Things are looking better than ever for the Class of 2013. Unemployment in the general population is down below 8% for the first time in years, and the unemployment rate remains even lower for college graduates. Even better, the National Association of Colleges and Employer (NACE) reports that, based on their recent survey of employers, employers expect to hire 13 percent more college graduates from the Class of 2013 than they did from last year's class.
Even so, it remains a difficult job market, and the best thing Simmons women graduating in the coming year can do is to sharpen and highlight the skills and qualities that employers are looking for in new college graduates.
The top five abilities employers are looking for in college graduates, according to NACE's survey, are:
- Ability to verbally communicate with persons inside and outside the organization
- Ability to work in a team structure
- Ability to make decisions and solve problems
- Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work
- Ability to obtain and process information
Make sure to think about the classes, extracurriculars, volunteering, and internships you have participated in during your time at Simmons, and what you have done in those activities that demonstrate the skills and qualities above. Highlighting these in your resumes, cover letters, and interviews can be the key to landing that first post-college job.
For a full list of the skills and qualities that employers are looking for in the Class of 2013, please visit the NACE website.
Source: National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), 2013 Job Outlook Survey
