Skill Builders focus on the essentials of each skill. We don’t consider essential work skills, often called "soft skills," as ever being “mastered” since that would suggest you’re "done" developing them. Instead, we believe that you need to keep practicing soft skills throughout your life and career.

To learn any skill, you must first understand it. So, we break down each main skill area into smaller parts, or “micro-competencies,” and give you clear definitions for each one. This way, you know exactly what abilities you should be able to demonstrate.

For instance, simply saying you have “communication skills” is too broad. Communication is a large skill area, made up of specific sub-skills like “Listening Actively” or “Speaking with intent.” We lay out these specific skills to help you practice them in real-life situations. Then, you can start collecting evidence of your progress and showcase your skills through Skill Badges, your Career Portfolio, and your Career Site.