A man walks into a Centrelink, part of the Australian government's department of human services where job seekers search for employment, in a Sydney suburb, August 7, 2014. Australia's jobless rate jumped to a 12-year high of 6.4 percent in July in what c
A man walks into a Centrelink, part of the Australian government's department of human services where job seekers search for employment, in a Sydney suburb, August 7, 2014. Australia's jobless rate jumped to a 12-year high of 6.4 percent in July in what could be a major blow to consumer confidence, knocking the local dollar lower as markets priced in a greater chance that interest rates could be cut again. Reuters/Jason Reed

The Careers and Employment Service division of the Victoria University of Wellington has conducted the 2015 Employability Skills Survey to determine what New Zealand employers look for when they recruit students and graduates for their company.

Around 346 organisations across New Zealand that were actively recruiting students and graduates for their companies in the last two years had responded to the survey. The organisations included local, regional, national, as well as international enterprises, with 61 percent respondents coming from the private sector, 28 percent from the public sector and 11 percent from non-profit organisations. The survey was considered as one of the largest of its kind in Australasia.

In the survey, the employers were asked to jot down 20 important skills that they desire employment candidates should possess. The desirable skills, according to the survey ratings, are as follows:

For all respondents

  1. Work ethic
  2. Verbal communication skills
  3. Energy and enthusiasm
  4. Critical and analytical thinking
  5. Problem solving
  6. Team work
  7. Interpersonal skills
  8. Written communication skill
  9. Self-management
  10. Initiative and enterprise

Respondents recruiting Commerce degree majors:

  1. Verbal communication skills
  2. Work ethic
  3. Critical and analytical thinking
  4. Interpersonal skills
  5. Team work
  6. Problem solving
  7. Energy and enthusiasm
  8. Written communication skill
  9. Initiative and enterprise
  10. Self-management

Overall, the results showed that the employers always choose candidates who are ready to take initiatives, shoulder responsibilities, produce quality work and posses strong communication skills both verbal and written. The report also indicated that the candidates who have the ability to work comfortably with people from diverse background are also preferred by the recruiters.

The companies also wish to see candidates who possess sufficient knowledge of the industry they wish to join. “Employers want graduates who can make contributions immediately. Recruiters look for those discipline-specific or technical skills, but they also want graduates who can engage and communicate well so that they can apply technical skills effectively, who can add value through analytical and critical skill, and contribute as members of a team,” Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Commerce Professor Bob Buckle said .

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