The five most important entry-level employability skills that employeers of the Chippewa Valley seek in entry-level job applicants

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the five most important entry-level employability skills as ranked by a sampling of potential employers in the Chippewa Valley. The subjects of this study consisted of the personnel directors of potential Chippewa Valley employers who completed a survey in which they selected and ranked the five most important entry-level employability attributes deemed essential in an entry-level job applicant. The employability attributes listed on the survey consisted of six academic skills, one social skill and three personality traits. The selection of the ten skills/traits was a result of research related to entry-level employability attributes. The results determined that the personality traits pertaining to responsibility and listening behaviors took precedence over academic proficiencies. The study also indicated that the respondents believed that approximately one-half to two-thirds of the entry-level applicants in the Chippewa Valley possess the skills deemed most essential.