Top Qualities that Employers Seek in College Grads

In the Fall 2008 survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges & Employers, employers ranked the importance of these skills among new college grads whom they hire.  How do your skills rate?

5-point scale:  1 = not important; 5 = extremely important

Selection Criteria

Employers were also asked how they choose one candidate over another when both are equally qualified.  Overwhelmingly, their first criterion was work/internship experience:  76.3% of employers preferred  the candidate with relevant work experience; 18.9% preferred a candidate with any type of work experience, whether or not it is relevant.

Skills Candidates Lack

When asked which skills candidates commonly lack, employers cited communication skills as the number one deficiency among new college grads. 

Employers noted either verbal or written skills equally, and they often credited students' inadequate writing skills to their frequent use of text-messaging and emails.  Additional communication skills employers identified as lacking included presentation, teamwork, and overall interpersonal skills.   

The second-largest response identified lack of a good work ethic, including poor time management and inability to multitask in order to meet deadlines.  Related to work ethic, employers said that students do not have realistic expectations of their new positions related to the demands of the job.  They cited grads who are not committed to the organization and who lack patience, wanting to "climb the ladder overnight."

Another large group identified lack of professionalism among new grads.  Specifically, employers noted a lack of maturity and business etiquette, including how to dress appropriately in a business environment.

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