Business Etiquette: Employers Looking for New College Graduates with Social Skills and Professionalism

Employers plan to hire nearly 20% more new college graduates in 2006-2007 than they did in 2005-2006 according to Job Outlook 2007 Spring Update produced by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE).

Employers state the top qualities / skills for the ideal candidate are:

• Communication Skills
• Honesty / Integrity
• Interpersonal Skills
• Motivation / Initiative
• Strong Work Ethic
• Teamwork skills

And what is lacking in most new college graduates? In addition to the skills listed above, professionalism and relevant work experience. Take note, a good grade point average of 3.0 is a foregone conclusion as it ranks 18 on a list of 21 most important qualities for candidates cited by employers.

What hiring employers are looking for are solid relational skills. They are looking for candidates that can build trust and goodwill with others and, work with peers to create a productive team. New college graduates can separate themselves from others with the same academic knowledge by taking the extra step to hone their ability to recognize how their individual actions affect their performance and the productivity of a team.

Business etiquette is being aware of others and paying attention to their needs in a considerate way. When we become adept at mastering this relational skill we build rapport, bonds ensue, leading to more effective peer-to-peer and client-to-company relationships.

Some business etiquette tips for new college graduates are:

1. Listen to others and be vigilant in your awareness of others. Resist answering the telephone call or text message or reading e-mail and focus on the person, the conversation, and ultimately the person’s needs. Top sales people have mastered this skill.
2. Be mindful of your words and tone of voice and how it may affect others. Address the issue and resist the impulse to respond in ways that might hinder the relationship. People prefer to deal with others that contribute to an honest and forthright dialogue.
3. Be conscientious to your personal and organizational responsibilities. Arrive to work on time. Follow-through on all commitments. “In studies of job performance, outstanding effectiveness in virtually all jobs – from the bottom to the top of the corporate ladder – depends on conscientiousness” (Barrick & Mount, 1991, cited in Daniel Goleman and Cary Cherniss, An EI-Based Theory of Performance. Web site for the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations).