Employers usually are not shy about saying what workplace skills they need to see in the new graduates they hire.  In an article published in the Deseret Morning News, Wendy Leonard said, "Colleges and universities dump a lot of graduates into the work force, and yet some in the work force still need additional, specialized training to perform well in the jobs they choose."

Why do students need to learn these workplace skills in addition to their college degree?  The reason is simple.  Most employers feel that students should know that earning a college degree involves more than just getting good grads in the classroom. Yes - employers care about your major coursework but they also care about some other skills which many HBCU college students and grads are struggling to master.

Workplace Skills Employers Seek

Here are some of the skills you will want to work on while you are in college. They are skills employers want from graduates.  Employers tend to choose candidates who can demonstrate some amount of mastery of the following skills in the job interview process.

• Team building skills

• Leadership or supervisory skills

• Customer service and client relations skills

• Interpersonal skills

• Project management skills

Your college career center staff can show you how to translate some of your college experiences, class work and projects into these skills employers want. Having these skills can really enhance your first year on the job experience.