You met the qualifications. You thought the interview went well. And then came the rejection, leaving you wondering why.

For many students and early career candidates, the reason often has less to do with hard or technical skills and more to do with something less obvious: foundational skills, or what have been traditionally thought of as soft skills.

These are the habits and behaviors that shape how you operate in a professional setting. How you communicate, collaborate, receive feedback, and adapt when things are unclear. They are often included in job descriptions, but it is easy to underestimate how much they influence hiring decisions.

Strong resumes open doors. Foundational skills are what keep them open.

The good news is that these skills are not fixed. You can build them with practice, and they will help you not only stand out in interviews but succeed once you are in the role.

 

Why They Matter More Now Than Ever

Foundational skills are not tied to any specific job or industry. They are what make someone effective to work with, reliable under pressure, and ready to grow. Skills like communication, collaboration, and self-awareness are consistently ranked among the top traits employers look for.

Still, many students and new grads enter the workforce without fully developing them. Pandemic-era disruptions meant missed opportunities for in-person internships, jobs, and group work. At the same time, most colleges are no longer consistently developing professional skills. 

As return-to-office gains momentum, these gaps are becoming more visible. Employers are seeing early career hires struggle with unspoken expectations. Knowing how to give a project update, receive feedback in real time, or ask for help without waiting too long are all critical skills, and many students have not had the chance to practice them.

These skills do not just help you get hired, they are essential to performance, team dynamics, and long-term growth.

 

How to Strengthen Foundational Skills Now

Foundational skills are not about perfection. They are built through self-awareness, consistency, and small daily habits. Here are four areas to focus on, with ways to strengthen them now and highlight them during your job search.

 

1. Communicate clearly

Strong communication builds trust and helps others understand how you think and solve problems.

Try this:

• Practice summarizing your experiences in one or two sentences both verbally and in writing

• Read emails out loud before sending to sharpen your tone and clarity

• Watch how professionals you admire communicate and mirror that style in your own voice

 

2. Show up with presence and professionalism

Professionalism is about how others experience working with you. It comes through in your tone, follow-through, and engagement.

Try:

• Join meetings or interviews early and greet the room with confidence

• Keep your camera on and stay engaged when appropriate

• Take notes, ask thoughtful questions, and follow up with next steps

 

3. Take initiative and navigate ambiguity

There is rarely a perfect roadmap. Employers value candidates who can move forward thoughtfully even when things are unclear.

Try:

• When you complete a task, offer help or suggest a new idea

• If something is unclear, ask thoughtful questions to get the information you need to contribute

• Use interviews to talk about times you anticipated needs or took initiative without being asked

 

4. Learn to receive and apply feedback

Feedback is not personal. It is a tool for growth. Interviewers often look for signs that you are reflective, open, and coachable.

Try:

• If asked about a challenge, share how you took feedback and what you changed

• Reflect feedback back in your own words to confirm understanding

• Follow up on feedback you receive and share how you applied it

 

Looking to Keep Building?

 If you’re ready to dig deeper, these resources are a great place to start:

• LinkedIn Learning:

Professional Soft Skills Learning Pathway

Master In-Demand Professional Soft Skills

• Ted Talk:

What’s Soft About Soft Skills? By Payal Gandhi Hoon

• Good Reads:

Don’t Just Focus on Your Technical Skills. Focus On Your People Skills, By Jeff Tan

How Transparent Should You Be with Your Team? By Martin. G. Moore

Actually, It’s Okay to Disagree With People at Work, By Vasundhara Sawhney

 

Foundational skills are often what set candidates apart. The more you build them, the more naturally they show up, in interviews, on the job, and in the way others experience working with you.