Given the still tough job market, I thought this article would be especially timely for people who are approaching college graduation or those who have recently graduated but are unemployed or underemployed.
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College Seniors: What Employers are Looking for in Recent Grads
By Jeremiah Stewart
There is one semester left until you have to knock on the door of real life. One semester. So, college seniors, consider these skills you should brush up on as you start sending out internship applications and resumes:
Wanted: Team Players
Some view their job as a sentence they have to serve, and they do just enough to get by. Don’t be that person. Managers aren’t just looking for leaders, but people who can be part of a team effort.
Whether in person or through live chat, employers want workers who bring fresh ideas to brainstorming sessions, join (or cheer for) the company’s softball team, are involved in meetings and plan lunch outings with co-workers. Someone who actively participates is someone who is dedicated– and that is a trait employers seek in employees.
How to Get There: If you haven’t been involved in organizations, clubs and internships throughout college, act now. These help you branch out and indicate you work well with others.
Wanted: The Well-Prepared
You know how certain people seem to say and do all the right things at all the right times? What’s the secret to their success? Preparation. Employers are impressed by people who show up – to work, to interviews, to life – prepared.
It doesn’t mean you have to know everything, but it means you realize knowledge is power. When preparing for an interview, do your research. Be prepared to talk confidently about the company and yourself. Your future employer will see this as a trait you will carry over into your work.
How to Get There: Don’t be someone who just gets by – research and plan ahead.
Wanted: Pleasant People
It’s a timeless virtue we’ve been taught since youth – treat others how you want to be treated. No one, including your future boss, wants to be around someone who is unpleasant or hard to work with, even if you produce decent work.
That said, this tip is more for people who are already nice. When we say an employer wants someone who works well with others, we don’t mean someone who is nice and will do all of the work for others. A team player who motivates, encourages and facilitates other employees to do their part is what employers want.
How to Get There: Move outside your comfort zone. In class, always pair with a different partner during group work. Sometimes, this may make your role harder and push your patience, but don’t give up – look for ways to help your partner do his part. You’ll gain experience in working with all types of people.
Wanted: Go-Getters
Your resume, experience, education and personality may have scored you a job, but it’s your drive that will make it stick. Employers watch closely and tend to promote the ones who start earlier, work later and step up when needed (and do it all with a smile on their face). Those who continually push themselves to the front will rise above.
How to Get There: Don’t stop at graduation. Keep educating yourself through online classes and professional associations. Network. Stay up-to-date in your industry. Follow industry-related blogs, Twitter feeds and other social media sites.
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Jeremiah Stewart is the Executive Director of a nonprofit organization that supports education in developing countries, Jeremiah shares his knowledge of 501(c)3s with the online world and loves to help SMBs learn to raise money and create more sustainable companies.
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