What Employers Want

Preparing for a successful career is more than simply meeting your degree requirements. Think about what will set you apart from others with the same educational background and how you will market yourself to future employers.

The following survey data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) can help you to prioritize and seek experiences that are most valued by employers (on average). NACE regularly surveys employer members about their hiring plans and other employment-related trends to project the job market for college students and recent graduates.

Influence of Attributes (Experience to acquire and demonstrate on your resume)

ATTRIBUTE	2024 AVERAGE INFLUENCE RATING*	2023 AVERAGE INFLUENCE RATING*	2022 AVERAGE INFLUENCE RATING*
Has completed an internship with your organization	4.4	4.5	4.4
Has internship experience in your industry	4.3	4.3	4.3
Major	3.9	3.7	3.8
Has general work experience	3.7	3.7	3.7
Has held a leadership position	3.4	3.5	3.6
Has been involved in extracurricular activities (clubs, sports, student government, etc.)	3.2	3.3	3.5
Has no work experience	3.2	3.2	3.3
High GPA (3.0 or above)	3.0	2.9	3.1
Has done volunteer work	2.5	2.7	2.7
School attended	2.5	2.3	2.6
Is fluent in a foreign language	2.1	2.1	2.1
Has studied abroad	1.8	1.8	2.0

ATTRIBUTE	% OF RESPONDENTS
Problem-solving skills	88.7%
Ability to work in a team	78.9%
Communication Skills (written)	72.7%
Strong work ethic	71.6%
Flexibility/Adaptability	70.1%
Communication skills (verbal)	67.5%
Technical skills	67.0%
Analytical/Quantitative Skills	66.0%
Initiative	65.5%
Detail-oriented	61.3%
Interpersonal skills (relates well to others)	58.2%
Computer skills	54.6%
Leadership	52.1%
Organizational ability	44.8%
Strategic planning skills	34.5%
Friendly/Outgoing Personality	25.8%
Creativity	21.6%
Tactfulness	21.1%
Entrepreneurial skills/risk-taker	18.6%
Fluency in a foreign language	5.2%

What Employers Want

Influence of Attributes (Experience to acquire and demonstrate on your resume)

Attributes Employers Seek on a Candidate’s Resume (Skills to acquire and demonstrate on your resume)