Top Skills Employers Seek

After the basic educational, experiential and licensing qualifications to obtain any position or to start a business, there are additional qualities an employer finds desirable in an employee or business owner must find in him/herself. Business success depends more on several essential, learnable skills than upon any particular education or experience. Of the many abilities contributing to excellent performance in business or career, the ten that seem most valued are: 1. Leadership 2. Organization (and time management) 3. Selling Skills 4. Information Acquisition and Management 5. Current Technologies 6. Persuasion and Negotiation 7. Judgment (making good decisions and choices) 8. Financial 9. Writing 10. Speaking Here's a brief look at what each of the above includes and resources for learning more are available in the resources box below the article. 1. Leadership is the ability to get people to do what you want them to do. If you are a good leader, people will do what you've asked them to do, whether or not you are there to supervise. If you are a great leader, they will do what you've asked, strive to do it well, enjoy working for you and try to do more than you've asked, just to please you. If you are inspired leader, they will do what you ask, try to contribute as much more as you will allow, make sure that whatever they do is the highest quality they can give you, and consider their work not merely enjoyable, but rather a shared vision partnership with you. Leadership includes the skills of motivation, change facilitation, behavior modification and conflict management. 2. Organization is the ability to manage time, people and processes in such a way that everything is done in the best order, by the best qualified worker, in the most efficient time frame. A good organizer also insures that all materials involved in the process are available in the right place, at the right time and in sufficient quantity, without excessive reserves. 3. Selling skill is the ability to get people to buy your ideas, services or products. This skill is the only way you get money for whatever you do. No matter how poor a sales person you think yourself, if you have a job, you've managed to make at least one sale -- that of your services to an employer. I'm constantly amazed at the distorted views I hear of this very basic economic necessity. You'd almost think that sales was the province of the Devil. Yet, if you take the time to study the techniques of selling, you'll find them very similar to advice on how to get a date, how to get a promotion on the job, how to get a bank to give you a loan and how to get elected to office in your social club. Commerce does not happen without sales. I probably would have put this first if I'd been listing skills in order of importance. Selling skill is part of the skill category of Influence, which also encompasses Persuasion and Negotiation, which I've also listed among the ten top skills. It's so important that I recommend that you read one or more of the best books on sales before you do anything about any of the other skills I mention here. Start with Selling for Dummies by Tom Hopkins. 4. Information Acquisition and Management includes finding the best news, articles, books, tapes, videos, training and other written and multiple media

sources that keep you current and "in the know" in your field of expertise, as well as closely related fields that impact yours. But moreover, having good "information skills" means having access to experts who can help you and having an extensive address book with a great contact network. That's because you need to know how to find out about stuff that you don't know. You also need to store all the information you acquire and be able to access and add to it easily. This is so important that most corporations have an entire department just for this task and have a Chief Information Officer (VP) to run it. For most people it is sufficient to be able to make and use databases, to keep a Filofax, Daytimer, DayRunner or whatever brand you prefer, to learn basic research skills and to be able to do quick, effective internet searches. 5. Current Technologies. I'm constantly amazed by the number of professionals, executives and managers who are still being dragged kicking and screaming all the way into the 21st century where technology is concerned. Here's the reality: you must know and use all the current technology relevant to business in general and to your field in particular. You will not get ahead without it. (If you are already CEO, never mind what I'm saying.) At a minimum, you must acquire basic computer user skills. Yes, that means that you need to know how to type (or keyboard, as many call it today). No, it is not merely a clerical or secretarial skill. [Although I am posting this article on my web site, I have found that any number of people who've read such articles have only found them by sitting beside someone else who was negotiating the Web for them or by having them printed out to read off-line. Therefore, I'm not assuming that all my readers already know and appreciate the need for technological literacy.] But, to continue my harangue, you cannot easily accomplish the other 9 skills on this list without being able to competently use both the technology of business in general and the technology of your business in particular. (For example, if you are a trainer, a speaker, or make any sorts of presentations, you need to know about and use projectors, transparencies, projected video, audio amplification systems, computer-assisted training programs and computer projected multimedia.) 6. Persuasion and Negotiation are the basic abilities to get others to do what you want or give you what you want. They are closely related to selling skills and to motivation. They are essential to leadership. Although you learned these skills as a child, there is a grown-up science of using them. There are systems and sets of techniques you can learn to apply to most any situation that will help you get other people to cooperate with you in achieving your goals. Those who use them successfully on behalf of their employers or clients almost always get ahead -way ahead. 7. Good Judgment. Whether you call it good judgment, common sense, horse sense or common wisdom, it's one of the most valued abilities in any endeavor in virtually all societies. It is the ability to make accurate evaluations and prudent choices, especially in regard to other people. It is the abilility to develop informed opinions But more than that, it encompases a well-honed intuition and wellexamined experience. It starts with the development of what is often called "critical thinking skills." 8. Financial. While you don't need to be a math whiz, you need to know about budgeting and planning, if you are in corporate management, because, well gollygee, you'll probably have a budget for whatever department you run. However, if you want to be a major player in the corporation you should know how highly valued is the knowledge of corporate financial matters, including raising capital, cash flow, asset management, tax planning, capital budgeting, valuation, mergers and acquisitions, credit management and the impact of government regulation. If you've taken an MBA, you've probably studied most that along the way. However, there's plenty of reasonably easy to understand information for the rest of us in

