Preparing for the job market and harnessing relevant skills is an evolving process. A key way for students to stand out is to highlight on their LinkedIn and resume the attributes and skills they’ve developed in the classroom, through on-campus programming and internships.
What are employers looking for in today’s college graduates? According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, class of 2025 graduates should ensure their resumes include the following four attributes and skills:
Problem-solving skills
Thinking outside the box and showcasing how you can come up with creative solutions to problems is a highly coveted skill. In a rapidly changing business landscape, employers are seeking candidates who can adapt and demonstrate how they have found new ways or tools that will solve a problem.
Your Next Step: Highlight your problem-solving and creative thinking skills by developing STAR stories (situation-task-action-result). Work with CSPD coaches or utilize Temple’s Big Interview digital platform to develop those stories.
Get in the routine to create a STAR story after each problem-solving experience so you can document it while it’s fresh in your mind. This way you’ll be prepared with specific examples during an interview.
Ability to work in a team
Developing soft skills—like active listening, conflict resolution and navigating transitions—are needed for successful and productive collaboration. These skills are vital components to a team’s success.
Your Next Step: Join a student professional organization (SPO) at the Fox School of Business or another group on Temple’s campus. Once a member of the organization, take it one step further and apply for a leadership role. Immersing yourself in groups of new students from different majors with diverse ideas will allow you to strengthen your soft skills. You will then be able to share how you navigate these situations in an interview.
Communication skills (written)
Writing is an essential skill for any workplace. Being able to effectively communicate what you need for your role or from your team is paramount. Whether you are typing messages in Microsoft Teams, or writing a cover letter or academic paper, excellent communication across all platforms is key.
Your Next Step: Connect with Temple’s Writing Center for writing and presentation coaching throughout your Fox career. Tutors aim to help you improve not just your grades, but also your skills in tailoring your messages to specific audiences.
You can also enroll in one of the many LinkedIn communication courses in TU Portal—they are free! Many recruiters are working in the digital space using online hiring tools. Thus, the interview process is your time to showcase your communication skills–from your written resume and cover letter to email correspondence with recruiters to an in-person or Zoom interview. All of these methods allow you to demonstrate your communication skills, so start practicing interview answers and proofreading your resume.
Initiative
Seeking out opportunities that put you in the driver’s seat—whether within the classroom, as a member of an organization or at your job—will demonstrate your ability to proactively take on extra tasks, anticipate problems and put solutions in action, assist team members who need help, and even apply for leadership roles.
Your Next Step: Explore being a Knack Tutor to assist classmates who need help in a class you excelled in. Apply to be a Peer2Peer mentor to help new international students successfully transition to life at Temple. Join a Fox School student professional organization or become a Wellness Peer Educator. The possibilities are endless on campus!