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- Communication skills,
or the ability to express yourself in both verbal and written form.
Employers are looking for people who are "comfortable expressing
themselves and their ideas in clear, concise, and meaningful
language." If you have written term papers, given class
presentation, or participated in group projects, you can state that
you have developed and refined your communication skills.
- Interpersonal skills,
including the ability to share leadership and responsibility, work
cooperatively, and get along with co-workers. Employers seek
graduates who can work on task forces and self-managed task teams,
but are also capable of initiating ideas and pursuing a project
independently. Many organizations stress a consumer-oriented
approach that involves "people who will be good at networking and
affiliating."
- Leadership skills,
or the ability to influence people. Being able to recruit and
motivate others toward their top performance is a plus. Leadership
includes "tenacity, flexibility, tolerance for risk-taking, and the
ability to function well in undefined situations." Employers value
those who help other employees adapt to changing priorities within
an organization and who can anticipate change."
- Analytical skills,
particularly problem-solving ability and sharp, critical thinking.
These skills are a plus for all kinds of duties and projects.
- Research experience,
especially for in-house research. Organizations value an employee
who can work with others to define a problem or research question,
design a study to find answers, design the appropriate instruments,
code and analyze the data, report (orally and in writing) on the
findings, and make recommendations based on the findings. Being able
to conceptualize a project from inception to conclusion is the key.
- Computer literacy,
including familiarity with word processing, data analysis, and
graphics. Most organizations will train you on their own
systems--what they really want is employees who are not
computer-shy.
- Cross-cultural
understanding,
especially regarding racial, ethnic, and gender differences in
values, perceptions, and approaches to work. Employers need workers
who can understand and operate within the context of cultural and
other diversities. Employers increasingly seek employees "who hold a
global perspective and have a high degree of intercultural awareness
and more sensitivity in race relations". A global outlook is valued:
"We need people who are free of traditional stereotypes."
- Business sense,
especially in combination with technical training and good
interpersonal skills. Employers need employees who have "business
savvy" and knowledge of advanced quality processes and general
principles of performance management.
In addition, the desires to achieve, work
hard, and function ethically are increasingly held by employers as
important attributes.
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