This is Sponsored Content for Federation University Australia
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Employers look for a range of attributes in applicants, many of which are common to a number of different career sectors.
A university degree will better your chances in the job market, but you'll need the right mix of skills, knowledge and personal qualities to stand out. Here are the top most frequently mentioned traits and abilities employers look for in candidates.
The good news is no matter what you have studied in school, whether social sciences, business, health science, education or computer science, you will have learned many of the skills on the list. The trick is to demonstrate that you have those skills through your cover letter, résumé and interview.
Express yourself - Communication skills in both spoken work and in writing are of the highest importance to employers in just about every job sector. The ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organisation and the skill to create and/or edit written reports will be sought after in many jobs. The ability to listen, write, and speak effectively is critical in business.
Know the business – Known in the job market as 'commercial awareness,' this involves a job seeker having a genuine interest in the sector they are trying to get into. Employers look to see if an applicant understands the wider environment in which an organisation operates: its customers, competitors and suppliers. Make sure you do your company research before an interview to give the best impression.
Get it together - Organisational skills help you prioritise, plan and complete set activities and projects. Employers love to see results so make sure you come to the interview with specific examples of times when you coordinated and carried out a project to the end.
Pull together – The ability to work in a team with confidence has never been of greater importance. So many jobs involve working in one or more work-groups so you must have the ability come together with others in a professional way to achieve a common goal. Any job or school project where you had to work with others will demonstrate your ability to do so, but make sure you communicate clearly how this was achieved.
Think outside the square – Employers love job applicants to demonstrate the ability and logic to investigate, analyse and identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems. Innovative problem-solvers who can achieve workable solutions and resolve complaints will always be welcome.
Skills fit – Recruiters are looking for people who are a good fit for their organisation and the position on offer. Skills may include technical knowledge related to the job such as proficiency with computer software programs.
Self-improvement – Regardless of your qualifications or degree of expertise employers are always on the lookout for people who are constantly looking to improve. Ensure continuous self-improvement to make you more marketable by building a skills inventory.
Decision makers or leaders - Most managers don’t want to micro-manage their staff. They therefore look for employees who are able to think critically and make appropriate decisions. Employers want people who can come up with their own solutions and that they can trust to make decisions that are good for the business.
Motivate, initiate – An employee who is motivated to show initiative without having to be hounded to do so is an employer’s dream. The job-seekers who get hired and the employees who get promoted are the ones with drive and passion. This drive and enthusiasm is demonstrated through their words and actions.
Adapt and survive – Flexibility is appreciated by employers in today’s rapidly and continually changing work environment. Employees who adapt quickly with little disruption to their work are highly sought by recruiters. Show you are open to new ideas and concepts, to working independently or as part of a team, and to carrying out multiple tasks or projects.
