What Are Employers Really Looking For
Survey Shows Employability Skills and Attributes Are Just As Important as Job-Specific Skills
You’re a trained accountant and feel confident that your skills make you a competitive applicant. But what about your “employability skills and attributes”? What’s that? You ask. In an article published in the PalmBeachPost.com, career consultant Toby Loskove says that employers are equally concerned with non-technical abilities, known as employability skills, as they are with your work experience and job-specific skills. He says, “The responsibility for showing off employability skill attributes, even when the employer doesn’t ask questions that relate to these abilities, is that of the job seeker. Attitude and responses should reflect that they are a part of how you do your job.”
There are countless employability skills: teamwork, problem-solving, time-management, organization, etc. There are also countless employability attributes: loyalty, commitment, enthusiasm, motivation, etc. Chances are you possess many of each, but how do you know which are most important?
There are countless employability skills: teamwork, problem-solving, time-management, organization, etc. There are also countless employability attributes: loyalty, commitment, enthusiasm, motivation, etc. Chances are you possess many of each, but how do you know which are most important?
The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) published a press release in March, 2007 announcing their Job Outlook survey results. The 267 employers surveyed named communication skills and honesty as the most desired skills and/or qualities of job candidates.
“Communication skills have topped the list for eight years, and honesty and integrity have tied for the top spot for the last three years,” says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. This seems to indicate more than a trend.
Employers are looking for other employability skills and attributes as well. Interpersonal skills, motivation and initiative, strong work ethic, and teamwork skills were also cited as important attributes.
“Certainly, having the requisite skill set to perform the duties of the job is critical, but much of what employers prize can’t be taught in the classroom,” says Mackes. “As a result, they look for evidence beyond grades that the candidate has these ’soft skills’ and attributes.”
Still not quite sure what employability skills you possess? There are tools available to help you determine what your strengths are, including the Employability Skills Assessment (ESA) created by the University of Georgia’s College of Education. You can find similar tools on the internet.
Once you recognize what employability skills and attributes you possess, how do you showcase them in a job interview? Development and public relations consultant Mary Beth Fleck says, “Job seekers should have prepared statements ready that demonstrate these special qualities, in addition to the required job specific or technical skills.” Her examples include, “I can be relied upon to take charge of the responsibilities immediately. My experience with fund development database systems and my ability to communicate and to establish relationships will increase planned giving efforts. Because of my energy and focus in solving problems rapidly, I can be counted on to complete each project within your time frame expectations.”
The important thing is that you communicate with potential employers those employability skills and attributes you possess. Don’t be shy; this is your chance to show employers that you are their ideal candidate!
