Researching successful business leaders' strategies.
• Keeping a positive attitude in unexpected situations.

8. Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence helps you understand what people are thinking and feeling. According to Lee, employees with strong emotional intelligence create "stronger rapport with both internal and external partners." As a job-seeker, this skill can help you make a connection with and leave a positive impression on interview committees.

Improving your emotional intelligence starts with:

• Reflecting on your emotions.
• Considering how others feel and requesting feedback from peers.
• Consistently applying conflict resolution, teamwork, and communication best practices.
• Preventing negative emotions from controlling your interactions with others.

9. Aptitude (to learn)

Many jobs require professional development (PD), such as continuing education to maintain a license or certification. Even if your career does not require PD, an aptitude for learning and self-improvement can set you apart during your job hunt.

Lee notes that job applicants with a passion for learning are desirable because they "do not shy away from challenging tasks; instead, they actively seek to learn new skills, systems, or processes to achieve positive outcomes."

Build this essential skill by:

• Seeking new skills to learn or identifying skills gaps you may have.
• Researching your employer's PD opportunities.
• Asking managers how PD improved their careers.
• Earning professional certifications or university certificates.

10. Customer-centric

Acting with the customer in mind gives employees an advantage on the job. Lee argues that "individuals who adopt a customer-first mindset typically produce high-quality work that benefits the customer and fosters long-term relationships, giving the company a competitive edge." Employers take note of job applicants who put the customer first for these reasons.

Become more customer-centric in your career by:

• Surveying current customers.
• Researching potential customers.
• Brainstorming new customer experiences.
• Applying customer service best practices.

How to demonstrate employability skills on your résumé

Demonstrating employability skills on your résumé is just as important as developing these skills. Lee advises that you:

• Check for correct spelling and grammar.
• Highlight accomplishments involving coworkers.
• Discuss how you handled unexpected changes.
• Show how your contributions made a meaningful impact.
• Describe when you led a large, long-term project.
• Detail when you took on a leadership role.
• Explain how you responded to a customer complaint or issue.
• Discuss how you approached an unfamiliar task.

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