There is a disconnect between today’s candidates for entry level positions and the managers interviewing them. According to a joint report from PayScale, and Future Workplace while 87% of recent graduates said they feel well prepared to hit the ground running after graduation, only half of hiring managers surveyed agree with them. Why the disconnect? What do managers feel today’s new grads are lacking? Companies are transparent when it comes to what they want to see in evaluating recent grads for hire. Per their annual survey of more than 200 employers the National Association of Colleges and Employers list the following attributes as top of mind for Managers when evaluating entry level applicants:
- Leadership
- Ability to work in a team
- Written communication skills
- Problem solving skills
- Verbal communication skills
- Strong work ethic
- Initiative
- Analytical/Quantitative skills
Your job as a recent or soon-to be graduate is simple: articulate specific examples of when you have demonstrated using the traits above. Begin with your resume and be ready to speak to your experiences during your interview. Were you a member of a club or better still it’s Leader? How have you shown initiative? Your job during the recruitment process is to set yourself apart from other candidates. Being ready with examples of how you align with the above will help you do just that!