The graduate job market has becoming increasingly competitive and simply having a degree is no longer enough to make you stand out from the crowd. Instead, employers are looking for candidates with transferable soft skills which enable graduates to adapt quickly to working life. Below we discuss some of the most important soft skills you’ll need to impress employers in the future.
By Editorial Team. 27 March 2019. Last updated 26 May 2026.
What skills do employers look for in graduates?
It’s an accepted fact that employers look for employees who have the essential skills and knowledge necessary to do the role they’re recruiting for. However, the most successful employees offer a more than just the practical expertise. Last year HR Magazine reported on research that found 75% of UK employers admitted to hiring a candidate with strong technical skills who later underperformed due to a lack of soft skills.
Employers want candidates with transferable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, communication, responsibility and ethical awareness. Possessing these skills can make you more desirable to employers, help you adapt quickly to the workplace and succeed in a professional environment.
It’s important to ask yourself how you can demonstrate these skills to your future employer. Consider how these skills will benefit the company you’re applying to. Prepare examples for interviews. Once you’ve nailed these basic soft skills you can start to dig a little deeper and look at a wider range of skills to develop before you enter the workplace.
Top five soft skills for graduates
Research from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) showed the top five soft skills employers look for are:
- Collaboration and team-working.
- Honesty and ethics.
- People management skills.
- Problem solving and critical analysis.
- Taking responsibility.
It might seem difficult at first, but consider how you can demonstrate these skills through the experiences you’ve had so far. For example:
- Collaboration is commonplace. Whether it’s through group exercises and assignments at university or part time work with a team, you’re bound to have experience of this nature.
- Honesty and ethics are shown through commitment and acting professionally. A part time job or work experience might demand these attributes.
- People skills can be developed through group projects or coordinating student events and activities.
- Problem-solving and critical analysis can be gained and enhanced by tackling complex assignments and overcoming the challenges faced.
- Responsibility could be shown by managing deadlines for coursework or exam revision.
Work experience
The Institute of Student Employers recently reported that “graduates who completed an internship or work placement arrived with better skills and attitudes than other graduates [and] lack of work experience is likely to impact the performance of students as they embark on their careers.”
Work experience placements not only introduce you to the world of work, they also give you a chance to learn employment “dos and don’ts” and an idea of the skills you’ll need to thrive in the workplace. These placements can help prove to a prospective employer you have familiarity with skills such as team-working and problem solving.
Professional log
Although work experience placements are a great way to showcase your skills, employers recognise they can be hard to secure. Don’t fret. There are opportunities to showcase the skills you’ve acquired through additional activities like part-time work, voluntary positions and community projects.
You may not think helping at a sports club or working in a supermarket translates to a corporate role, however they provide great opportunities for you to demonstrate your team working abilities and ethical mindset.
Creating a log of your experiences will allow you to take a step back and assess when you have demonstrated the key skills employers look for. This is a good habit to get yourself into. It’s important to keep a record of your professional development to track and evidence your progression and achievement.
At The University of Law we understand the importance of developing soft skills and do this in several ways. Throughout your time with us, you’ll get the opportunity to engage and network with a range of employers and learn about different careers. Employers and professional bodies visit our students to provide real world insight into their chosen industries. There’s also a range of employability skills workshops covering commercial awareness, CV and interview advice and personal branding.
Standing out as a graduate requires more than academic knowledge. By actively developing and demonstrating key employability skills you’ll significantly improve your chances of securing your first role and building a successful career.
Find out more about our Employability Service and how they can help you secure your dream role.
