Objectives:
The main objective of this study was to determine the level of social competencies among students of fields related to the social sector and to analyze their significance in the context of future professional and personal functioning. In an era of dynamic social and professional transformations, the development of these skills constitutes a significant challenge in career management and interpersonal competence development.

Material and methods:
The study was conducted on a group of 100 students from the "social work" and "management in social services" programs. The Social Competence Questionnaire was used to assess the level of social competencies. The conducted tests included descriptive statistics, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, frequency analysis and the Mann-Whitney U test.

Results:
The obtained results indicate that most students achieved a moderate level of social competencies. Deficiencies in assertiveness were particularly noticeable, which may negatively impact effectiveness in professions requiring frequent social interactions. Comparative analysis did not reveal significant differences in social competence levels between students of different study programs, suggesting that their development is more related to prior social experiences and the process of socialization rather than the academic curriculum.

Conclusions:
The study results emphasize the necessity of incorporating more practical classes into curricula to support the development of interpersonal skills. The need for university cooperation with the employment sector was also highlighted, as it would allow for the adjustment of program content to the real demands of the labor market. Implementing the proposed actions could significantly enhance students’ preparation for professional challenges.