Job Outlook 2006. National Association of Colleges and Employers.
Employers say they consider communication skills to be important in job candidates, but find that many potential employees don't have them, according to a report published by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).
"We've found that employers look for candidates who can bring with them skills that will enable them to succeed in the workplace," says Mackes. "Communication and teamwork skills, flexibility, a strong work ethic, honesty and integrity, interpersonal skills—all of those things help the candidate work effectively."
"Finding a job really is a job," she says. "As our study shows, employers have a substantial set of criteria against which they judge potential employees. Students need to demonstrate to employers that they have what it takes."
Employers rate the importance of candidate qualities/skills
| Communication skills | 4.7 |
| Honesty/integrity | 4.7 |
| Teamwork skills | 4.6 |
| Strong work ethic | 4.5 |
| Analytical skills | 4.4 |
| Flexibility/adaptability | 4.4 |
| Interpersonal skills | 4.4 |
| Motivation/initiative | 4.4 |
| Computer skills | 4.3 |
| Detail-oriented | 4.1 |
| Organizational skills | 4.1 |
| Leadership skills | 4.0 |
| Self-confidence | 4.0 |
(5-point scale where 1=Not at all important and 5=Extremely important)
