Studying the processes of transition to work of higher education graduates implies the study of relationship between the knowledge that graduates hold after fi nalizing the academic course and the needs identifi ed in: the labor market. To those who want to start working is required theoretical, technical and scientifi c knowledge, and skills consistent with contemporary modern society. The present article aims to present the sociological concept of key qualifi cation, as well as data obtained through questionnaires on skills that graduates of two major universities of