It might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the life's toughest tools are so-called soft skills in areas like communication, creativity, and compromise. Although these aren’t always taught in classrooms, they’re a must in the modern workplace—in fact, most jobs are already starting to require them. For proof, just check LinkedIn where an average of one in three job postings includes a soft skill—with communication and work-ethic often topping the list. Interestingly though, nearly 59% employers think soft skills are difficult to come by.

Luckily, teaching students soft skills can help them get ready for the demands of the real world. From fostering teamwork to teaching financial literacy, there are many ways we can help students better prepare for their careers. And what's not to love about that? Besides when we can give students the skills they need to succeed while they're still in school, their future workforce skills are sure to be strong.