8 Core Skills That Employers Want

Employers are looking for Southeastern graduates to be career ready— meaning they know how to use and articulate their talents, strengths, and interests. How do you become “Career Ready”? Southeastern offers many ways to develop your transferable skills. Be able to identify these opportunities to enhance your career readiness and make you a competitive candidate for future employment.

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Career & Self-Development

Career & Self-Development

Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.

  • Show an awareness of own strengths and areas for development.

  • Identify areas for continual growth while pursuing and applying feedback.

  • Develop plans and goals for one’s future career.

Examples: Utilize Career Services resources, Network at Career Fair, Keep your resume up-to-date

 

Leadership

Leadership

Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.

  • Inspire, persuade, and motivate self and others under a shared vision.

  • Seek out and leverage diverse resources and feedback from others to inform direction.

  • Use innovative thinking to go beyond traditional methods.

Examples: Run for office in an organization, Start a student organization, Participate in Lions LEAD Retreat

 

Communication

Communication

Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.

  • Understand the importance of and demonstrate verbal, written, and non-verbal/body language, abilities.

  • Employ active listening, persuasion, and influencing skills.

  • Communicate in a clear and organized manner so that others can effectively
    understand.

Examples: Write a research paper, Take a speech/communication course, Join an organization like Toastmasters

 

Professionalism

Professionalism

Knowing work environments differ greatly, understand and demonstrate effective work habits, and act in the interest of the larger community and workplace.

  • Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the organization.

  • Maintain a positive personal brand in alignment with organization and personal career values.

  • Be present and prepared.

Examples: Attend Career Fair, Acquire an internship or part-time job, Succeed in your academic courses

 

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking

Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

  • Make decisions and solve problems using sound, inclusive reasoning and judgment.

  • Gather and analyze information from a diverse set of sources and individuals to fully understand a problem.

  • Proactively anticipate needs and prioritize action steps.

Examples: Participate in research projects, Participate in class forums, Gain a leadership role in an organization

 

teamwork

Teamwork

Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.

  • Listen carefully to others, taking time to understand and ask appropriate questions without interrupting.

  • Effectively manage conflict, interact with and respect diverse personalities, and meet ambiguity with resilience.

  • Be accountable for individual and team responsibilities and deliverables.

Examples: Collaborate on class group projects, Volunteer for The Big Event, Obtain a student/part-time job

 

equity & inclusion

Equity & Inclusion

Demonstrate the awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills required to equitably engage and include people from different local and global cultures. Engage in anti-racist practices that actively challenge the systems, structures, and policies of racism.

  • Solicit and use feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive and equity-minded decisions.

  • Actively contribute to inclusive and equitable practices that influence individual and systemic change.

  • Advocate for inclusion, equitable practices, justice, and empowerment for historically marginalized communities.

Examples: Study abroad for a semester, Attend an intercultural campus event, Take a course in workplace diversity

 

Technology

Technology

Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

  • Navigate change and be open to learning new technologies.

  • Use technology to improve efficiency and productivity of their work.

  • Identify appropriate technology for completing specific tasks.

Examples: Build a LinkedIn profile, Develop skills in presentation software, Become Microsoft Officer certified