7 SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN GRADUATES

During recruitment, every employer looks forward to finding the right candidate with the right skills and competencies to push their organization forward. Although different careers require different skills; there are those core and very important skills that enhances your effectiveness at work and distinguishes you from others in whatever you do.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE THE BEST IN THE ROOM TO BE THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB???

These skills can as well be developed and improved over time. I call them EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS and they can be improved by making conscious efforts to develop them.

So what are these skills employers are after???

–          COMMUNICATION

As regular as this may sound, communication skills are is one of the skills sort out for by employers. It involves both written and verbal communication and also the ability to listen to others. As a graduate, your ability to properly present and pass information puts you ahead. Having good communication doesn’t mean talking too much; in other words, it focuses on your ability to understand your audience and presenting information in the best possible manner. Your ability to properly communicate will be very noticeable during your interview session.

–          COLLABORATION/TEAMWORK

You must be a good team player. Your ability to work with other people who have ideas and opinions different from yours is a plus to your CV. Working with others may often not be so easy especially when you are the type of person who likes getting things done on your own. But your ability to work effectively with others brings out another side of your creative power. Graduate employers are interested in people who can bring different strengths to a team or group by bringing forth bright ideas

–          LEADERSHIP

Alongside being able to work effectively with a team or group, leadership being able to direct a team to doing the best it can do. Leadership and team management go on hand in hand. Your ability to focus efforts, set directions and bring out the best in your team or group members make you a competent leader. Be able and ready to handle responsibility without being bossy. Team leadership spirit increases your chances of being promoted in the nearest future.

–          ANALYTICAL SKILLS

This skills enables you work with different forms of information and draw meaningful conclusions from reoccurring patterns. Your ability to properly analyze data which is any form of information is general and then make use of such analysis to solve problems, make business decisions and recommendations makes employers look out for you. The best ways to show your analytical skills when in an interview is to explain your methods when giving an answer. Show off your logical and critical problem solving abilities.

ALSO CHECK OUT  TOP INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM.

–          BASIC IT SKILLS

The world is developing at a very fast rate and technology is advancing immensely. Your knowledge of technological advancement would be an advantage to you over others.

You may not need to know the latest programming technology or how to make use of the latest software available but being able to properly handle a computer system, make use of common programs like the Microsoft Office demonstrates your  basic IT skills. Most organizations in this age make use of computers rather than pen and paper system. So do well to upgrade yourself.

–          ABILITY TO HANDLE PRESSURE

No jobs will be stress free; so your ability to still effectively work under pressure is a skill every employer looks out for. Keeping calm in the face of crisis and being able to organize oneself shows your composure and professionalism.  CHECK OUT MY ARTICLE ON TOP INTERVIEW QUESTIONS AND HOW TO ANSWER THEM.

Most people generally find it difficult juggling multiple tasks. So by  identifying this, your ability to effectively handle work pressure and use it as a motivation is a quality graduate recruiters admire.

–          ADAPTABILITY

Adaptability suggests that you are able to adjust favorable or unfavorable conditions and still prove to be efficient. Also, it suggests that you can align yourself quickly to the vision and mission of the organization. This shows that you understand where the organization is heading and what it wants to achieve through its products and services. This shows your professionalism. For those in the business sector,  your awareness and understanding of the marketplace puts you ahead.