Careers Undergraduate Advice Student Skills

But you'll need to make sure creativity isn't your only skill if you want to be successful in your career when you leave. The sooner you identify the skills you need for the industry you wish to enter the better. Graduate recruiters now take intelligence and diligence as givens, so possessing other key skills can be the difference between a successful and unsuccessful applicant.

Some time ago the University of Sheffield analysed over 10,000 graduate recruitment advertisements in The Guardian, The Independent, The Telegraph and The Times. It found the top ten attributes recruiters valued, in order of importance, were: oral communication, teamwork, enthusiasm, motivation, initiative, leadership, commitment, interpersonal skills, organisation and foreign language competence.

But recent survey results show that these and some of the other important skills, such as time management, communication, decision-making and problem solving, have been lacking in graduates for the past few years. These are the things you need to develop. Start now, they take time.

Interacting with different kinds of people can help with communication, so make an effort to meet a range of people and don't just stick to your mates. Chat to children, to business people, to your parents and to foreigners. Make sure you can relate to anyone who comes your way. Joining clubs or working part-time or even voluntarily will ensure you improve your communication skills because it will give you a better understanding of others.

When it comes to time management, you may be able to blag an extension for your dissertation at university but you sure as hell won't get away with it in the corporate world. If you know you've got a deadline, plan for it and make sure you complete your coursework on time. That way you'll be ready to take on the challenges at work.

Decision-making is easy to avoid at university and as a result, many people find this aspect of their first job very stressful. Try to be decisive and assertive, even if it's only when deciding where to go with your friends. Note how peoples' behaviour towards you changes depending on how you present yourself and learn from it.

The same applies to problem solving. Show initiative when a problem arises, don't just stand there waiting for someone else to sort it out. Assess the situation calmly and apply yourself to thinking of a way around it.

Even the little things are important; it's amazing how many people are unable to arrive at work on time, dress appropriately, manage their work load or get on with colleagues amicably. These are all elements of intelligent behaviour at work, so get them right or get the sack.