books and seminars as well as relevant trade journals. 9. Writing. This is the information age. People want to know what you know. They want to have access to what you know even when they can't get access to you. So, they want you to write it down for them. They want you to write it concisely, accurately and in a way that is easy to understand. You want people to know and believe good things about you so that they will hire you, contract with you or buy your product. You need to provide them informative, credible, motivational and pursuasive literature that lets them know what you have done, what you know and what you can do. You absolutely, positively, without a doubt must be able to write in order to get to the top of your career, business or profession. In case I haven't stated that emphatically enough, let me repeat: ya gotta write. And if yer grammar or spellin' ain't no good, ya gotta fix 'em. 10. Speaking. At a minimum, you should be able to effectively run and participate in meetings. Even at the middle management level you must be able to speak up for yourself and your department in meetings; unless you can do so, you not only won't get promoted, you also won't be an effective manager. You should be able to argue for yourself when you want to get a raise in salary, get a budget approved or get a project approved. You should know how to be a good interviewee and a good interviewer. You simply have to learn to speak effectively to get a job, get the $ you want, get the assignments you want, get the information you want, disseminate the information you want to get out, get people to do things and hire good employees. You certainly must speak well at least one-to-one in order to sell anything. All of the foregoing require the same skills as public speaking. You can learn the skills from a book or class and practice with a few friends if you absolutely refuse to practice any other way. If you can tolerate it, learn public speaking. It is easy to learn the skills; the only real difficulty is the abject terror the average person feels in getting up before even a small audience to practice those skills. The easiest way I know to get the skills, practice them and become comfortable speaking to an audience of one or one thousand is to join a Toastmasters club. I did an experiment with this after I'd been in Toastmasters for a while. I started taking my mother to meetings. This sweet lady in her mid70's swore to me that she'd be glad to plump up the club membership numbers by becoming a good audience for the others, but she would never, ever speak. Within a matter of weeks the only way we could keep her from speaking would have been to bind and gag her. She doesn't need the skills for business or employment. She's just having fun. Top Skills/Qualities Sought by Employers Michigan State University recently completed a national college employment survey and found the following to be skills and personal qualities that employers seek in new hires. Most of these qualities are direct or indirect byproducts of a good liberal arts education. Which ones do you possess? Be prepared to talk about them in interviews and cover letters and on your resume. Communication skills, both oral and written Strong work ethic Flexibility Initiative Motivation Teamwork A willingness to continue learning and acquiring new skills What Do Employers Really Want? Top Skills and Values Employers Seek from JobSeekers

by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D. and Katharine Hansen Most job-seekers wish they could unlock the secret formula to winning the hearts and minds of employers. What, they wonder, is that unique combination of skills and values that make employers salivate with excitement? Every employer is looking for a specific set of skills from job-seekers that match the skills necessary to perform a particular job. But beyond these job-specific technical skills, certain skills are nearly universally sought by employers. The good news is that most job-seekers possess these skills to some extent. The better news is that job-seekers with weaknesses in these areas can improve their skills through training, professional development, or obtaining coaching/mentoring from someone who understands these skills. The best news is that once you understand the skills and characteristics that most employer 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. Numerous studies have identified these critical employability skills, sometimes referred to as �soft skills.� We�ve distilled the skills from these many studies into this list of skills most frequently mentioned. We�ve also included sample verbiage describing each skill; job-seekers can adapt this verbiage to their own resumes, cover letters, and interview talking points. Skills Most Sought After by Employers So, what are these critical employability skills that employers demand of jobseekers? Communications Skills (listening, verbal, written). By far, the one skill mentioned most often by employers is the ability to listen, write, and speak effectively. Successful communication is critical in business. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Exceptional listener and communicator who effectively conveys information verbally and in writing. Analytical/Research Skills. Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be addressed. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and streamlining complex work processes. Computer/Technical Literacy. Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets, and email. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Computer-literate performer with extensive software proficiency covering wide variety of applications.

