The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) just released its Job Outlook 2025 report, and the stats are illuminating: 60% of employers plan to hire more people, more than half are offering sign-on bonuses, and 54% of entry-level jobs come with hybrid flexibility.
The NACE report also spotlights the skills employers prize most in new grads. Here are the top five – and how you can develop and showcase them at Keuka College through coursework, hands-on learning, and campus involvement.
1. Problem Solving
Why it matters: Nearly 9 in 10 employers say problem solving tops their list of must-have skills. Organizations thrive on people who can navigate uncertainty, analyze options, and take smart action.
How you’ll build it at Keuka College: Learning here goes beyond the textbook. You’ll blend a strong liberal arts foundation with hands-on projects in real organizations. That means tackling complex questions, testing solutions in the field, and measuring outcomes. In the MS in Leadership, courses like Strategic Thinking in Human Capital Management push you to dig into root causes, weigh trade-offs, and craft action plans that actually move the needle.
How to highlight it on your résumé: Focus on scope and measurable results. For example: “Optimized inventory reorder points during semester internship; built a model that reduced stockouts by 22% in six weeks.”
2. Teamwork
Why it matters: More than 80% of employers put teamwork near the top of their list. Today’s projects rarely happen in silos – they cut across departments and require people who can collaborate, compromise, and deliver together.
How you’ll build it at Keuka College: From day one, collaboration is woven into your experience. Weekly coursework and group projects build habits of planning, giving feedback, and resolving conflict productively. Outside the classroom, athletics and student clubs strengthen decision-making as part of a team. In courses like Group Culture and Communication, you’ll connect theory to practice and gain strategies for leading teams with clarity and purpose.
How to highlight it on your résumé: Share the size of your team, your specific role, and the impact you achieved together. For example: “Led a 7-person student–county team; recruited 76 volunteers and removed 900 pounds of shoreline debris in one day.”
“I know a class is going well when students stop looking at me and start looking at each other – pushing the conversation forward with their own questions and ideas. That’s real success.”
3. Written Communication
Why it matters: Nearly 8 in 10 employers say strong writing is essential. Clear, concise communication keeps teams aligned, reduces mistakes, and ensures ideas land with the right impact.
How you’ll build it at Keuka College: No matter your major, writing is central to your learning. In Writing & Communication Arts, courses like Writing as Argument and Professional & Technical Writing hone your ability to structure messages for clarity and purpose. Across disciplines, you’ll write lab reports, care plans, proposals, and reflections that sharpen your voice. Plus, the Academic Success Center provides personalized feedback to help fine-tune tone, clarity, and effectiveness.
How to highlight it on your résumé: Point to the document, its audience, and the outcome. For example: “Secured $8,000 grant for a local food pantry; funded 30 additional weekend meal kits each month.”
4. Initiative
Why it matters: Nearly three-quarters of employers look for initiative. Teams run lean and move fast, so they need people who see gaps, step up with solutions, and act without waiting for instructions.
How you’ll build it at Keuka College: Initiative is baked into your experience. Each year, you’ll design and complete a Field Period® – whether that’s an internship, study-abroad experience, independent research, or creative project – demonstrating that you can set goals, plan, and deliver results. Beyond the classroom, you can lead in clubs, athletics, or student government; volunteer in the community; or pursue a student-designed major or minor. Leadership coursework across nursing, management, and literacy gives you even more space to stretch your skills.
How to highlight it on your résumé: Show what you started and the measurable impact. For example: “Built a ticket-triage system for campus IT; automated routing, cut first-response time by 41%, and cleared a 120-ticket backlog in three weeks.”
5. Strong Work Ethic
Why it matters: About three-quarters of employers say work ethic makes the difference. Teams need dependable contributors who meet deadlines, uphold high standards, and keep going when challenges stack up.
How you’ll build it at Keuka College: You’ll strengthen this skill in every corner of your college experience – balancing classes, Field Period projects, and personal responsibilities while delivering on time. For an extra challenge, the Honors Program offers faculty-mentored research, advanced seminars, and professional development opportunities. In the health sciences, practice courses set expectations early, and clinicals or practicums give you the chance to prove your reliability in the field.
How to highlight it on your résumé: Connect your workload to clear results, showing consistency under pressure. For example: “Completed 180-plus clinical hours while carrying 15 credits; delivered 12 care plans with on-time documentation and earned two preceptor commendations.”
Show What You Can Do
Employers are looking for people who can solve problems, collaborate, communicate clearly, take initiative, and follow through. At Keuka College, you’ll build those strengths every day – combining the depth of a liberal arts education with hands-on practice in the field. The result? You’ll graduate with proof of your abilities, not just promises.
Explore our on-campus and online programs, connect with an advisor, and map out your next step with confidence.
