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What Employers Are Looking For

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Of course, required skills and knowledge vary from occupation to occupation. Yet, there are certain qualities that appear high on employers’ priority lists, across multiple occupational fields.  Students may benefit from developing these regardless of their major or desired career. Here are a few of the qualities that employers seek in job candidates:
 

 
Taking Responsibility

It’s not uncommon for students just entering the work world to struggle with describing their prior responsibilities. Responsibilities both in and out of the office can be transferrable to your target job.  In your resume, be sure to include any responsibility where you care for or guide others, even if it is not in the “business” realm--for example, in a babysitting, tutoring or camp counselor position.  

Communication Skills

Despite the prevalence of apps and social networking in the digital age, face to face and written communication skills remain priorities to employers. Some of these interpersonal communication skills are practiced through working in teams, customer service, or professional correspondence in business emails and memos.  

Leadership and Being Pro-active

A leadership role in school, clubs, work or community signals to employers that you can be a self-starter.  Related to leadership, employers prize employees who think about how to improve the organization or assist their fellow workers.  During the interview, you can show this quality by asking questions about what is needed for their projects/goals, and suggest what you might contribute.

Problem Solving

Think of a time you made a process work more efficiently or helped to identify alternative solutions to a problem, either at work or for a school project.  Did you troubleshoot a technical issue? Maybe you helped implement an idea that improved the organization’s products, services or profits.  Include a brief description of this in your resume/cover letter and during the interview.

Ability to Work in a Team

Ambition is generally considered a good trait, but increasingly, employers see the benefit of employees who look at the organization’s bigger picture over their own recognition.  This includes being pro-active about assisting your co-workers.  It requires a set of interpersonal qualities--patience, empathy, and understanding others’ work and learning styles. At key moments, it may also mean putting the organization’s needs before one’s own.

Technical Knowledge Related to a Job

Whether the job entails proficiency with spreadsheets, specialized software, coding, CPR certification, or operating machinery, the more you practice the technical knowledge deemed common in a career area, the greater the advantage you’ll have over someone who needs to be trained.  If you’ve never had exposure to relevant, essential skills through employment, build them through classes, workshops or internships that provide you with guidance.
 

References:

http://www.naceweb.org/s11182015/employers-look-for-in-new-hires.aspx

http://www.inc.com/adam-heitzman/8-essential-skills-every-employer-looks-for-in-recent-graduates.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2016/03/02/12-qualities-employers-look-for-when-theyre-hiring/2/#2f753b721ced

                                                                                                                           ~ Yee Ho
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