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Skills employers are looking for

Experience and education play a huge role in landing any job. Those can be measured. Other traits, such as interpersonal skills, are harder to identify. Ideal candidates bring the best of both worlds.

Communication skills

Job recruiters look for employees who can communicate clearly their ideas, goals, objectives and strategies. They want good listeners who are willing to engage with stakeholders and who understand needs and demands.

Being a good communicator also means having good people skills such as being likable and not self-serving.

Strategic thinking

You can move to the top of any employer's list if you grasp the company's big picture and solve problems. Bloomberg lists strategic thinking as one of the least-common but most-desired traits in potential employees. Understanding the company's identity and being able to strategize new plans in achieving its goals can go a long way in setting you apart.

Ability to work collaboratively

Regardless of the company, employers want an employee who can work in a team. This means building trust, minimizing conflicts, and setting roles and responsibilities. Candidates who can provide examples of working with others in a group or team project demonstrate high emotional intelligence. Consider graduate school programs or volunteer opportunities if you wish to increase your leadership in small group settings.

Creative problem-solving

Employers are looking for people who can identify a problem and generate various options to solve it quickly and effectively. Employees who make decisions and implement solutions are likely to be confident in their own abilities to take responsibility for their actions. There are many methods and tools that you can pursue to elevate your problem-solving expertise: attending a workshop, going back to school or taking online classes. These all show employers you are willing to improve. Staying on top of what employers are looking for can move you to the front of the line.

See how Central Michigan University can help you develop the technical skills the job requires and the interpersonal skills employers need at Global Campus.

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