To succeed in business these days, it takes a lot more than simply having an MBA or the right technical knowledge. It even takes more than having the right connections, although that can be very important for getting a foot in the door. It might seem surprising, but having a solid foundation of soft skills is actually one of the biggest predictors of career success.

Soft skills, also called durable skills, are core competencies like critical thinking, writing, oral presentation, and teamwork, and more and more companies are looking for employees who’ve mastered these skills to give them a competitive edge. In fact, 92% of companies say soft skills are more important than hard skills, and the demand is only increasing. It’s estimated that by 2030, soft skills will be a fundamental requirement for 63% of jobs.

Jessica Lilly works in human resources at Mastercard as a People Business Partner, and she’s experienced the value of durable skills firsthand. “I can definitely speak to the importance of having skills like critical thinking and ethical judgment,” she shares. “These are lifelong skills you can put to use not only in your career but also in your personal life for growth and development.”

Putting durable skills into action daily

In her role at Mastercard, Lilly empowers employees to succeed by providing them with resources for professional development and says that her soft skills play an instrumental role in her ability to effectively do her job. “These skills come in to play every day, whether it’s continuous learning and coaching employees to build new skills or it’s being able to present yourself in an articulate way.”

She mentions critical thinking as one of the durable skills that gets utilized the most – and points out that it’s also one of the skills most necessary for career advancement. “The world of business is not black and white, so you’re consistently thinking critically. People are constantly coming to you with scenarios you can’t predict, and you have to be able to use the knowledge and resources you have.”

As an HR representative who often provides training and team building sessions for larger groups, she also frequently relies on her ability to express herself clearly. “Oral presentation skills are huge in the workplace,” she stresses. “Of course, you need them when you’re talking in front a large group, but you also lean on them in team meetings or one-on-one situations.” Being able to communicate effectively not only helps her to clearly get across her message, but it also helps to build connections and create trust.

Building durable skills at Touro University Graduate School of Business

In spite of the fact that durable skills play such a prominent role in the workplace, they aren’t commonly taught in school. In many cases, students and young employees are left to develop these capabilities on their own without any resources or support. Thankfully, that isn’t the case at Touro University Graduate School of Business, where Jessica earned her Master of Science in Human Resource Management and now teaches SHRM-CP prep courses on a part time basis.

At Touro GSB, durable skills are interwoven into the curriculum, so students build them as they earn their degrees. In some cases, Lilly took specific courses, like “Ethics in the Global Marketplace,” which she says she uses every day. “This is one of the most important skills that I rely on working in HR. Employees want to feel supported, and as a representative of your organization, you want to make sure you’re treating employees well and giving them the necessary resources. You need that ethical knowledge.”

In other cases, soft skills were developed in more subtle ways. Lilly offers the example of how Touro GSB built her oral presentation skills by providing frequent opportunities to speak up in class. “The professors create a comfortable and safe space where you’re encouraged to share your story or opinion, and they provide feedback in supportive ways. That constant practice builds confidence, and it makes you realize, ‘My thoughts do make sense, and I do belong here.’”

She also mentions that Touro’s smaller class sizes played a big factor. “The smaller classes felt like good practice. Meetings at work are often with just a few people or even one-on-one, so this was more of a real life setting and preparation for the real world.” Plus, because she wasn’t in a big lecture hall with 100 other students, she had plenty of opportunity to contribute and practice these skills regularly. “One of the good things about Touro is that you get to do it often!”

Touro GSB differentiates with new digital badges in durable skills

As demand for soft skills increases, employees are looking for ways to prove to employers that they’ve mastered these competencies – and employers are looking for ways to verify that candidates have these capabilities. That’s one of the reasons Touro GSB recently launched “Business Digital Badges” for all students enrolled in the Master of Business Administration, Master of Science, or Advanced Certificate programs.

Based on guidance from the American Association of Colleges and Universities, digital badges were developed for the following nine areas, which are highly-valued by employers:

• Critical Thinking
• Ethical Reasoning
• Intercultural Knowledge
• Lifelong Learning
• Oral Presentation
• Problem Solving
• Quantitative Literacy
• Teamwork
• Writing

Students earn badges as part of their normal coursework by completing assignments and scoring 90% or higher, as defined by established rubrics. After a student receives a grade of at least 90% on four of the rubrics in four classes, a badge is awarded to indicate their mastery of that specific durable skill. Badges include the issuing institution, the date earned, what criteria were required, and evidence that the criteria were met.

“These badges make Touro GSB different from the rest,” Lilly enthuses. “This is exactly the kind of thing that recruiters are looking for on a resume, and this really helps Touro GSB graduates to set themselves apart.” Students can easily post their badges ond LinkedIn or social media, share them through an open backpack, or add them to a resume to show off and verify their new skills.

Paying it forward and positioning others for success

While she may not have earned these durable skills badges to show off to others, Jessica has no doubt that Touro GSB helped her to build these skills while she was earning her master’s degree – and she’s confident they help her make an impact in her work every day. “I connect employees to the right resources and help them feel safe at work. That is what’s really satisfying to me.”

She’s also proud to have the chance to pass these competencies along to her own students in the SHRM-CP prep classes she teaches at Touro GSB. “I’m definitely reinforcing these durable skills with my own students – and with our employees at Mastercard, too,” she says. “My professors really became my mentors, and I’m glad for any opportunity to give back. It’s been really full circle.”

Looking back on her time at Touro GSB, she feels certain that it helped her to build the skills she needed to succeed. “I’m so grateful for my experience at Touro – the relationships I built and the opportunities I got. I don’t think I’d be where I am at this great company and with this kind of confidence if it wasn’t for Touro.”