In a recent study, published in the January – February 2011 issue of the Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education, researchers at Oklahoma State University conducted a study of more than 450 college graduate employers. They reviewed not only what attributes employers look for but also the tools and the mechanisms with which employers measure these attributes.
According to this study, the top three qualities employers value are communication skills, critical thinking skills, and writing skills.
Employers were asked which signals best illustrate the five attributes being tested: number crunching ability, character, communication skills, problem solving skills, and ability to work well with others. Seventeen signals were listed including grades, major, coursework, and others. However, employers were only to rate five signals for every attribute.
Overall, internships and majors related to the job were highly rated signals, as well as foreign language skills and interviewing skills. While excellent grades were not ranked as high as other skills and experiences, they are still important.
"Each student should strategically acquire accomplishments and qualifications which are both valued by employers and consistent with the student's preferences, goals, and talents," says Bailey Norwood, one of the study's authors. Norwood suggests students should tailor their career choices to their personal strengths and aspirations. Grades, extracurricular activities, leadership positions, internships, and awards speak for an individual as a whole. Also, Norwood advises that interview skills are an invaluable asset.
However, researchers at Oklahoma State remind students and graduates that the study is not infallible.According to Norwood, "It is important not to allow summaries of survey statistics obscure the fact that each employer is different, and there is no one perfect college graduate."
