Today’s employers are looking for more than technical know-how — they’re seeking strong communicators, creative problem-solvers, and reliable collaborators. In other words, they’re looking for durable skills: the human-centered abilities that help people succeed in every career and stage of life.

Through Alignment Nashville’s annual Positive Schools Conference, educators are helping students strengthen the personal and interpersonal skills that prepare them for success — both inside and outside the classroom. These skills, sometimes called “employability” or “transferable” skills, are consistently rated by employers as the most valuable traits in the workforce.

Durable skills such as empathy, teamwork, and responsible decision-making directly translate into career readiness:

• Self-management = meeting deadlines and adapting to change.
  
  
• Social awareness = collaborating effectively with diverse teams.
  
  
• Responsible decision-making = ethical leadership in any profession.
  
  

When schools and community partners focus on these foundational abilities, they’re doing more than improving school culture — they’re building the next generation of confident, capable leaders who can thrive in a rapidly changing world.

“These are the skills that help students succeed in the classroom, in the workplace, and in life,” said Melissa Jaggers, President & CEO of Alignment Nashville. “They are essential to every student’s journey toward a meaningful career.”