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What employers look for in graduates including key skills and how to develop these

Will employers value my degree?

Graduates with specialist degrees or knowledge may be sought to fill specific jobs particularly in e.g. technical and professional fields.

Estimates indicate however that approximately 60% of graduate jobs are open to any degree holder. You can become an accountant or banker, for example, without holding a business degree; the Civil Service has several hundred vacancies annually, open to all graduates. Conversion courses sometimes can facilitate entry into specialised fields for those with unrelated degrees.

Whether a recruiter seeks a ‘specialist’ or ‘any degree holder’ for the job, many similarly qualified candidates will apply. The distinguished candidate will be the one who demonstrates the requisite personal skills and competencies, and motivation/aptitude for the job.

How important is my academic record?

Major global organisations seek a consistent track record, and your earlier grades can be as important as your final year. Valid explanations for under achievement in a particular exam - e.g. through illness, competitive sports participation – are usually taken into account. Other employers may place less emphasis on your grades and are interested in you as a person, and your potential for the job.  

What about employability skills?

Along with your motivation/organisational fit, graduate recruiters focus particularly on your ‘employability skills’ – commonly known as ‘transferable skills’ as they can be adapted to different contexts. Often they rate your skills match to the job on a sliding scale chart during job selection interview, with the highest scoring candidate offered the job.

Major recruiters use rigorous methods in assessing skills e.g. some identify and compile the skills profile needed for each job within the organisation and to what competency level. They devise then a list of up to ten questions related to each skill identified, which interviewers can pose to candidates for jobs to elicit their capability in the skill/demonstrate how they developed it. It is vital therefore that you reflect on and become aware of your skills and competencies, how you developed these, and how they relate to the employer’s requirements. Skills sought will vary from post to post. Of particular importance are; 

• Teamwork – being a constructive team member; contributing to its success
• Leadership – able to motivate and encourage others, while taking the lead
• Confidence – able to relate to people at all levels; friendly open and honest in communication
• Initiative – able to see opportunities and to set and achieve goals
• Problem-solving – able to analyse issue logically so as to identify/resolve key issues; often involves creative thinking
• Planning and organising Commitment/motivation in pursuing projects; willingness to ask questions
• Commercial awareness – knowing what makes and what saves money can be especially important for business jobs Relevant work experience

Specific skills also sought include:

Why are these skills so important?

Graduates are recruited often to a training programme leading to senior positions within the organisation, and many employers recruit with this in mind, as much as the immediate contribution of the new entrant.

For example, today’s trainee solicitor/accountant may be a prospective partner, the social work assistant a social service director; the graduate entrant into a large national or global organisation a future divisional head

Graduate recruiters therefore seek to identify evidence of skills that indicate ability to perform effectively in the job and the potential to rise to these senior positions.

Other jobs entered by graduates may be less structured and your ability to be aware of your ‘employability’ skills and to negotiate contracts successfully equally important.

How do I develop these skills?

Employers will expect you to give practical examples of when you displayed these skills and competencies / how developed. You can draw these from various sources especially from academic study, leisure pursuits and interests, work experience.

Academic Study

Along with deep learning and subject specialism, your course work helps develop skills in e.g. research and analysis, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, presentation.

It may include group projects offering opportunity to develop team working skills. Becoming involved in project planning and organising, encouraging and motivating colleagues, and identifying the optimum way to achieve aims, may develop organsiing and leadership skills.

Balancing your time between course work, essay/report writing, exam preparation – while in some cases holding a part time job – involves planning and time management.

Leisure Pursuits and Interests

University life abounds with opportunities for campus life involvement, enabling you to enrich your life, extend your social network, and develop ‘transferable skills’ e.g.

• through sports participation you might develop teamwork, commitment/focus
• student newspapers/media provide a great training ground for media industry skills
• the Student Legal Service (SLC) can help law students develop client advice and referral skills many societies e.g. run events/promotions; fund raise; arrange talks/speakers enabling you to develop planning, organising, promotional skills.

If you already enjoy involvement in a society/sports club, could you consider becoming a committee member, treasurer, president? For details of what is on offer click on UCD Sports and Clubs and Student Societies

• Student representation offers a chance to put forward views on academic life/ negotiate on student issues. Representatives are elected at the start of each year for all academic departments. Check with your programme office
• Personal service opportunity including mentoring, tutoring, campus orientation guides, voluntary work abroad is plentiful – helping you develop e.g interpersonal, empathy, leadership skills Night line is staffed by student volunteers. click here to find out what is on offer.

Work experience

All work experience counts – whether routine or demanding, paid or unpaid – Common student jobs such as customer service environments like bars, restaurants, retail stores can develop skills such as interpersonal, communication, to work under pressure ability

Work experience, if relevant to the job sought, is valued especially by employers, in e.g.enhancing job understanding, developing skills, affirming interest. Internships programmes in larger companies are usually used as an early graduate selection process, and job offers made to those who successfully complete them.

click here to find more information regarding skills you may develop through academic work, leisure activities, and work experience.

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