First years students want to develop these skills in 2026

If you’ve just started university, you may not have a clear picture of what your career will look like. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to explore your options and shape the future you want.

If you’re not sure what you want your career to look like, you’re not alone. Fifty-eight percent of first-year students we surveyed are in the same boat1 – still exploring their options. And even the 29% of students who are confident about the path they want to take are looking to build the skills they need to succeed at work.

First-year Bachelor of Science student, Joe Harrison feels quietly confident about his career. But he is keen to build his communication skills to make him more employable once he graduates - like 22% of the first-years we surveyed.1

“Communication is probably the key aspect of any Employability,” he says. “Whenever you're in the workforce, you need to be able to work with other people, communicate well with your bosses or people who you're in charge of.”

For 41% of UNSW first-years,1 networking is also a priority skill they want to develop. It’s a critical skill that can open up job opportunities, allow you to learn, get advice and inspire new ideas.

Whether you’re like Joe or still figuring this out, university is the right place to build your knowledge and skills and explore your interests. It’s the final stage of your education journey that gives you more clarity around your career path and making sure you’re ready when you graduate. 

“It’s important to have a safe and supportive environment where you can explore, test, and refine your skills before entering the workforce,” says Louise Knowles, Director of Student Experience at UNSW. 

And for students at the university, UNSW Employability is that safe space – offering structured learning through experience and individualised support. 

Building human skills for the workplace 

Employers are consistently looking for human skills, says Vanessa Bakhos Lead, Coaching & Development at UNSW Employability.

“Communication, teamwork and interpersonal skills are most important, while problem-solving, adaptability and an aptitude for learning continue to rank highly. This means students who can think critically, learn quickly and respond constructively to change are highly valued.” 

Curiosity and lifelong learning as well as leadership and social influence are emerging as some of the most sought after skills over the next five years, according to the World Economic Forum.

At UNSW Employability, we develop hands-on programs that help you explore your interests and hone the workplace skills that employers value, giving you the power to actively shape the future you want. (That’s why we’re the Most Employable University for the seventh consecutive year.) 

Through practical projects, industry engagement and reflective learning, you can build your capability and confidence and apply them in the workplace. 

“Ultimately, the greatest benefit is readiness: you develop the career management skills you need to navigate an evolving and competitive graduate landscape,” Vanessa says. 

Create your own career playbook

Everyone’s career journey looks different – some climb steadily upward, while others zigzag, double back, or leap sideways into the unexpected. But it doesn’t mean you have to figure it out alone. 

You can tailor your journey based on your strengths and interests and build your personal roadmap to employability.

Here are four things you can do to start taking control of your future today.

1. Chat with a Career Coach 

If you’re not sure what you want your work life to look like, talking to career coaches is a great place to start. 

A UNSW Career Coach will let you know about the career support you can access at UNSW, and help you refine your resume, prepare for interviews and guide you through your job search. 

Once you’re in second year or beyond, our Career Explorer Program helps you understand what drives you, develop a plan of programs and activities that will help you explore different career pathways and design your own experience at UNSW. It’s a valuable program if you’re not sure about the direction you want your career to take and need some guidance.

“Our personalised career coaching and guidance sessions are highly sought after. They offer professional help available to hone and articulate your strengths and transferable skills,” Louise shares. 

2. Connect with a mentor

Few people have their careers figured out before university. Some still aren’t sure after graduation. And that’s ok. But a mentor can help you explore different directions by sharing their insights and advice based on their experiences. 

UNSW Employability’s Career Discovery Mentoring Program connects you with industry professionals, uncovers a variety of career pathways, and helps you grow your network and build your confidence.  

3. Develop your workplace skills

From getting your ideas across clearly to building trust through daily interactions, communication is critical to success in the workplace. And it’s one of the many skills employers are looking for across all industries.

At UNSW, you have access to a range of courses and programs that help you build the most important skills – from developing essential leadership skills through Leadership Foundations to gaining practical project-based experience with an organisation through the CDEV3000 /6000 Practice of Work course.

“These programs provide structured, experiential opportunities to develop the skills employers consistently value — communication, teamwork, interpersonal capability and problem-solving,” Vanessa shares. “You build capability and confidence you can apply in the workplace through practical projects, industry engagement and reflective learning.”

4. Experience the life of future you

Real-world work experience in your chosen field helps you develop workplace skills, experience professional environments and build your network. And it’s the Employability activity that 32% of first-year students are most interested in. 

Joining a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) course allows you to put what you’ve learned at university into practice, while developing critical workplace skills through a supervised placement or project with an organisation. You can apply for domestic and international projects, where you’ll work in an interdisciplinary team to build your global-ready skills and expand your opportunities. Everything you do through WIL is aligned to your program outcomes, which means you also get academic credit towards your degree. 

Enter the workforce with confidence 

As the world of work continues to evolve, employers are placing increasing emphasis on soft skills alongside technical abilities.

The good news is you’re not on your own. UNSW Employability’s initiatives meet you where you are and take you where you want to go. From one-on-one career coaching and industry mentoring to real workplace experience and skills programs, every step you take builds the skills that employers are looking for. Start early, back yourself, and launch your career with confidence. 

Start with a career coach

_{¹ UNSW Employability O-Week Survey}