Each year, the Graduate Management Admission Council conducts their Corporate Recruiters Survey.
This survey provides an overview of employer’s hiring demand and hiring practices, specifically for MBA and other business master’s graduates, examining hiring practices and trends by industry across the world.
Each year, nearly 1000 company’s recruiting departments participate from nearly 700 companies in more than 50 countries, so that the GMAC can better understand what employers want from businesspeople.
In their 2017 and 2020 reports, the GMAC reported on specific skills that employers are looking for in business school graduates. Their results are a reminder of the importance of communication skills at work.
From the 2017 report, the GMAC reports that “Communication skills rank highest among the skills employers consider most important,” specifically: oral and written communication, listening skills and presentation skills.
In further analysis from the same survey, we can see how communication skills rank when compared to other skills such as integrity, drive, qualitative and quantitative analysis, delegation, and other skills.
As seen in the screenshot from the report, the “top five specific skills are from the communication and teamwork domains.” Skills such as oral communication, listening, written communication and presentation skills outrank skills such as analytical skills, negotiation, integrity, innovation and other skills crucial to being a successful businessperson.
Communication skills are especially important when compared to other skills for mid-level jobs. Moreover, strong communication skills are most valued in the United States, Asia Pacific and European markets.
Given the impacts of COVID19 on how businesspeople and businesses conduct their work, there were some slight changes to the survey results in 2020, with communication skills ranking second as the most desirable for business school graduates.
But given those changes of the nature work is done, communication skills in fact became more important to employers.
The data from the GMAC reports make it crystal clear: if you want to get ahead in business, prioritize improving the way you communicate.
A job interview is a perfect opportunity to showcase your strong communication skills. But if you’re a non-native English speaker, getting ready for a job interview in English, the preparation might feel intimidating. Check out my interview preparation coaching services to make sure that your communication is clear, coherent and persuasive on interview day.
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