10 skills employers want in graduates for 2015

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a US non-profit group that links college career placement offices with employers, ran a survey from mid-August through early October where it asked 260 hiring managers (from large companies such as Chevron, IBM, Seagate, etc.) what skills they plan to prioritize when they recruit from the class of 2015 at colleges and graduate schools. Though the survey sample is small, the results should be given attention. Here are the findings new and recent grads should pay attention.

1. Ability to work in a team structure

2. Ability to make decisions and solve problems

3. Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside an organisation

4. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work

5. Ability to obtain and process information

6. Ability to analyze quantitative data

7. Technical knowledge related to the job

8. Proficiency with computer software programs

9. Ability to create and/or edit written reports

10. Ability to sell and influence others