What employers want in university graduates

For both domestic and international students who wish to work in the U.S.A. after completing their degrees, knowing what employers want in their new hires is essential. A recent study sponsored by the Association of Colleges & Universities (AAC&U) indicated that business executives and managers support an emphasis on general attributes of character and competence in their hiring decisions, a view that supports the liberal education focus and student engagement strategies offered by many U.S. institutions.

Eight specific areas are most important to executives and managers:

• able to effectively communicate orally
• critical thinking/analytical reasoning
• ethical judgment and decision making
• able to work effectively in teams
• able to work independently
• self motivated, initiative, proactive
• able to communicate effectively in writing
• can apply knowledge/skills to real-world settings

The good news is that there is consensus around what's important for graduates to be able to do and the hype that tomorrow's jobs haven't even been created yet (requiring completely different knowledge and training) are suspect. The bad news is that executives and hiring managers believe graduates could be better prepared in all these areas. Internships in the workplace offer one opportunity to hone these capabilities but all students should be aware that their seriousness and focus in their own development is also key.