Top�skills sought by graduate employers

Graduate Careers Australia has reported in their December 2006 newsletter 'Graduate Grapevine' on the key selection criteria used when recruiting graduates. The top three were:

• Interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral)
• Academic qualifications
• Work experience

When asked about what they felt to be the least desirable characteristics they would like to see in their pool of candidates, graduate employers identified the key ones as:

• Lack of interpersonal and communication skills
• Lack of drive and motivation
• Arrogance and selfishness.

Despite disparaging comments about 'soft skills' most work is dependent on using interpersonal and communication skills. These skills are hard (i.e difficult) to acquire and use with ease and effectiveness, and they are hard (i.e. solid, firm) even though they many not be reducible to seemingly black and white behaviour. (Even those skills and subjects that are deemed to be hard in this sense, such as accounting or physics, are not so black and white as they seem.)

While it is unrealistic to expect graduates to have 'excellent communication skills' the evidence of everyday encounters with young people filling the typical jobs students work in, suggests there is scope for considerable development of their interpersonal skills. Any graduates career prospects will be limited if they are unable to work with others, influence, persuade, cooperate, negotiate, lead, write, explain, present, and develop and maintain relationships.

Dr Ann Villiers, learning guide, professional speaker and author, is Australia 's only Mental Nutritionist� specialising in mind and language practices that help people build flexible thinking, confident speaking and quality connections with people. Visit www.mentalnutrition.com.

You'll find more articles under Resources, Selection Criteria, Wellbeing and Daring Dames.