Margaret writes:
Do you have information on which skills and attitudes employers want? I have tried searching the site but as yet can’t find this.
The Career Doctor responds:
I wish all job-seekers asked this question, and I especially wish college students would ask this question while still in college. Because job-hunting is a self-marketing practice where you need to convince the prospective employer you have the skills it is seeking, job-seekers must know — beyond the technical skills specific to each job — the softer skills employers seek.
So, besides identifying your key accomplishments from your college and work experiences, you also need to be cataloging your mastery of a number of other skills.
Here’s a short list of the some of the key skills employers seek from job-seekers:
- communications skills (listening, verbal, written)
- analytical/research skills
- computer/technical literacy
- flexibility/adaptability/managing multiple priorities
- interpersonal abilities
- leadership/management skills
- multicultural sensitivity/awareness
- planning/organizing
- problem-solving/reasoning/creativity
- teamwork
There are also a number of personal characteristics employers seek, such as loyalty, honesty, work ethic, professionalism, and a willingness to learn.
And remember that once you understand the skills and characteristics that most employers seek, you can tailor your job-search communication — your resume, cover letter, and interview language — to showcase how well your background aligns with common employer requirements.
You can find much more detail on this subject in this article published on Quintessential Careers: What Do Employers Really Want? Top Skills and Values Employers Seek from Job-Seekers.
