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What skills do employers want?
Each employer has a shopping list of skills that they want to purchase. On
that list may be technical scientific skills, communication skills, problem
solving abilities, team work, adaptability and so on. Employers are also interested
in how we develop skills and how these skills carry over into the workplace.
For example, coursework develops your report writing and written communication
skills, laboratory work will develop technical scientific skills.
Don't assume that employers know that you have all the skills they are looking
for in a graduate just because you have completed a degree. Most employers examine
both your degree & what it equips you to do and your demonstratable personal
skills & abilities.
You must identify your skills and demonstrate your skills to employers.
Some pointers:
- In a highly competitive employment market, it usually takes more than just
a degree to get a job.
- Employers tend to consider a number of other factors besides your academic
qualifications. These are often referred to as 'Generic Skills'.
- A skill is 'a developed capacity, flair or aptitude which is usually expressed
as a combination of knowhow and knowledge.'
- So what are Generic skills? Generally speaking, these skills can be divided
into four broad categories:
- Communication Skills
- Teamwork or Interpersonal Skills
- Analytical or Problem Solving Skills
- Managing or Organising Skills
These categories are, frequently, used to evaluate potential employees. For
this reason, new graduates need to be familiar with what constitutes these skills
and acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses in such areas.
However, many have probably never realised that they do in fact possess many
of the skills sought by employers. You will have acquired some of these skills
through your degree. Those who have come to university as mature age students
or who have had significant involvement outside the university, either through
some form of employment or community involvement, will no doubt have acquired
a greater collection and be more aware of these skills. Remember the concept
of transferable skills- think of how flexibly the skills you have obtained
through study and other activities can be applied to employment. Sometimes
by concentrating only on your degree you can limit your awareness of these skills.
What skills are important?
Each Employer can identify the different skills they are seeking in graduates.
Here is how several major
employers describe the skills they want. The future
of work is also changing rapidly and will impact upon you during your career.
Identifying Specific Skills
Visit the Careers and Employer Liaison Centre and pick up the booklet A Graduates
Guide to Developing Skillsand work through the exercises.
Other Resources include:
Flinders University Programs:
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