Flexibility/Adaptability/Managing Multiple Priorities. Deals with your ability to manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects. Interpersonal Abilities. The ability to relate to your co-workers, inspire others to participate, and mitigate conflict with co-workers is essential given the amount of time spent at work each day. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Proven relationship-builder with unsurpassed interpersonal skills. Leadership/Management Skills. While there is some debate about whether leadership is something people are born with, these skills deal with your ability to take charge and manage your co-workers. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Goal-driven leader who maintains a productive climate and confidently motivates, mobilizes, and coaches employees to meet high performance standards. Multicultural Sensitivity/Awareness. There is possibly no bigger issue in the workplace than diversity, and job-seekers must demonstrate a sensitivity and awareness to other people and cultures. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Personable professional whose strengths include cultural sensitivity and an ability to build rapport with a diverse workforce in multicultural settings. Planning/Organizing. Deals with your ability to design, plan, organize, and implement projects and tasks within an allotted timeframe. Also involves goalsetting. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Results-driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of detail orientation. Problem-Solving/Reasoning/Creativity. Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with the available information and resources. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve complaints. Teamwork. Because so many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups, you must have the ability to work with others in a professional manner while attempting to achieve a common goal. Sample bullet point describing this skill:

* Resourceful team player who excels at building trusting relationships with customers and colleagues. Personal Values Employers Seek in Employees Of equal importance to skills are the values, personality traits, and personal characteristics that employers seek. Look for ways to weave examples of these characteristics into your resume, cover letters, and answers to interview questions. Here is our list of the 10 most important categories of values. Honesty/Integrity/Morality. Employers probably respect personal integrity more than any other value, especially in light of the many recent corporate scandals. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Seasoned professional whose honesty and integrity provide for effective leadership and optimal business relationships. Adaptability/Flexibility. Deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to working independently or as part of a team, and to carrying out multiple tasks or projects. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Highly adaptable, mobile, positive, resilient, patient risk-taker who is open to new ideas. Dedication/Hard-Working/Work Ethic/Tenacity. Employers seek job-seekers who love what they do and will keep at it until they solve the problem and get the job done. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Productive worker with solid work ethic who exerts optimal effort in successfully completing tasks. Dependability/Reliability/Responsibility. There�s no question that all employers desire employees who will arrive to work every day - on time - and ready to work, and who will take responsibility for their actions. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Dependable, responsible contributor with committed to excellence and success. Loyalty. Employers want employees who will have a strong devotion to the company -- even at times when the company is not necessarily loyal to its employees. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record. Positive Attitude/Motivation/Energy/Passion. The job-seekers who get hired and the employees who get promoted are the ones with drive and passion -- and who demonstrate this enthusiasm through their words and actions.

Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Energetic performer consistently cited for unbridled passion for work, sunny disposition, and upbeat, positive attitude. Professionalism. Deals with acting in a responsible and fair manner in all your personal and work activities, which is seen as a sign of maturity and selfconfidence; avoid being petty. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated, and committed to professionalism. Self-Confidence. Look at it this way: if you don�t believe in yourself, in your unique mix of skills, education, and abilities, why should a prospective employer? Be confident in yourself and what you can offer employers. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Confident, hard-working employee who is committed to achieving excellence. Self-Motivated/Ability to Work With Little or No Supervision. While teamwork is always mentioned as an important skill, so is the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with minimal supervision. Willingness to Learn. No matter what your age, no matter how much experience you have, you should always be willing to learn a new skill or technique. Jobs are constantly changing and evolving, and you must show an openness to grow and learn with that change. Sample bullet point describing this skill: * Enthusiastic, knowledge-hungry learner, eager to meet challenges and quickly assimilate new concepts. Final Thoughts Employability skills and personal values are the critical tools and traits you need to succeed in the workplace -- and they are all elements that you can learn, cultivate, develop, and maintain over your lifetime. Once you have identified the sought-after skills and values and assessed the degree to which you possess, them remember to document them and market them (in your resume, cover letter, and interview answers) for job-search success. Sources of More Information about Employability Skills * Some Major Employer Hiring Concerns, from IT Headhunter. * The Skills Most Sought By Recruiters in Small- and Medium-Sized Organizations, from Human Resources Development Canada. * Skills and Tasks for Jobs -- A SCANS report for America 2000, U.S. Department of Labor (excerpts).

