Analytical thinking: Solve complex problems, attend to details, plan proactively, and display comfort
with ambiguity.

Critical thinking: Display proficiency with statistics, program evaluation, and research design
necessary for the study of social and technical systems.

Creativity: Use innovative and resourceful approaches to problem solving and new tasks.

Information management: Be adept at locating, organizing, evaluating, and distributing
information from multiple sources.

Judgment and decision making: Engage in logical and systematic thinking and ethical decision
making when considering the possible outcomes of a particular action.

Oral communication: Demonstrate strong active listening and conversational abilities in both
informal and professional environments, as well as aptitude for public speaking and communicating
scientific information to diverse audiences.

Written communication: Comprehend relevant reading materials to produce professional
documents that are grammatically correct, such as technical or training materials and business
correspondence.

Adaptability: Adjust successfully to change by responding in a flexible, proactive, and civil manner
when changes occur.

Integrity: Perform work in an honest, reliable, and accountable manner that reflects the ethical
values and standards of an organization.

Self-regulation: Manage time and stress by completing assigned tasks with little or no supervision;
display initiative and persistence by accepting and completing additional duties in a careful, thorough,
and dependable manner.

Collaboration: Work effectively in a team by cooperating, sharing responsibilities, and listening and
responding appropriately to the ideas of others.

Inclusivity: Demonstrate sensitivity to cultural and individual differences and similarities by working
effectively with diverse people, respecting and considering divergent opinions, and showing respect
for others.

Leadership: Establish a vision for individuals and for the group, creating long-term plans and guiding
and inspiring others to accomplish tasks in a successful manner.

Management: Manage individuals and/or teams, coordinate projects, and prioritize individual and
team tasks.

Service orientation: Seek ways to help people by displaying empathy; maintaining a customer,
patient, or client focus; and engaging in the community.

Flexibility/adaptability to new systems: Be willing and able to learn and/or adapt to new
computer platforms, operating systems, and software programs.

Familiarity with hardware and software: Demonstrate competency in using various operating
systems, programs, and/or coding protocols; troubleshoot technical errors; and use software
applications to build and maintain websites, create web-based applications, and perform
statistical analyses.

COGNITIVE

TECHNOLOGICAL

THE SKILLFUL PSYCHOLOGY STUDENT
PREPARED FOR SUCCESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY WORKPLACE

Psychology provides skills that employers value.

PERSONAL

COMMUNICATION

SOCIAL

For more information, visit on.apa.org/undergrad

About This Document
The Skillful Psychology Student: Prepared for Success in the 21st Century Workplace was commissioned by the
American Psychological Association’s Committee on Associate and Baccalaureate Education (CABE).
The contributing members, listed in random order, are:

• Karen Z. Naufel, Georgia Southern University (CABE Liaison)

• Drew C. Appleby, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis

• Jason Young, Hunter College of the City University of New York

• Jaye F. Van Kirk, San Diego Mesa College

• Stacie M. Spencer, MCPHS University 

• Jerry Rudman, Irvine Valley College

• Bernardo J. Carducci, Indiana University Southeast

• Paul Hettich, DePaul University

• Aaron S. Richmond, Metropolitan State University of Denver (CABE Liaison)

Related Readings
Appleby, D., Young, J., Van Kirk, J., Rudman, J., Naufel, K. Z., Spencer, S. M., … Richmond, A. S. (2019). The

skillful psychology student: Skills you will need to succeed in the 21st-century workplace. Psychology
Student Network, 7(1). Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/psn/index

Naufel, K. Z., Spencer, S. M., Appleby, D., Richmond, A. S., Rudman, J., Van Kirk, J., … Hettich., P. (2019).
The skillful psychology student: How to empower students with workforce-ready skills by teaching
psychology. Psychology Teacher Network, 29(1). Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/
ptn/2019/03/workforce-ready-skills

Suggested Citation
Naufel, K. Z., Appleby, D. C., Young, J., Van Kirk, J. F., Spencer, S. M., Rudmann, J., …Richmond, A. S. (2018).

The skillful psychology student: Prepared for success in the 21st century workplace. Retrieved from: https://
www.apa.org/careers/resources/guides/transferable-skills.pdf