What are the top skills employers are seeking?
This is a great question! According to NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) the top 10 skills/qualities employers across all industries are looking for:
1.Verbal Communication
2. Strong Work Ethic
3.Teamwork
4.Analytical
5.Initiative
6.Problem-solver
7.Written Communication
8.Interpersonal
9.Computer
10. Adaptable
This is valuable information to know because it means that you can work on developing these qualities and skills while you are in college through multiple activities – internships, part-time jobs, involvement in clubs and organizations, volunteering, etc. It is interesting to note that #9 Computer Skills is the only one that is technical…the rest are what we consider “soft skills” and most are gained through experience. So be sure to incorporate these skills into your application documents and while interviewing!
Note: this is the final Q&A Monday of the summer since summer is just about over. School starts next week so we will be returning with more blog posts across a variety of career-related topics. Here’s to a great 2012-2013 academic year!