Careers, Internships & Employment
[Link]/careers
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Assess Yourself
Top 10 skills / attributes sought after by
graduate employers
In 2013 more than 460 graduate employers were asked by Graduate Careers Australia to nominate
which three selection criteria (in addition to relevant qualifications) they considered to be most important
when evaluating applicants. These were the overall findings:
Skills & attributes sought after when recruiting:
Develop these skills & attributes through:
academic study & project work
the Academic Skills Centre
[Link]
work experience & internships
[Link]
[Link]/
UC Innovators
[Link]
awards and scholarships
[Link]/scholarships
participation in UCSA & other clubs
[Link]
cultural activities
8. Teamwork skills
public speaking/debating
9. Activities (incl. intra and extra-curricular)
Playing sports
10. Leadership skills
mentoring
voluntary work
[Link]
1. Interpersonal & communication skills
(written & oral)
2. Passion / Knowledge of industry / Drive /
Commitment / Attitude
3. Critical reasoning & analytical skills /
Problem solving / Lateral thinking /
Technical skills
4. Calibre of academic results
5. Work experience
6. Cultural alignment / Values fit
7. Emotional intelligence (incl. selfawareness, strength of character,
confidence, motivation)
Skills and attributes sought after by an employer vary in level of importance depending on the position,
industry and the organisation. Other skills and attributes may also be required by employers.
Careers, Internships & Employment would encourage you to reflect on your skill & attribute development
as you engage in university life, so you can provide examples of these in job applications & interviews.
Source: [Link]
Careers, Internships & Employment, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
