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Posted on: 16/05/2012 11:05.
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Communication Skills

What do recruiters want?

“Communication goes part and parcel with team working and also relates to the growing importance of the customer. All businesses have customers, whether internal or external, and being able to [communicate with] people is considered to be of vital importance in any job, especially a graduate job.”
Carl Gilleard, Chief Executive, Association of Graduate Recruiters

How do they ask for it?

Recruiters ask for good communication skills can in a variety of ways. The following examples are all taken from genuine job advertisements:

• Articulate graduates wanted…
• We’re looking for someone who can relate to a wide range of people…
• You must have clear written English…
• You must be able to present complex ideas in an easy to understand manner…

What skills do you need to be an effective communicator?

• Listening skills – communication is not just about getting your ideas across, it is also about actively listening to other people’s thoughts and taking them on board. People are more likely to listen to you if you've shown them the same courtesy!
• Presentation skills – To communicate effectively in the workplace, you need to be able to present your information clearly. Presentation skills doesn’t just mean knowing how to put a good set of powerpoint slides together, though it can do, it also
• Tailoring information to suit the audience – As well as being able to decide what information is important and how to present it, a good communicator is able to tailor that information to suit their audience. You wouldn't use the same language in an informal meeting with close colleagues as you would to present the same information to a group of external clients, for example.

How do you prove to a recruiter that you have these skills?

It is not good enough to simply say “I have excellent communication skills” - you have to prove that you have by giving examples of when you have communicated effectively.

One way to make sure you structure your example properly is to use the STAR technique.

1. Define the Situation

When I started university, I joined the Bradford University Theatre Club (BUTC). I really enjoyed it and acted in several productions, as well as learning about directing and the technical side.

2. Identify the Task

In my third year I decided I wanted to stand for the role of Treasurer. There were three of us standing and we each had to do a campaign and then give a speech before one of us would be voted in.

3. Describe the Action you took

To get the club’s opinion on the sort of things that they thought we should spend our money on - recruitment events, marketing, better equipment etc - I spoke to the other members of the club and sent a short questionnaire round. I then used the feedback I received to formulate my campaign and speech. I made posters communicating my position, and wrote a five minute speech explaining why I wanted the position and what I thought I could bring to the club.

4. Explain the Result

This preparation and my interactions with the other club members meant that I was in a strong position to represent their interests, and I was voted in with 65% of the ballot.

Write statements like this which reflect your own experiences from your work, your study and your personal interests. These can then be used in completing competency based application forms, included in a skills CV, or used during interviews.  You can add or remove detail as appropriate, depending on the circumstances.

Breaking down communication skills

In your working life, there are three main ways that you will commonly communicate with people:

• Written communication
• Spoken (oral) communication
• Body language

Resources for University of Bradford students

The Destinations careers planning website has a great topics section with excellent resources on employability skills:

• This section shows how your personality can effect your career choice and lets you try out several personality assessments!
• This section tells you more about communication skills, both written and verbal, which you should find helpful.

Back to Employability Skills