Many graduates who have just finished university struggle to attract employers' attention. The current university ranking by Wirtschaftswoche shows what they can do to impress employers in their applications.
In the past year, 235,000 young people were enrolled in business administration (BWL) programs at German universities. Each of them has attended lectures in marketing, accounting, finance, and human resource management, and many have completed a semester abroad. So, in order to fill an entry-level business position, recruiters would just need to randomly select a graduate, and they would have a suitable candidate.
However, it's not that simple, of course. Companies don't want to hire just anyone; they want the best candidates possible. Therefore, recruiters have developed criteria to consider during the selection process. In the WirtschaftsWoche university ranking, which surveyed 590 HR professionals conducted by the employer branding consultancy Universum, they provided insights into what is important to them in applicants and, in particular, the skills they often find lacking. Graduates who are aware of these criteria can also leverage them for their own career entry.
For many years, the most important factor for decision-makers has been the personality of the applicants. 63 percent of them consider it a crucial criterion. The specific meaning of this varies from one company to another and even within a company from team to team. Whether a graduate fits into the respective culture can be quickly determined in a personal interview.
However, even before that, one can assess whether they fulfill the second most important criterion for recruiters: relevant and sufficient practical experience. 56 percent of decision-makers place special emphasis on this when evaluating applicants. It is clear that the more the experience gained from internships or working as a student aligns with the desired role, the better it is for the application.
In comparison to previous years, recruiters ranked English language proficiency in both speaking and writing, as well as computer skills, as less important. At first glance, it may seem that graduates do not need to converse in English or correspond in writing, nor have knowledge of operating common software tools. However, another explanation is more likely: both are so commonplace in the generation entering the job market today that recruiters do not consider them as special skills. English language proficiency and computer literacy are part of the standard repertoire. Those who have gaps in these areas should close them promptly.
In addition to the criteria they consider particularly important, the recruiters in the university ranking survey also highlighted areas where they see room for improvement among students. They particularly desire better training in so-called soft skills from universities. Nearly 43 percent of them believe that there is a significant need for improvement in communication skills and solution-oriented thinking. 41 percent expect universities and colleges to better educate students in teamwork. For applicants, this presents an opportunity: those who can demonstrate these supposedly neglected skills will stand out from the crowd.