Summary
Competencies are measurable abilities that help you succeed in academic, professional, and personal settings. Employers value competencies like leadership, adaptability, and communication just as much as technical knowledge. Acadia’s Career Services and Experiential Learning (CEL) office helps students identify and strengthen these competencies through advising, experiential learning, and reflection tools.
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A competency is a skill or ability you can apply in real-world situations — and employers care about them a lot.
Examples include:
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🧠 Critical thinking – analyzing information and making smart decisions
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🤝 Teamwork – working well with others to reach a goal
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⏱️ Time management – staying organized and meeting deadlines
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💬 Communication – expressing ideas clearly and listening actively
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🌱 Adaptability – staying flexible and positive when things change
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🎯 Initiative – taking action and showing leadership
These competencies show employers how you’ll perform on the job — not just what you’ve studied.
CEL can help you:
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🧭 Identify your current strengths
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🛠️ Build new competencies through jobs, volunteering, and experiential learning
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✍️ Reflect on your growth and learn how to talk about it in resumes, interviews, and applications
You don’t need to master everything at once — CEL will help you grow step by step.
📘 Helpful Definitions:
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Competency: A measurable skill or ability that helps you succeed in work, school, or life
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Soft skills: Personal qualities like communication and teamwork — often part of your competencies
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Experiential learning: Hands-on learning through work, volunteering, or projects
📎 Suggested Links:
📝 Special Notes:
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CEL uses tools like reflection activities and skill maps to help you track your growth
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You can start building competencies in first year — through classes, clubs, volunteering, and more
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International students are welcome to use CEL services and explore competencies relevant to global workplaces