Graduate Attributes - the employer's perspective
The 2010 survey undertaken by the Australian Association of Graduate Employers reveals some interesting views on the importance of graduate attributes. Interestingly "university grades" come only 11th in the list of desired qualities rated as "Very Important" in graduate recruits. The following is an extract from the report.
"The vast majority of recruiters assess analytical skills, interpersonal skills, oral communication, problem solving skills, teamwork and written communication (see Table 7.2). Far fewer employers are likely to assess potential candidates' lifelong learning, project management skills or IT skills. Oral communication, problem solving skills, teamwork and interpersonal skills are seen as 'very important' competencies in the recruitment and selection process for more than 75 per cent of employers in this year's survey. While 70 per cent of recruiters assess the relevant work experience of candidates, a fifth said that this was 'not very important' as part of the whole recruitment process.
Most employers feel that university has prepared graduates adequately for working life, however very few organisations believe they are 'very well prepared'. More than a quarter of recruiters feel graduates are 'not very well prepared' for work."
Table 7.2 Competencies in the recruitment and selection process
| Assessed (%) | Very important (%) | Quite important (%) | Not very important (%) | |
| Oral communication | 98 | 83 | 17 | 0 |
| Problem solving skills | 96 | 76 | 23 | 1 |
| Interpersonal skills | 95 | 78 | 22 | 0 |
| Teamwork | 93 | 81 | 19 | 0 |
| Written communication | 93 | 69 | 29 | 2 |
| Analytical skills | 92 | 69 | 31 | 0 |
| University grades | 88 | 49 | 49 | 2 |
| Initiative and enterprise | 78 | 46 | 49 | 5 |
| Planning and organising | 77 | 63 | 37 | 0 |
| Time management | 73 | 59 | 40 | 1 |
| Business knowledge | 70 | 38 | 46 | 16 |
| Conceptual thinking | 70 | 44 | 54 | 2 |
| Relevant work experience | 70 | 34 | 46 | 20 |
| Leadership | 69 | 41 | 50 | 9 |
| Self management | 66 | 51 | 47 | 2 |
| Judgement skills | 64 | 44 | 52 | 6 |
| Influencing | 64 | 37 | 56 | 7 |
| Customer service | 58 | 57 | 35 | 8 |
| Negotiating | 54 | 34 | 57 | 9 |
| Non relevant work experience | 43 | 14 | 51 | 35 |
| Project management | 35 | 30 | 49 | 21 |
| IT skills | 31 | 23 | 63 | 14 |
| Lifelong learning | 26 | 16 | 58 | 26 |
Source - High Fliers Research, AAGE Employer Survey 2010.
David Essex
Manager - Careers and Employment
