What Do Employers Really Want? Top Skills and Values Employers Seek from Job-Seekers
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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 job-seekers?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.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and streamlining complex work processes.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Computer-literate performer with extensive software proficiency covering wide variety of applications.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Proven relationship-builder with unsurpassed interpersonal skills.
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.
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.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Results-driven achiever with exemplary planning and organizational skills, along with a high degree of detail orientation.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve complaints.
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.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Highly adaptable, mobile, positive, resilient, patient risk-taker who is open to new ideas.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Productive worker with solid work ethic who exerts optimal effort in successfully completing tasks.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Dependable, responsible contributor committed to excellence and success.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Energetic performer consistently cited for unbridled passion for work, sunny disposition, and upbeat, positive attitude.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated, and committed to professionalism.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Confident, hard-working employee who is committed to achieving excellence.
Sample bullet point describing this skill:
- Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with minimal supervision.
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.See also our Transferable Job Skills for Job-Seekers.
Sources of More Information about Employability Skills
- Some Major Employer Hiring Concerns, from IT Headhunter.
- 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.
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