by Erica Baumgardner '16

Knox alumni Adam Zanger ‘04 and Katie (Lambert) Weaver ‘05 visited campus during this year's Career Impact Summit to speak to students during their breakout session "Skills Employers are Looking For."

Weaver, who majored in psychology, is now the learning and professional development senior coordinator for Navigant, a specialized global expert services firm, where she creates training programs.

Zanger, also a psychology major, serves as the executive director of Adam's Pointe Assisted Living, an assisted living and dementia care campus.

Through their combined work experiences, the two outlined the skills that they feel are most attractive to both potential and current employers.

1. Good communication skills.

"I'm also talking about listening," says Weaver, "really taking in and thinking about what the other person is saying." Ask clarifying questions and be sure to repeat back and paraphrase information.

2. Creative Problem Solving.

"Be willing to speak up," says Weaver, "A lot of times coming into a corporation you a have a different perspective, especially coming from a liberal arts college."

When meeting with a potential employer, Weaver recommends testing yourself with behavioral response questions, which usually begin with the phrase "Tell me about a time when you..." and are often included in interviews. Have responses prepared for these questions before an interview.

To ensure that you're answering these questions fully, Weaver recommends keeping in mind the STAR acronym:

S- What was the situation?
T- What was the task at hand?
A- What action did I implement to complete the task?
R- What was the result?

3. Know the company and the position.

"If someone doesn't know what they're applying for, it signals to me that they don't care," explains Zanger.

Think about what you can bring to the company you're applying for and how can you help them meet goals and increase their productivity. Seek out companies that match your goals and/or personality.

"Know your organization and keep up on the trends," says Weaver, "In any field there is always new information coming out, so stay abreast."

4. Actively Seek out Feedback

When assessing successful coworkers at her company, Weaver noticed that "they all asked for feedback and knew how to receive feedback." Don't become defensive when critiqued. Ask yourself why you've received the feedback that you have and think of ways to correct the issue.

5. Quality Control your Work

It is essential that you are contributing quality work. "If you're taking something to your boss, take a step back and read it again before you hand it in," advises Weaver.

6. Be Understanding of Others

"Understand that different people have different personalities," says Zanger. Don't speak poorly of coworkers, as it may reflect upon you as a person, and always take the high road when you encounter co-worker conflicts.

7. Be Opportunistic

Seek out opportunities and try new things. "Experience is really the best teacher," explains Zanger. Understand that you might make mistakes along the way, but that's okay.

"Never be afraid to take an opportunity that may make you feel uncomfortable," says Weaver.

Zanger reminded participants to keep in mind that "any skill can be taught." Instead, employers are often times looking for attitude.