Recruiting in China

Each year the survey is conducted, employers name the skills and qualities in the "ideal candidate." They also compare their desires to the skills and qualities the current crop of graduates actually possess.

Employers rate the importance of specific qualities/skills Qualities Rating
Communication Skills 4.7
Honesty/integrity 4.7
Interpersonal skills (relates well to others) 4.5
Motivation/initiative 4.5
Strong work ethic 4.5
Teamwork skills (works well with others) 4.5
Computer skills 4.4
Analytical skills 4.3
Flexibility/adaptability 4.3
Detail-oriented 4.2
Organizational skills 4.0
Leadership skills 4.0
Self-confidence 4.0
Friendly/outgoing personality 3.9
Tactfulness 3.9
Well-mannered/polite 3.8
Creativity 3.7
GPA (3.0 or better) 3.6
Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker 3.3
Sense of humor 3.2
Bilingual skills 2.3
(5-point scale, where 1=not important, 2=not very important; 3=somewhat important; 4=very important, and 5=extremely important)
A good GPA is, of course, important.

Employers look at other attributes, too. In fact, year after year, the number one skill employers say they want to see in job candidates is good communication skills: the ability to write and speak clearly. Unfortunately¡ªin spite of requesting this skill year after year¡ªmany employers also report that college graduates lack good grammar and writing skills.

Employers also want new hires who are honest, have teamwork skills, and have a strong work ethic.

What college candidates lack
Ironically, communication skills not only top employers' list of most-desired skills, but also their list of the skills most lacking in new college graduates.

Many employers reported that students have trouble with grammar, can't write, and lack presentation skills. Poor communication skills are often evident in the interview, where students are unable to articulate, as one employer said, "how what they have done relates to/contributes to the position" they are seeking.

In addition, employers pointed to other skills and attributes that had made their "wish list," and cited those qualities and abilities as lacking in many new college graduates, e.g., relevant work experience, strong work ethic, team work skills, and the like. They also faulted new college graduates for not conducting themselves in a professional manner.

Get experience¡ªand learn how to highlight it on your resume and at your interview
What this means is, you need some real-world experience before graduation. Although you won't learn everything about the workplace with an internship or co-op assignment, you can build many of the skills employers find lacking. An internship, for example, is not just an opportunity to gain experience, but it's also a setting for you to learn professional behavior, learn what it means to work in a team, and practice interpersonal communication. An internship or co-op position helps you see the professional skills employers seek in action¡ªand helps you learn how to fit into the world of work.

Where employers are looking for new graduates
On-campus interviews
Employer's internship program
Employee referrals
Employer's co-op program
Career/job fairs
Job postings on the college web site
Faculty contacts
Job postings on the company web site
Student organizations/clubs
Commercial job boards
Internet resume data bases
Job postings to career offices (printed)
Request resumes from career offices
Recruitment advertising (print)
Newspaper advertising (campus and/or local newspapers)
Career/job fairs(virtual)
Internet banners
Video interviewing

Plus, hands-on experience may lead to a full-time job offer. Employers say they look within their own student programs to recruit new graduates. In addition, many employers said they offer higher salaries to new graduates who have any co-op or internship experience than they do to those who do not have that experience.

Further, practical experience is an element that employers will look for on your resume¡ªwhether it is with their organization or another. While employers prefer "relevant" work experience, having any work experience is better than no work experience. If you get this valuable experience before graduation, you'll have a distinct advantage over job candidates who lack the experience.