* Skills and Tasks for Jobs -- A SCANS report for America 2000, U.S. Department of Labor (full report). * Employers Describe Perfect Job Candidate, from National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). * What Skills and Attributes Employers Seek When Hiring Students, from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. * Skills Employers Seek, from Loughborough University. * Skills Employers Seek, from Psych Web. Questions about some of the terminology used in this article? Get more information (definitions and links) on key college, career, and job-search terms by going to our Job-Seeker's Glossary of Job-Hunting Terms. Dr. Randall Hansen is currently Webmaster of Quintessential Careers, as well as publisher of its electronic newsletter, QuintZine. He writes a biweekly career advice column under the name, The Career Doctor. He is also a tenured, associate professor of marketing in the School of Business Administration at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. Katharine Hansen, Credentialed Career Master (CCM), is a former speechwriter and college instructor who provides content for Quintessential Careers, edits QuintZine, an electronic newsletter for jobseekers, and prepares job-search correspondence as chief writer for Quintessential Resumes and Cover Letters. The Hansens are authors of numerous books, including: Dynamic Cover Letters; Dynamic Cover Letters for New Graduates; A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market; and Write Your Way to a Higher GPA, all published by Ten Speed Press. Top Skills Employers Seek The Killer Resume.com http://www.killerres.com

Following is a brief list of some the major skills employers look for in their job candidates. Each of these skills is something you should try to get across in both your resume and interviews. Communication Skills Are both your verbal and written skills strong? Teamwork Can you work well with others but still carry your own weight? Accountability Are you willing to take on responsibility to deliver and meet goals? Are you willing to be held accountable for your own actions? Adaptability

Do you quickly adapt to new environments, processes, and people? Do you learn new skills quickly? Can you rapidly pick up new software applications or tools? Motivation Are you driven, goal-oriented, and dedicated to succeed every day? Eagerness Do you want *this* particular job for the right reasons -- i.e. because you find the position challenging & interesting? Skills Employers Seek As you take your undergraduate courses, you may wonder how they are going to help you eventually "on the job." A good approach is to take a skills orientation. Think of your courses not only as ways of learning about particular subjects but also as learning experiences which refine a variety of specific skills. A bit of reflection will show that your courses, earlier work experiences, and hobbies are providing you with skills that later employers may value. If asked in a job interview how your education has prepared you for a specific job, you can be ready with some good answers, if you think about it beforehand. This handout gives you some ideas about skills which are useful to employers and which might be part of what you can offer an employer. A companion page, "Suggested Courses to Develop Skills that Prospective Employers Want," lists courses that can help you develop occupationally-relevant skills. 1. Adaptability Develop a habit of curiosity. Think creatively. Solve problems effectively and quickly. Work well with those who are different from you. 2. Competence in Reading and Writing; Computational Skills Reading skills: Be able to extract the important ideas from written words as well as graphs and tables. Be able to apply information to solve problems and answer questions. Writing skills Be able to communicate (orally) ideas clearly, concisely, accurately, and logically. Be able to write introductory summaries and wrap-up statements. Be able to document and illustrate ideas, including creating tables and graphs. Computational skills Be able to identify problems in data. Be able to reason numerically. Be able to apply/use data to solve problems (knowledge of statistics

very useful here). 3. Communication Skills Be able to communicate, orally, ideas clearly, concisely, and persuasively. Use "active" (versus passive) listening skills. Be able to ascertain that you and another have a common understanding of the message. Be curious enough to probe for critical information Be sensitive enough to hear and relate to the emotions behind another's words. 4. Computer Skills Be able to use a major word-processing program. Be able to use a spread-sheet program. Be able to use a data base management program. Be able to use the internet and world wide web. Be able to use e-mail. 5. Group Interactional Skills Be able to solve problems in a group. Be able to think creatively in a group. Be able to judge and engage in appropriate behavior. Be able to cope with undesirable behavior in others. Be able to absorb/deal with stress. Be able to deal with ambiguity. Be able to inspire confidence in others. Be able to share responsibility with others. Be able to interact effectively with others. Be able to negotiate from a "win-win" perspective. 6. Interpersonal Influence skills Be able to achieve personal goals, as well as influence others and the larger organization. Know how organization is structured, how it works, and why it works the way it does.

