by Leigh Goessl

Created on: March 16, 2010   Last Updated: December 15, 2011

As employers begin the recruiting process they often have a pretty good idea of what kinds of skills they are looking for in potential employees. As an applicant you'll want to try and match their ideal in order to land the job.

To do this it is a good idea to sit down and think about the qualities and skills you have that you could use to describe yourself to best match the ideals associated with the position. By including these skills it will help your resume and cover letter be more appealing to a prospective employer. The descriptive words you choose may even give you an edge over other applicants.

Today's workplaces are fast paced and constantly evolving and it is important to recognize this fact as you submit your application. Positions nowadays not only require hard skills, but soft skills which cannot be measured by experience or education, but rather through personal attributes that may be more ingrained.

Here are a few of the top skills employers look for in employees:

• Interpersonal skills

A candidates interpersonal skills are very important to employers. Since many jobs entail levels of customer service either internally or externally, and perhaps even global interactions, an individual's ability to positively communicate and interact with others is highly desired.

Those individuals who can demonstrate they possess strong interpersonal skills are more likely to shine through the hiring process. Good ability to interact with others is a valuable skill to possess.

• Work ethic

Employers tend to be attracted to potential employees who can display a solid work ethic. The reason for this is because in the aftermath of Enron, Tyco and other major scandals, business ethics is a highly prominent topic.

Hiring managers want to hire people who make their companies look good. If they hire individuals who are lacking in ethics and/or do not have good decision making skills, this can lead into problematic issues down the road which any employer is going to want to avoid. Integrity counts in today's world.

• Computer skills

There are few jobs today that can get by without using some kind of automation. For most positions at the very least a basic knowledge of computing is a skill employers look for. They are more likely going to shy away from applicants who do not have basic web browsing skills and the ability to locate files or interact via e-mail.

• Flexibility and initiative

Employees who are willing to bend a little are very appealing

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