What are the top ten skills that employers want?

[Monirul Islam]

Based on a number of surveys on the skills required by graduates undertaken by Microsoft, Target Jobs, the BBC, Prospects, NACE and AGR and other organisations, here is our summary of the skills which were most often deemed important.

VERBAL COMMUNICATION
1   Able to express your ideas clearly and confidently in speech
TEAMWORK

2   Work confidently within a group
COMMERCIAL AWARENESS   3   
Understand the commercial realities affecting the organisation.

ANALYSING & INVESTIGATING

4   
Gather information systematically to establish facts & principles. Problem solving.

INITIATIVE/SELF MOTIVATION   5   Able to act on initiative, identify opportunities & proactive in putting forward ideas & solutions
DRIVE   6   Determination to get things done. Make things happen & constantly looking for better ways of doing things.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
7   
Able to express yourself clearly in writing

PLANNING & ORGANISING   8   
Able to plan activities & carry them through effectively

FLEXIBILITY

9   
Adapt successfully to changing situations & environments

TIME MANAGEMENT   10   Manage time effectively, prioritising tasks and able to work to deadlines.


Other skills that were also seen as important

GLOBAL SKILLS       Able to speak and understand other languages. Appreciation of other cultures. See
Study and work placements outside the UK
Working Abroad
NEGOTIATING & PERSUADING

   Able to influence and convince others, to discuss and reach agreement.
LEADERSHIP

   Able to motivate and direct others
NUMERACY

   
Multiply & divide accurately, calculate percentages, use statistics & a calculator, interpret graphs & tables.

COMPUTING SKILLS
   Word-processing, using databases, spreadsheets, the Internet & email, designing web pages etc.
SELF AWARENESS       Awareness of achievements, abilities, values & weaknesses & what you want out of life.
PERSONAL IMPACT/CONFIDENCE       
Presents a strong, professional, positive image to others which inspires confidence & commands respect.

LIFELONG LEARNING       Continues to learn throughout life. Develops the competencies needed for current & future roles
STRESS TOLERANCE       Maintains effective performance under pressure
INTEGRITY       Adheres to standards & procedures, maintains confidentiality and questions inappropriate behaviour.
INDEPENDENCE       Accepts responsibility for views & actions and able to work under their own direction & initiative.
DEVELOPING PROFESSIONALISM
   Pays care & attention to quality in all their work. Supports & empowers others.
ACTION PLANNING       Able to decide what steps are needed to achieve particular goals and then implement these.
DECISION-MAKING       Determines the best course of action. Evaluates options based on logic & fact & presents solutions
INTERPERSONAL SENSITIVITY       
Recognises & respects different perspectives. Open to the ideas & views of others

CREATIVITY       Generates & applying new ideas & solutions

Source: https://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/top-ten-skills.htm