If you’re a recent college graduate interested in working for a municipality, there are specific skills you should focus on in your resume. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employer’s (NACE) Job Outlook 2019 survey, strong communication, problem-solving, collaboration and analytical skills are among the top skills employers look for. If you want to work in a municipality, these are four of the skills to focus on in your resume.

Communication Skills

A survey of approximately 1,000 employers shows that communication tops the list of skills they look for when hiring graduates. Written and verbal communication, along with listening and presentation skills, are important for employees to effectively express themselves, actively listen to others, and discuss differences to navigate or avoid conflict. Highly communicative employees understand body language, inspire others and keep them engaged. They continuously present, write, listen and negotiate to develop their skills and seek feedback to improve performance.

Problem-Solving Skills

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2018 survey, approximately 83% of managers look for graduates with excellent problem-solving skills. Since issues arise at any job, managers value employees who find solutions. Analyzing the cause, evaluating potential solutions, implementing a plan, and assessing its effectiveness are essential steps. To assess problem-solving skills, managers may use behavioral interview questions with phrases such as “Tell me about a time when…” or “Give me an example of…”. They want to hear about times when candidates were proactive, innovative or highly responsive to a challenge and took the initiative to identify and solve a problem.

Collaboration Skills

According to the same survey, approximately 83% of hiring managers want to know that new graduates work well with different personalities. Employees must treat others with respect, play to each other’s strengths, and collaborate to finish their work. They need to take the initiative, be self-motivated and come up with ideas for improvement. Plus, employees must delegate, take direction and value differences of opinion. Each needs to contribute their knowledge and expertise to leverage and complement their teammates’ efforts. Collaborative teammates are energized to work toward a common goal and prepared to deliver results. They understand what’s expected of them, value and encourage each other and give credit for contributions.

Analytical Skills

Mangers hire graduates who can collect and evaluate information to make decisions. Employees must be able to deal with complex data and situational information to investigate complex issues and develop solutions. Employees need to use their analytical skills to generate additional knowledge, solutions, and ideas related to the problem. Identifying cause and effect relationships to understand what could happen while problem-solving and determining how new ideas relate to the original topic are important.

Find Your First Municipal Job

We have a variety of entry-level positions available to fit your skillset, needs, and interests. See which jobs are available today.