Skills Employers Commonly Look For
The following skills were identified by employers across industries as important in a job seeker. If any of these fit your background, use them prominently in your resume.
Computer Skills
Communication Skills
Presentation Skills
Personality Characteristics
- Computer Skills
- word processing
- spreadsheet application
- database management
- graphic design
- knowledge of common software
- Communication Skills-- social effectiveness
- team working skills
- coaching skills/coachability
- sales skills
- problem-solving skills
- organization skills
- crisis-management skills
- Presentation Skills
- writing skills (e-mails, memos, technical and other reports, and personal correspondence with co-workers)
- oral skills (public speaking for small and large group presentations)
- Other Skills
- basic understanding of economics
- language skills and understanding other cultures
- Personality Characteristics
- responsible
- imaginative/creative
- motivated/motivator
- quick thinker
- self-starter
- change agent
- self-confident
- risk-taker
- flexible/adaptable
- trainable/lifelong learner
- street-smart
("What Employers Look For" was adapted from: Kretovics, Mark A. and James A. McCambridge: "Determining What Employers Really Want: Conducting regional Stakeholder Focus Groups," Journal of Career Planning and Employment. Winter 1998, 25-30.)