9 Top Skills Employers Demand

Every program at Concordia University Texas, built upon a liberal arts foundation, challenges students to expand their knowledge and skills beyond one field. With a life-changing education from Concordia, you have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills that can be applied across industries and roles.

Employers seek job candidates with a diverse portfolio of skills. Based on various lists,* we've identified nine of the top skills organizations demand.

9. Video Production

Online video has emerged as a primary way to engage with people. Cisco estimates that videos will compose 82 percent of global internet traffic within the next couple of years.

It takes a variety of skills to successfully produce a video that will engage users and motivate them to take action. Whether you film footage, write the script or source talent, it's important to identify how you can contribute to video production.

Concordia's Communication degree in Visual Communication will teach you how to create videos that engage the right audience at the right time.

8. Time Management

The ability to complete a project within an agreed-upon timeframe is an essential skill for every employee.

Earning your degree at Concordia gives you abundant opportunities to practice good time management. Whether it's a group project, an essay or a reading assignment, the time management skills you develop will benefit you beyond graduation.

Need help with time management? The Student Success Center offers time management tips, free tutoring and more.

7. Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to understand and manage your emotions and the emotions of others. Strong emotional intelligence enables you to successfully interact with others.

With Concordia's small class sizes and frequent student activities, you have plenty of occasions to develop and practice emotional intelligence.

6. Adaptability/Flexibility

All industries, economies and organizations face a common reality: continuous change. Whether it's due to new technology, economic implications or other factors, it's important to be able to adapt to changing circumstances.

The University will help you develop a commitment to one of Concordia's core values — lifelong learning. With the ability and willingness to continue learning, you will become more adaptable to changes.

5. Creativity

In the workplace, creativity refers to the ability to develop new solutions that are more effective at solving problems.

The liberal arts foundation at Concordia challenges every student to look at situations from a variety of perspectives and therefore discover unique ways to solve problems. For example, a Concordia Business Administration student concentrating in Accounting will learn how budgeting decisions impact other departments, like marketing and research and development, and the overall organization.

With a comprehensive view, you will be better prepared to find a new way to solve problems that is beneficial to all stakeholders.

4. Collaboration

Nobody operates in a silo. The ability to work with others is essential because every role requires effective collaboration. Even if you're a one-man operation, you have to be able to work well with your clients or customers.

At Concordia, you will fine-tune your collaboration skills through exciting class discussions and team projects.

3. Data Literacy

Data is a tool used to drive decisions in all industries. Advanced technology enables organizations to gather unprecedented amounts of data, often in real time.

With so much information available, you need to know how to comb through data, find relevant information and glean insights from the information to guide decision-making.

2. Effective Communication

A major determining factor of success in your role is your ability to effectively communicate with others, including colleagues, superiors and customers.

There are many ways for you to develop your communication skills at Concordia. In addition to taking communication and English classes, you can further develop your communication skills with the Speaking Center and the Writing Center.

Learn more about Concordia's revolutionary Computer Science degree that infuses communication skills into every course.

1. Critical Thinking

Critical thinking skills are important because they are essential for making educated decisions. It leverages other skills, such as creativity, data literacy adaptability and more.

You gather information, draw logical conclusions from the information and use the conclusions to help you make a decision.

*Information was gathered from the following sites:

• Forbes
• Glassdoor
• HR Vision
• Indeed
• LinkedIn