BREAKING THE BARRIERS TO GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT:

10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN GRADUATES

Presentation by MD Nana SeiChief Executive Officer, MD Consult

University Students Association of Ghana (USAG) Capacity Building Forum@ Accra City Campus, UG.

23rd February 2013

GRADUATE SKILLS ISSUES Research by the CBI, UK

(CBI/Pertemps, ‘Employment Trends Survey’, 2006) shows that almost a third of employers (30%) have problems with graduates’ generic employability skills such as team working, communication and problem solving.

Employers are also disappointed with graduates’ attitude to work (25%), self-management (33%), business awareness (44%) and foreign language skills (49%).

TOP 10 GRADUATE SKILLS SHORTAGES

“Skills for Graduates in the 21st Century”

% of employers surveyed

1 Commercial Awareness 67%

2 Communication Skills 64%

3 Leadership 33%

4 Ability to work in a team 33%

5 Problem solving 32%

6 Conceptual ability 21%

7 Subject Knowledge & competence

19%

8 Foreign languages 19%

9 Numeracy 19%

10 Good general education 15%

Source: Association of Graduate Recruiters , UK, “Skills for Graduates in the 21st Century”

10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK FOR IN GRADUATES

1. Integrity2. Commercial Awareness3. Reliability 4. Problem Solving 5. Leadership6. Team Work 7. Communication 8. Multitasking9. Foreign Languages 10. Computer/Internet

1. INTEGRITY1. Possession of firm

principles: the quality of possessing and steadfastly adhering to high moral principles or professional standards

(Encarta Dictionary)

2. COMMERCIAL AWARENESSAwareness of the need for efficiency, cost-effectiveness, customer care and a knowledge of the market place in which the company operates id est current economic climate and major competitors.

3. RELIABILITYBeing loyal to the

companyBeing reliable to be

present when needed and get things done

Sacrificing time and comfort to get things done

4. PROBLEM SOLVINGPlanning/OrganisingBeing able of finding

solutions to business problems and difficulties

CreativityInnovation

5. LEADERSHIPTaking initiative and

responding to changing situations

Creating enthusiasm to let things happen

Accepting responsibility for mistakes and wrong decisions

6. TEAM WORKAbility to blend well with other people and achieve results.TEAM=TogetherEach oneAchievesMore

7. COMMUNICATION VerbalWrittenPresentationGiving/Accepting

CriticismBody Language

8. MULTITASKINGBeing capable of

effectively handling two or more tasks at the same time

Being able to work effectively independently and under pressure

9. FOREIGN LANGUAGES“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”Nelson Mandela

10. COMPUTER/INTERNETWordPower PointExcelOutlookTypingInternet (e-mail,

research)

MD CONSULT FRENCH & ENGLISH TRANSLATION TEACHING RESEARCH ASSISTANCE/DATA

ANALYSIS PUBLISHING (EDITING,

PROOFREADING) BUSINESS WRITING CREATIVE WRITING INTERVIEW & ASSESSMENT

CENTER COACHING LEADERSHIP MENTORING &

COACHING EVENT MANAGEMENT.

A MUST READ BOOKUnderstanding

EntrepreneurshipEssential qualities of an

entrepreneurPractical examples of

business opportunitiesRaising Capital (money)

for your businessManaging your businessBusiness Plan Template

CONTACTTelephone:0244 722 242E-mail: mdconsultgh@gmail.com

MD Nana SeiMD Consult Starting Up & Managing Your

Own Business