1. The document summarizes a presentation given by MD Nana Sei on the top 10 skills employers look for in graduates. Research shows that employers have issues with graduates' teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. 2. The top 10 graduate skills shortages according to employers are: commercial awareness, communication skills, leadership, ability to work in a team, problem solving, conceptual ability, subject knowledge, foreign languages, numeracy, and good general education. 3. MD Nana Sei identifies the 10 essential skills employers look for in graduates as integrity, commercial awareness, reliability, problem solving, leadership, team work, communication, multitasking, foreign languages, and computer/internet skills

1. BREAKING THE BARRIERS TO
GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT:
10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS EMPLOYERS
LOOK FOR IN GRADUATES
Presentation by MD Nana Sei
Chief Executive Officer, MD Consult
University Students Association of Ghana (USAG)
Capacity Building Forum@ Accra City Campus, UG.
23rd February 2013

2. GRADUATE SKILLS ISSUES
 Research by the CBI, UK
(CBI/Pertemps, ‘Employment
Trends Survey’, 2006) shows
that almost a third of
employers (30%) have
problems with graduates’
generic employability skills
such as team working,
communication and problem
solving.
 Employers are also
disappointed with graduates’
attitude to work (25%), selfmanagement (33%), business
awareness (44%) and foreign
language skills (49%).

3. TOP 10 GRADUATE SKILLS
SHORTAGES
“Skills for Graduates in the
21st Century”
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Commercial Awareness
Communication Skills
Leadership
Ability to work in a team
Problem solving
Conceptual ability
Subject Knowledge &
competence
Foreign languages
Numeracy
Good general education
% of employers
surveyed
67%
64%
33%
33%
32%
21%
19%
19%
19%
15%
Source: Association of Graduate Recruiters , UK, “Skills for

4. 10 ESSENTIAL SKILLS EMPLOYERS LOOK
FOR IN GRADUATES
1. Integrity
2. Commercial Awareness
3. Reliability
4. Problem Solving
5. Leadership
6. Team Work
7. Communication
8. Multitasking
9. Foreign Languages
10. Computer/Internet

5. 1. INTEGRITY
1. Possession of firm
principles: the quality
of possessing and
steadfastly adhering to
high moral principles
or professional
standards
(Encarta Dictionary)

6. 2. COMMERCIAL AWARENESS
Awareness of the need for
efficiency, costeffectiveness, customer
care and a knowledge of
the market place in which
the company operates id
est current
economic
climate and
major
competitors.

7. 3. RELIABILITY
Being loyal to the
company
Being reliable to be
present when
needed and get
things done
Sacrificing time and
comfort to get
things done

8. 4. PROBLEM SOLVING
Planning/Organising
Being able of finding
solutions to business
problems and
difficulties
Creativity
Innovation

9. 5. LEADERSHIP
Taking initiative and
responding to changing
situations
Creating enthusiasm to
let things happen
Accepting responsibility
for mistakes and wrong
decisions

10. 6. TEAM WORK
Ability to blend well with
other people and achieve
results.
TEAM=
Together
Each one
Achieves
More

11. 7. COMMUNICATION
Verbal
Written
Presentation
Giving/Accepting
Criticism
Body Language

12. 8. MULTITASKING
Being capable of
effectively handling
two or more tasks at
the same time
Being able to work
effectively
independently and
under pressure

13. 9. FOREIGN LANGUAGES
“If you talk to a man
in a language he
understands, that
goes to his head. If
you talk to him in his
own language, that
goes to his heart.”
Nelson Mandela

14. 10. COMPUTER/INTERNET
Word
Power Point
Excel
Outlook
Typing
Internet (e-mail,
research)

15. MD CONSULT
 FRENCH & ENGLISH
TRANSLATION
 TEACHING
 RESEARCH ASSISTANCE/DATA
ANALYSIS
 PUBLISHING (EDITING,
PROOFREADING)
 BUSINESS WRITING
 CREATIVE WRITING
 INTERVIEW & ASSESSMENT
CENTER COACHING
 LEADERSHIP MENTORING &
COACHING
 EVENT MANAGEMENT.

16. A MUST READ BOOK
Understanding
Entrepreneurship
Essential qualities of an
entrepreneur
Practical examples of
business opportunities
Raising Capital (money)
for your business
Managing your business
Business Plan Template

17. CONTACT
Telephone:
0244 722 242
E-mail:
mdconsultgh@gmail.com
MD Nana Sei
MD Consult
Starting Up &
Managing Your Own
Business