Know how, why, when, and by whom decisions are really made. 7. Knowing how to learn Understand how you absorb and retain information. Learn when you are most alert and use this time to learn. Keep aware of external events and reflect on how those events affect

you.

8. Self-management skills Believe in your self-worth. Take sole responsibility for setting your goals. Generate internally the motivation to accomplish your goals. Take actions that will best ensure your personal and career development. ____ Adapted from: Hall, V. and Wessel, J. (1989, December 3). As today's work world changes, so do the skills employers seek. The Atlanta Journal/The Atlanta Constitution, p. 53S. (Part I) Hall, V. and Wessel, J. (1989, December 10). Today's employees need skills once reserved only for "top brass." The Atlanta Journal/The Atlanta Constitution, p. 39R. (Part II) What are Some Top Skills to Get Ahead? Email this ArticleEmail this Article

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In addition to continuing to excel in technical areas, such as by pursuing certifications on the latest topics, IT professionals should also work hard at continuously developing their soft skills. Paula Moreira, in a recent CertMag article, lists the following top five skills to get ahead: * * * * *

Being a team player Project management Presentation People-management Critical thinking

Paula provides several tips on how to develop these skills. Here are just a few of them: * In terms of being a team player: "Volunteer to take on tasks during time crunches, even when they are not your own projects." * With respect to project management: "Communicate frequently on the status of your project, deliverables and dependencies to ensure the team is informed." * In relation to people-management skills: "Provide team members with

immediate constructive feedback, keeping emotions and personality out of it. Almost everyone appreciates feedback that will help them improve." * In terms of presentation skills: "Don't just report results. Provide your audience with the reason these results are important and describe how they impact your audience." * For critical thinking ask these questions: "Before rushing to your next decision, take a moment to consider: Is there a less expensive alternative? Who else can shed more light on the situation? Is there an angle that you haven't considered?" The point Paula makes about what people may say about you at the water cooler is a very good one: more often than not, you will get praised sooner for being an exemplary team player, presenter or project manager than you will for being a coding or database wizard. With that in mind, along with continuing your certification efforts, work hard at your soft skills so that the water cooler talk about you will be positive. Read the full article "Top Five Skills to Get Ahead" for more details: http://www.certmag.com/articles/templates/cmag_career_tc.asp?articleid=430&zoneid= 25 Top Qualities & Skills Employers Seek Career Services Center Marquette University 414.288.7423 [email protected] www.marquette.edu/csc Holthusen Hall, 1st floor What employers would like students to know: Do your research: Don�t interview if you haven�t done your homework�researching the organization before you interview is critical. Employers are interested in candidates who ask intelligent questions and are able to make intelligent conversation based on what they know about the organization. They are equally unimpressed by candidates who know nothing about the company or the position being offered. Be prepared: To score additional points, be sure you�re prepared for the interview when you arrive. Using the career services office, learning how to articulate your skills, and practicing interview techniques beforehand are excellent ways to ready yourself. You can also get high ratings by brushing up on verbal communication skills, arriving on time, dressing appropriately, and conducting yourself in a professional manner. Have a focus: Employers recommend that you base your job search on criteria you develop for jobs and companies. Think about what type of position you�re seeking and what type of organization you�re interested in, and consider your geographic preference and other related issues. Bring experience to the table: Rated very highly by employers, relevant work experience can give you the edge over other candidates. Internships and co-ops are excellent experience builders and can help you �sample� different organizations and opportunities which will help you focus on the type of job and work environment you want. Employers say they are impressed by job candidates who have excellent communication skills, good grooming habits, and relevant work experience. Employers say they want trustworthy new hires who can

move right in, get along with their co-workers, and get the job done without having to be babied at each step. Top Qualities & Skills Employers Seek 1. Communication skills (verbal, written, and presentation) 2. Honesty/integrity 3. Interpersonal skills (relates well to others) 4. Motivation/initiative 5. Strong work ethic 6. Teamwork skills (works well with others) 7. Analytical skills 8. Flexibility/adaptability 9. Technical: technical aptitude required in position, computer literacy with major software and maintenance 10.Detail orientated 11.Leadership skills 12.Organization skills 13.Self-confidence 14.Friendly/outgoing personality 15.Tactfulness 16.Well mannered/polite 17.Creativity 18.GPA (3.0 or better) 19.Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker 20.Sense of humor Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2004 and the Trends in Recruiting Report 2003-2004