Employers are flooded with applications from graduates with excellent grades, glowing recommendations, and resume-boosting extracurriculars. How can you stand out from the crowd? It helps to know what employers are really looking for.
That’s exactly what a team from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) set out to learn. The NACE research identified a series of competencies that make up a contemporary definition of career readiness. Among the eight competencies defined by the NACE are:
● Critical Thinking/Problem Solving
● Intercultural Fluency
● Digital Technology
● Professionalism/Work Ethic
Source: NACE Career Readiness Defined
So what does this mean for students looking to increase their employability?
1. Sharpen your skills in the most relevant, in-demand areas
According to LinkedIn, the most in-demand skills for 2020 include expertise in blockchain, UX design, artificial intelligence, business analytics, and affiliate marketing. Whatever your major or intended career field, gaining competency in one or more of these areas can only serve to increase your employability. The good news is there are more resources available than ever before for students looking to improve their skills, from the basics to more in-depth expert courses. Even if you’re a complete newbie, it’s definitely worth investigating some of these options to see what works for you.
2. Gain career-related experience outside of the classroom
The best way to show a prospective employer that you have the skills they’re looking for is evidence of real-world experience. For many students, that means internships. As a college student you’re already juggling many different demands, and your time is valuable. That’s why it’s important that you choose internships that are truly meaningful – experiences that will give you the chance to demonstrate your abilities and learn new skills. You can use your internship experience to craft deliverables that will showcase your abilities to future employers, as well as demonstrate the valued “four C’s” of 21st century skills: critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.
3. Broaden your horizons
Welcome to the global village. Employers value international experience, and with good reason: evidence shows students who study/intern abroad gain important skills for today’s job market. A 2017 study by the Institute of International Education found that students with international experience strengthened critical skills such as teamwork and problem solving, and improved their confidence to explore different careers. And don’t worry, language doesn’t have to be a barrier to a great intercultural learning experience – the variety of programs available include those that cater to students with little or no experience with foreign languages.
4. Be flexible
Another trait that employers are looking for? Adaptability. These days, the concept of the workplace is in flux, and the best employees are those who can roll with the punches and make the world their office. Remote work is the future, as evidenced by leading tech companies announcing a shift towards primarily telecommuting employees. This is an area where rising college grads really have an advantage. For many students, completing coursework partially or completely online has been the norm for years. Successfully completing a program remotely demonstrates self-discipline, motivation, and comfort navigating the platforms that are increasingly shaping the contemporary workplace.
5. Challenge yourself
Employers want to see curiosity, motivation, and consistent striving for improvement. They’re looking for people who aren’t afraid to move outside their comfort zones to try something new. As a student, you can demonstrate those capabilities to prospective employers by going beyond the requirements of your college or university and participating in a program that challenges you to gain new skills. Whether it’s an intensive study abroad semester, or a hands-on internship experience, employers want to see evidence that you are motivated to expand your abilities outside of the standard curriculum.
Next Steps
There are many resources out there. As you evaluate programs and opportunities aimed at increasing your post-college employability, it makes sense to try to find one that incorporates the key factors described above. For example, Career Semester, created by international education companies iXperience and WorldStrides, offers students courses in industry-relevant skills combined with global internships. Students can choose from an array of full-time programs or courses designed to run concurrently with university classes. Focus areas include in-demand fields such as data science, digital marketing, and web development.
In a recent interview regarding the job outlook for future grads, entrepreneur Mark Cuban said, “The first question every interviewer is going to ask you is: ‘What did you learn during the pandemic of 2020? What skills did you add during the pandemic of 2020?” As the world copes with and eventually moves beyond the current crisis, this will remain a relevant question for job-seekers to ask themselves. For college students, it’s certainly something to keep in mind as you navigate the many options available to you.
