Employers Value Personal Skills Over Technical Knowledge: A new piece of research has suggested that graduate employers place more value on soft skills, such as communication or teamwork, than they do on technical knowledge. The findings, released by Kaplan, come from a survey of 198 UK employers, also suggested that confidence and the ability to be analytical were also valued more than specific knowledge of a technical subject.

Employers Value Personal Skills Over Technical Knowledge

The survey asked employers to rank a list of thirty different abilities and competencies which are widely desired by employers in order of those most valuable. Technical knowledge was ranked 24^th – with effective communication skills ranked as the most important skill overall.

Other soft skills were also ranked highly – with team working placing third, confidence fifth and having analytical skills ranked sixth. However, numerical ability – more of a technical than personal skill – was ranked second by employers.

Findings from the report also suggested that three quarters of employers found it either moderately or very difficult to secure the right level of graduates for the roles they have available. Despite this, more than half (60%) felt that every second graduate would become a leader within their business within the future – in sectors such as accounting, business and finance, manufacturing, legal and retail.

Interestingly, the report suggests that two years after a graduate is taken on by the employers surveyed, the importance of technical knowledge rises from 24^th to second – perhaps indicating that graduate employers consider it their responsibility to provide the specific and detailed training required for individuals to excel in their job roles.

This report closely mirrors research released by the Association of Graduate Recruiters last week, also published on this website, which suggested that despite rising number of graduate positions being available, recruiters are struggling to find individuals with the necessary skills to fill roles.