Skills That Employers Want to See in Graduate Students

Completing a graduate program can help students develop practical skills that will benefit them in the classroom and in the workplace. Many students that attend graduate programs do so to further their careers or pursue new opportunities. Here are four skills that employers look for when evaluating candidates for an open position.

Teamwork

Because most roles involve collaborating with colleagues to complete tasks, employers consider teamwork to be a vital skill. Being able to work well with others has various benefits, including building healthy workplace relationships, fostering a creative environment, and increasing productivity. While earning their degrees, graduate students typically complete group projects, organize outings outside of the classroom, and participate in internships. These experiences prepare them to be a valuable member of an organization's staff.

Creative Problem-solving

Regardless of a business's size, there will always be challenges that arise at inopportune times. Resolving these situations often requires quick thinking and staying composed under pressure. Completing assignments with tight deadlines, impromptu tests, and several other aspects of graduate programs help prepare students to tackle the problems they will face in the workplace.

Clear Communication

Being able to communicate effectively is a critical life skill that serves students well in many facets of their careers. Workplace interactions with colleagues, clients, and vendors are a vital part of any organization's operations. Completing a graduate program requires students to participate in group discussions, use emails to communicate with professors and other students, and network to meet professionals who work in the field that they're studying.

Interpersonal Skills

These are the skills needed to understand and relate with other people. Successfully building professional networks and other relationships largely depends on a person's emotional intelligence. Because graduate students often collaborate with many other students and their professors, they have to learn how to work with people from diverse backgrounds and with different personality types.

Though some skills take more time to develop than others, graduate students are exposed to an array of experiences that prepare them for the next step in their lives. At the Tulane School of Professional Advancement, our graduate programs can help you turn your passion into a career. If you're interested in one of our master's programs, submit your online application today.