What graduate employers are looking for

What are graduate employers looking for?

Now that you know more about yourself it's time to take a look at how these skills, ambitions and experience relate to what employers actually want:

IMPORTANT: Find areas in the skills, knowledge, ambition and experience sheets which you created for yourself which demonstrate as many elements in the wanted list as possible (preferably from the nearer the top of the list). Have examples prepared which you can adapt for application forms or recite in interviews for as many of the above headings as possible. Where there are gaps...sort it out!

What isn't detailed in this list is - academic genius. A common pitfall is to continue to think in terms of UCAS points and degree level. This is important but it's not enough to say "I have a 2:1 what can you do for me?" You seriously need to think about what makes you different and what makes you stand out above your friends who no doubt also have a 2:1.Can you demonstrate this with evidence? How will it benefit an employer...this is what you should be asking yourself.

• Willingness to learn
• Commitment
• Dependability
• Self Motivation
• Teamwork
• Oral communication skills
• Cooperation
• Written communication skills
• Drive/Energy
• Self management
• Desire to achieve / motivation
• Problem solving
• Analytical ability
• Flexibility
• Initiative
• Can summarise key issues
• Logical argument
• Business awareness
• Numeracy
• Adaptability

Source: Harvey L. et al. (1997), Graduate Work, organisational change and students attributes, CRQ, University of Central England.