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Ideal Candidate Has Top-Notch Interpersonal Skills, Say Employers BETHLEHEM, PA—Job candi dates who have good interper sonal skills have a significant advantage over their loutish competitors, say 435 employers responding to Job Outlook 2000, an annual survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) With a rating of 4.54 on a five-point scale (1=not important and 5=very important), interper sonal skills topped the list of skills employers deem important • in a job candidate, just edging out teamwork skills and verbal communication skills, which both earned ratings of 4.51. (See Figure 1.) Employers also were asked to name the top 10 personal qualities they seek in job candidates. Communication skills topped the list, followed by moti vation/ initiative, teamwork skills, leadership abilities, and academic achieve ment. (See Figure 2.) "If you look at the crossover between the skills and qualities employers say are important, you can see that the skills that help people work together effectively come out on top," says Marilyn Mackes, NACE executive director. "Employers believe that candidates best suited to today’s workplace are those who have the skills needed to excel in a team-oriented environment." While employers included academic achievement/GPA, computer skills, and technical skills on their wish lists, they placed these attributes below "working together" skills. Says Mackes, "It’s not enough for a candidate to have knowledge—the candidate has to be able to share that knowledge effectively and tactfully in order for the com pany to succeed." The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) is the lead ing source of information for human resources professionals who recruit and hire college graduates and for career services practitioners on college campus es who advise students and graduates in the career planning and the job search process. i lit: juu uuiiuuk bui vt:y ib dii dimudi luieudbi ui uit; ninny iiueiiuuiib ui employers as they relate to new college graduates. Each year, the National Association of Colleges and Employers surveys its employer members about hiring plans, starting salary data, and other issues related to the employment of new college graduates. For Job Outlook 2000,1,743 NACE employer members were surveyed; 435, or 25 percent, responded. Don't just meet Caroline... work with her! Join the Carolina First team! It's a great way to start your career! We have part time and full-time positions available, a For more information about your opportunities at one of the fastest » growing, most innovative banks in the Southeast, visit us at Career Fair Xtra 2000 on Thursday between J 11am and 3pm. Tell'em $ 4 CaroLine sent you! '“j m .meetcaroline. The new face of on-line banking. Figure 1. Employers Rate New Hire Skills (5 point scale: 1=not at all important; 5=very Important (___________ IIIlI 0 1 2 3 4 5 Figure 2. Top 10 Personal Qualities Employers Seek 1. Communication skills 2. Motivation/initiative 3. Teamwork skills 4. Leadership skills 5. Academic achievement/GPA 6. Interpersonal skills 7. Flexibility/adaptability 8. Technical skills 9. Honesty/integrity 10. Work ethic* 10. Analytical/problem-solving skills* * Tie