Employers look for specific skills to be cited on college grads’ resumes

College students seeking full-time employment after graduation should be certain to craft a well-written resume, as employers responding to a survey released on December 4 conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reported that employers will seek evidence of solid written communication skills on their candidates’ resumes.

When NACE asked employers participating in its annual Job Outlook survey which skills and qualities – beyond a strong GPA – they most want to see showcased on students’ resumes, most cited written communication skills (See Figure 1.)

Problem-solving skills and an ability to work as part of a team are also highly desired – not surprising as these typically top employers’ “wish lists.” Initiative, analytical skills, and a strong work ethic were also cited by more than 70 percent of respondents as key.

Figure 1: Attributes Employers Seek on a Candidate’s Resume

The Job Outlook survey is a forecast of hiring intentions of employers as they relate to new college graduates. Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys its employer members about their hiring plans and other employment-related issues in order to project the market for new college graduates for the current class and to assess a variety of conditions that may influence that market. The survey is conducted in two parts: fall and spring.

This information contained in this article is based on data gathered in the fall. Data were collected from August 1, 2018, through October 8, 2018, for the Job Outlook 2019 survey.

A total of 172 surveys were returned—an 18.5 percent response rate.

The Job Outlook 2019 report is available for purchase through the NACE Store.

(Source: NACE)

Also see:

• Apple Entrepreneur Camp: App development program launches to support women entrepreneurs
• Job Outlook 2019: Employers plan to increase new college grad hires by almost 17%
• Amazon launches childhood-to-career program to inspire underprivileged youth to build careers in computer science
• Class of 2018 college grads’ salaries keeping pace with last year’s salaries

~ Written by: Richard Webster, Ace News Today   /   Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter