What are the top business skills employers want?
What are the top business skills employers want?
So you’re a business student — how do you use the time it takes to get your degree to distinguish yourself from your peers? The business world is competitive. You want to make sure you stand out, land that job and thrive in your career. These are some of the top business skills employers want and where graduates have the greatest opportunity to make an impact.
Interviewing and selling yourself
Your interview with a company is your chance to make the best impression possible. It’s important that you make it count and position yourself as the right choice. But the ability to sell yourself doesn’t stop being important after you land that first job. As you look for opportunities for advancement, meet others in your field and outside it, and pitch projects, you’ll have a much easier time if you learn how to effectively sell your strengths.
Teamwork
Most jobs will have you collaborating with peers and, sometimes, with outside vendors to make projects happen. Employers want to know that you can work well with others, especially people who you may be different from and even disagree with. You may get a job where you work remotely, but even then, you’ll still be expected to be a team player who gets things done.
Leadership
Although you may not see yourself as a manager, possessing the qualities of a strong leader is important. Leaders have a vision, motivate others to do their best work and set a good example for those around them. And, if you do see yourself in a management role someday, showcasing your leadership skills will set you up for success.
Conflict resolution
Conflict, whether it’s with coworkers, clients or vendors, is bound to arise in business. It’s important that you learn how to tackle conflicts not only to keep people happy but also to maintain a high level of productivity. Conflicts are a barrier to productivity. Figuring out how to resolve disputes, big and small, maximizes efficiency.
Presentation skills
Public speaking is notorious for being a top fear among many people. Yet the business world offers many opportunities to speak and present to groups. You might lead a meeting, present to a client or be part of a group presentation. No matter the context, if you’re able to work through those nerves and give confident, engaging presentations right out of college, you’ll be well ahead of many of your peers.
Written communication skills
Communication skills in general are key to succeeding in business, but many employers complain that new graduates lack the written communication skills they need. Writing well is one of the best soft business skills you can bring to employers. Make sure you can communicate clearly, concisely and professionally in a written context. Whether you’re writing an email to a coworker, a proposal for a client or a report to your boss, writing well sets you apart from other business graduates.
Networking
Relationships are key in business. Networking at events and in the office can open up new opportunities, set you up for a promotion, help you land new clients and generally just make you a well-liked person in the workplace. From the way you make eye contact and shake hands to remembering the little things about those you come into contact with, being an expert networker will give you the edge you’re looking for in the business world. It will also allow you to call in some favors when you need a little extra support.
Ethical decision-making
In business, it’s important to do more than just protect the bottom line. It’s important to make decisions ethically. This will foster trust, build your reputation and preserve relationships with colleagues. It doesn’t mean you aren’t also thinking about the bottom line — it just means you’re finding the balance.
Professionalism
Maintaining a certain level of professionalism in a working environment is key to success in business. This doesn’t mean you don’t show personality or can’t be friends with coworkers — but it does mean you behave in a way that earns respect and shows competence and reliability. You show up on time, meet deadlines, dress appropriately, and are respectful and polite toward others.
Critical thinking
In a world where it’s easy to use artificial intelligence to get a quick answer, employers value a young professional’s ability to think for themselves and examine situations objectively. Can you gather data from a scenario and reach a reasonable conclusion? Can you think several steps ahead? Can you make a decision without emotions clouding your judgment? All of these will make you a better critical thinker and, ultimately, a better employee.
Gain these business skills and more through the Wilson College of Business’s Professional Readiness Program
If you manage to master all these skills by the time you graduate with a business degree, you’ll be well on your way to a successful career. At the Wilson College of Business at the University of Northern Iowa, these soft skills are integrated into your learning through the Professional Readiness Program®.
The program is not a single course or a one-time workshop. It is a structured, multi-level professional development experience embedded within the business curriculum. You’ll progressively build competencies across communication, leadership, ethical decision-making and workplace effectiveness through hands-on, employer-informed workshops. Rather than simply discussing professional skills, PRP provides repeated, applied practice across all the areas mentioned above and more.
High school career programs introduce students to professional environments, but the Professional Readiness Program prepares them for professional accountability. Workshops are designed around the competencies employers consistently identify as critical for early-career success. You’ll be challenged to perform at a level expected in internships and entry-level roles — not just understand concepts in theory.
Becoming a well-rounded business professional starts by applying to the Wilson College of Business. Check out all the degrees offered and apply to start your journey today!
Real, relevant academic excellence for a world that expects future-ready graduates.
- 94% of UNI grads find success within six months of graduation.
- UNI accounting grads rank #1 nationally for CPA pass rates.
- A 17:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know you and invest in your success.
- UNI is ranked a top regional public university by U.S. News & World Report.
