Attention to detail. Oral and written communication. Problem Solving. Resilience. Empathy. Integrity.
Skills like these are often known as “soft skills”—in contrast to things that sound more academically grounded, like computational ability or scientific reasoning. They aren’t easy to capture on standardized tests, or even in grading.
But demand for these skills is rising fast, according to an analysis by Parker Dewey, an organization that connects college students with businesses for so-called “micro-internships.” (short-term workplace-based learning experiences.) And experts say demand is growing because technology advances are automating computational and other technical tasks typically performed by people.
Employers seeking students for those micro-internship opportunities said they were most interested in: