Most students graduate with academic knowledge, but many still struggle to explain the real-world skills they’ve developed along the way.

Communication. Problem-solving. Leadership. Employers consistently rank these competencies as critical, yet underdeveloped. The disconnect isn’t that students haven’t gained these skills. It’s that they often can’t name or describe them with confidence.

At Knack, we saw this gap and built a solution to close it.

Turning Tutoring into a Professional Development Pathway

Peer tutors already navigate complex challenges. They lead sessions, adapt to different learning styles, and communicate across a range of academic subjects. These experiences build exactly the kind of competencies that transfer to the workforce.

The Skills Development Program (SDP) was created to help tutors recognize, reflect on, and articulate those skills. Grounded in the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) career readiness framework, the SDP embeds intentional reflection into every stage of the tutoring journey.

Here’s how the program works:

• Milestone-Based Access: As tutors hit time-based benchmarks, they unlock new self-assessments, reflection prompts, and training modules.
  
  
• Guided Reflection: Tutors connect their experiences to eight core career competencies, building both skill and self-awareness.
  
  
• Demonstrated Growth: Profile badges and a culminating mock interview provide tangible ways to showcase growth to future employers.

This isn’t a standalone workshop or extra course. It’s part of being a Knack tutor—built into the flow of tutoring itself.

The Results Speak for Themselves

Tutors who complete SDP report measurable growth across all eight NACE competencies. Notably:

• +10.6% in leadership
  
  
• +10.2% in collaboration
  
  
• +9.7% in critical thinking and problem solving
  
  
• +8.6% in communication
  
  
• +7.8% in professionalism

These aren’t just numbers—they’re indicators of real transformation. Tutors leave the program more confident, more prepared, and more capable of translating their academic support experience into workplace-ready language.

Voices from the Field

The most powerful evidence comes from tutors themselves:

“Knack helped me learn how to talk to people and teach them in a way they could receive it… It 100% helped me become a more effective communicator.”

— Kala B., UCF Alum

“Now at work, when I’m having a meeting, I don’t mind raising my hand and saying something. I feel like my thoughts and ideas matter.”

— Ayoub A., Rutgers Alum

“I’m taking my NCLEX in two weeks, and I feel very prepared because I’ve been tutoring so much… It’s helped me learn to adapt—something I’ll carry into patient care.”

— Tiffany J., USF Nursing Alum

Each of these stories underscores what the data shows: tutoring through Knack is more than a job. It’s a launchpad.

Why It Matters for Institutions

As higher ed leaders work to demonstrate ROI and real-world readiness, peer tutoring represents a uniquely powerful tool. Structured with intention, it can double as a high-impact practice—supporting academic outcomes and workforce preparation at the same time.

Knack’s Skills Development Program ensures that tutors don’t just gain professional value. They learn how to communicate it. And in today’s hiring landscape, that articulation is everything.

Schedule a call with us to learn more about how Knack’s SDP is transforming peer support into a career development strategy.