What are employers looking for? Job skills and character traits that your future bosses will need from you!

According to a poll of employers in the Finger Lakes: Over 80% say that to begin or advance at their company employees must demonstrate these skills -

The Top 13 Integrity/honesty Listening Team member Responsibility Personal appearance Social Writing Self-esteem Interprets and communicates Knowing how to learn Speaking Reading Arithmetic

Other skills widely accepted as important include: Job skills Problem-solving/creativity Dedication/work ethic Dependability Loyalty Analytical/research Computer/technical literacy Flexibility/adaptability Professionalism Self-motivated

Integrity/Honesty Can be trusted Recognizes making an honest/ dishonest decision should be based on values Understands the impact of violating organizational beliefs and chooses an ethical course of action

Integrity/Honesty (continued) The business leaders from precision manufacturing, printing, dairy farming, winery, factory, and banking who shared their input with us all said this was the number one character trait they needed to see from potential and current employees.

Listening Receives, interprets, and responds appropriately to verbal messages and other clues such as body language To comprehend, to learn, to critically evaluate, to appreciate, or support the speaker

Team Member Works cooperatively with others Contributes to group with ideas and suggestions Encourages and motivates an individual or group Demonstrates speaking, listening, writing, and interacting skills sufficient to participate as a team member Communicates thoughts, feelings, and ideas to justify a position Identifies people to be involved in creating solutions to work related problems

Team Member (continued) At Continuing Developmental Services (CDS), employees must be able to work as a team member, due to the needs of the consumers and the responsibility of the agency to provide a safe and educational environment. CDS has a fairly strict code of conduct which complies with state and federal laws – employees must be able to follow the rules and do their part for the team, because if they can’t, people get hurt and the agency can be held accountable.

Responsibility Exerts a high level of effort and perseverance toward goal attainment Strives to become excellent at performing tasks even when assigned an unpleasant task.

Responsibility (continued) Every employer we talked to stressed that there are always opportunities for employees to rise to better and higher-paying jobs – if those employees show effort and initiative and attempt to accomplish above and beyond their employers’ expectations.

Personal Appearance Demonstrates understanding of personal appearance and hygiene appropriate for industry/company policy Wears appropriate clothing/uniform and maintains personal hygiene regularly

Personal Appearance (continued) Most employers expressed their constant amazement at how people, who supposedly want to get hired, come dressed for interviews. Depending on the job, nice pants/skirt, shirt and shoes are the minimum, a tie would be strongly recommended for males, and a suit if business clothing will be required for the job you are applying for

Social Demonstrates understanding, friendliness, adaptability, empathy and politeness in new and on-going group settings Asserts self in familiar and unfamiliar settings

Writing Communicates thoughts and key information in writing Records information completely and accurately

Self Esteem Believes in own self-worth and maintains a positive view of self Demonstrates knowledge of own skills and abilities

Interprets and Communicates Interprets graphic and pictorial maps to others Completes a message form Explains ideas from a work plan and options for implementation Reports emergencies Chooses word/manner of expression appropriate to the work place Explains products and services Selects and uses a variety of ways to give information Responds to complaints Writes simple memos and informative reports

Knowing how to learn Recognizes and applies new knowledge and skills in both familiar and changing situations Is aware of learning styles (visual, aural), formal learning strategies (note taking), and informal learning strategies (awareness of unidentified false assumptions thar may lead to faulty conclusions)

Speaking Organizes ideas and speaks clearly Communicates appropriately to listeners and situations Participates in conversations, discussion, and group presentations Asks questions when needed

Reading Locates and interprets technical vocabulary and key messages from written information in prose and in documents

Arithmetic Performs basic computation and makes estimates without a calculator Uses basic numerical concepts including whole numbers, percentages, and charts to display information

Job Skills Job applicants need to analyze their skills and compare them to those required for the job. Previous jobs, even if very different, may have used skills that prove helpful. For example, a person with experience as a sales agent may have the ability to be a good executive assistant.

Problem solving/creativity Being able to solve problems is an important skill. Think of your experience in terms of how you solved problems. Then, relate those problem-solving skills to the job for which you are interviewing. Involves the ability to find solutions to problems using your creativity, reasoning, and past experiences along with the available information and resources. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Innovative problem-solver who can generate workable solutions and resolve complaints.

Dedication/work-ethic Employers want workers who are willing to respond to emergencies, put in the extra effort it takes to satisfy an important customer, or get the training necessary to reach their goals. They also want people who are honest and dependable. Employers seek job-seekers who love what they do and will keep at it until they solve the problem and get the job done. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Productive worker with solid work ethic who exerts optimal effort in successfully completing tasks.

Dependability/reliability There’s no question that all employers desire employees who will arrive to work every day - on time - and ready to work, and who will take responsibility for their actions. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Dependable, responsible contributor with committed to excellence and success.

Loyalty Employers want employees who will have a strong devotion to the company -- even at times when the company is not necessarily loyal to its employees. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Loyal and dedicated manager with an excellent work record.

Analytical/Research Deals with your ability to assess a situation, seek multiple perspectives, gather more information if necessary, and identify key issues that need to be addressed. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Highly analytical thinking with demonstrated talent for identifying, scrutinizing, improving, and streamlining complex work processes.

Computer/Technical Literacy Almost all jobs now require some basic understanding of computer hardware and software, especially word processing, spreadsheets, and email. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Computer-literate performer with extensive software proficiency covering wide variety of applications.

Flexibility/adaptability Deals with your ability to manage multiple assignments and tasks, set priorities, and adapt to changing conditions and work assignments. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Flexible team player who thrives in environments requiring ability to effectively prioritize and juggle multiple concurrent projects. Deals with openness to new ideas and concepts, to working independently or as part of a team, and to carrying out multiple tasks or projects. Highly adaptable, mobile, positive, resilient, patient risk-taker who is open to new ideas.

Professionalism Deals with acting in a responsible and fair manner in all your personal and work activities, which is seen as a sign of maturity and self-confidence; avoid being petty. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Conscientious go-getter who is highly organized, dedicated, and committed to professionalism.

Self-motivated While teamwork is always mentioned as an important skill, so is the ability to work independently, with minimal supervision. Sample bullet point describing this skill: Highly motivated self-starter who takes initiative with minimal supervision.

Source Based on the results of the 1995 NYS Employees Survey of Workplace Skills Conducted by NY Assoc. of Training & Employment Professionals and NYS Dept. of Labor Hansen, Randall S .Ph.D. and Katharine Hansen . What do Employers Really Want? Top Skills and Values Employers Seek from Job-Seekers. http://www.quintcareers.com/job_skills_values.html