What Employers Want

Many surveys have shown that employers expect job-seekers to have some critical skills regardless of their major. Many times these skills are called "tranferable" or "soft"skills and include oral and written communication, problem-solving, teamwork, flexibility/adaptability, research and analytical skills, technical and computer skills, time and multitasking management. You may already have many of these skills developed through course work, jobs, internships, volunteering, and life experience. Think about skills you have used in coursework, critiques, projects, hobbies, sports, jobs, performances, internships, and extra-curricular activities - all of them can be applied to a new job! And don't forget to point out in your cover letter, resume, and interview how your acquired skills are applicable to the position you are seeking and how will benefit the company.

Selected Online Resources

What Employers Really Want? (Quintcareers)
“Perfect” Job Candidate Pairs Communication Skills With Strong Work Ethic (NACEWeb)
Skills Employers Seek (Loughborough University, UK)
Top Hiring Criteria for College Grads (CollegeGrad.com)
Skills and the Liberal Arts (Brooklyn College of the City University of New York).
Your Transferable Liberal Arts Skills (Evergreen College)
Employability Uncovered! (Prospects UK)
What Skills and Attributes Employers Seek When Hiring Students (University of WI-River Falls)
Transferable Skills Survey (from the University of MN-Duluth)
Liberal Arts Is Slang for Job Skills (Ask the Headhunter)

(NOTE: Links to non-UNI Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement)