Queen's Skills Cards

The Skills Cards represent a comprehensive set of 44 transferable skills that students can develop during their time at Queen’s, both inside and outside the classroom. These are the same skills employers seek in the workplace.

Each card includes:

• A clear definition of the skill
• An example of a Queen’s student applying it
• Placement within one of 11 categories (4 skills per category), showing how individual strengths fit into a broader framework

The categories are:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Connection
• Growth Mindset
• Engaged Citizenship
• Inclusivity and Intercultural Competence
• Knowledge
• Leadership
• Professionalism
• Self-Awareness
• Thinking

Together, the cards give you a shared language to describe your experiences and highlight your strengths for future opportunities.

The Skills Cards make it easier to recognize your strengths and communicate them to others. They are a practical tool to:

• Plan & Reflect
  • Identify the skills you already have
  • Choose which ones to strengthen next
  • Reflect on what you have learned in courses and activities
• Prepare for Opportunities
  • Update your resume, cover letter, or grad school applications
  • Practice describing your skills in interviews and networking
  • Assess possible career paths based on the skills you enjoy using
• Build Confidence
  • Discover a clear language for your strengths
  • Learn how to tell your unique story with clarity and impact

There are several ways to engage with the Skills Cards, depending on your goals

On Your Own

• Try the Full Skills Sorter for a complete, independent activity.
• Use the downloadable PDF version for a simpler, offline option.
• Launch Full Skills Sorter

With a Career Coach

• Book an appointment through MyCareer to explore the Skills Cards with guidance.
• In a one-on-one setting, the Quick Sorter or physical deck may be used to spark reflection and conversation.
• Launch Quick Skills Sorter (typically used in guided sessions)

In Groups or Workshops

• Student Clubs & Organizations: Request a customized session to support team building and professional development.
• Faculty & Instructors: Access the faculty toolkit (PDF, 263 KB) or the Facilitator's Guide (PDF, 163 KB) to integrate workplace skills into your course or program.

Faculty & Instructors

Looking to help students connect their academic experiences to workplace skills? The Skills Cards can easily be integrated into your teaching.

• Access the faculty toolkit (PDF, 263 KB) to learn how to integrate Skills Cards into your course or program with ready-to-use resources.
• Request a Facilitated Session to invite a Career Coach to run a customized Skills Cards activity for your class.

Here’s what students are saying about how the Skills Cards helped them feel more confident and clear about their skills:

• I came in here really anxious about writing my resume and applying for summer internships, but this gave me more confidence. I realized that I do have some relevant experiences - even if they're not all related to my major!    
  -Second-year Computing student
   
• I don't normally think about my skills as much as my 'options after graduation.' This activity helped me see that there are many options, and deciding which is the best fit is more about what I enjoy and what I am good at than just the title of my degree. 
  -Fourth-year Psychology student
   
• The Skills Cards gave me a way to describe skills I already knew I had, but didn't know how to explain to employers - particularly those outside of academia. 
  -MA student in Global Development