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Queen's Skills Cards

2021 Global Career Services Summit Best Student Program Award Winner

Every student develops valuable skills at Queen’s — in classes, activities, and everyday experiences. The Queen’s Skills Cards help you recognize those skills, describe them with confidence, and connect them to future opportunities. Use them to reflect, build your resume, or prepare for interviews and applications.

 

Two Ways to Explore Your Skills

You can engage with the Skills Cards in different ways depending on your needs:

Online Sorters

Explore the Skills Cards digitally through our Full Sorter and Quick Sorter interactive tools:

Access Full Sorter

Physical Deck

Use the cards in an appointment with a Career Coach or as part of a workshop. Sorting and discussing the cards in person is a hands-on way to reflect on your skills.

Access PDF of Deck

Which Option is Right for You?

  • You want to explore skills in a hands-on way
  • You are attending a workshop or group activity
  • You prefer guided discussion with a Career Coach
  • Use this link below to quickly scan the full deck of cards:

    PDF Version of Physical Deck
  • You want a comprehensive, independent activity
  • You are updating your resume, cover letter, or interview prep
  • You want detailed definitions and examples for all 44 skills
  • A complete, self-directed activity with intention setting, a skills matrix, and full definitions of all 44 cards. 

    Launch Full Skills Sorter
  • You are in a workshop or Career Coaching appointment
  • You want to quickly identify your top skills as a conversation starter
  • You do not need the full detail of all 44 cards right now
  • A shorter version designed to highlight your top skills, best used in workshops or guided appointments.

    Launch Quick Skills Sorter

No matter which format you choose, all versions are based on the same set of 44 transferable skills.

What are the 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

Categories

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.

Why use the Skills Cards?

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

How can I use the Skills Cards?

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

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

  • 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)

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.

What are Queen's Students Saying about the Skills Cards?

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

CACEE Award Recipient ribbon

The Queen’s Skills Cards have been recognized nationally and internationally for their impact on student engagement and career development:

  • 2021 Global Career Services Summit – Best Student Program Award
  • 2020 Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) – Award for Innovation in Student Engagement

 

These honours highlight the Skills Cards as a hands-on, innovative tool that empowers students to recognize, articulate, and apply their skills with confidence, preparing them for success in the workplace and beyond.