A 2007 survey of members of the Institute of Directors in London indicates which skills employers look for in graduates. The survey invited views on the desirability of 28 different employability skills, incorporating basic skills, general employment skills, people and social skills, and personal qualities and skills.

When recruiting, 64% of directors said recent graduates’ employability skills were more important to their organisation as an employer than the specific occupational, technical or academic knowledge/skills associated with the graduate’s degree.

The top ten skills and qualities IoD members rated as being most important for recent graduates to possess were:

1. Honesty and integrity
2. Basic literacy skills
3. Basic oral communication skills (e.g. telephone skills)
4. Reliability
5. Being hardworking and having a good work ethic
6. Numeracy skills
7. A positive, ‘can do’ attitude
8. Punctuality
9. The ability to meet deadlines
10. Team working and co-operation skills