Many job seekers believe they have the qualifications, even though there is uncertainty in the job market. It is simply not true. The reason candidates fail to apply for jobs is that they don’t have the qualifications employers value.

The National Online Survey was conducted by the Career Advisory BoardDeVry University has created a guideline to help job seekers better position themselves. It focuses on what employers value most. Harris Interactive conducted a Job Preparedness Indicator survey from Sept. 6-12, 2011. It revealed that employers struggle to find qualified candidates for open jobs.

However, only 14% of the 540 managers who were surveyed claimed that they have done this in the past 3 years. “nearly all”Or “most”Job seekers possess the skills that a company is looking for in an employee.

But, the majority of job seekers feel they have what is required to succeed. 56 percent of 734 adults who are looking for work are confident that they have the necessary qualifications. 72 percent also believe they can present their skills in an interview.

“These findings highlight the striking gap between what skills hiring managers value in a candidate and how job seekers describe themselves. But some of the disconnect between hiring managers and job seekers is due to misconceptions about what is most important to the other party,”Notes Dan Kasun (senior director of platform evangelism and developer at Microsoft Corporation) and Career Advisory Board member. “Job seekers should utilize these findings to better calibrate the way they present themselves to employers.”

According to the study hiring managers place the greatest value on these skills across all job levels (entry-level, middle-level, and managerial).

1. 1.

2. High integrity

3. Global outlook

4. Reliable and strong base work ethic

5. Accountability

The following advice is available to those who want to improve their marketability to employers:

1. To Stay Relevant, Job seekers need to be current “continuous learners”Keep up-to-date in their career and increase their global outlook. Subscribe to industry publications and become active in professional associations help candidates keep up-to-date with current issues and trends. This will allow them to gain perspective at all levels, including the local, national, and global.

2. Get real-world experience Job seekers should look into volunteer and internship opportunities. These experiences give job seekers the opportunity to acquire relevant skills that can then be used in the workplace. Volunteering and internships are great opportunities to improve your analytical and critical thinking skills.

3. To help job seekers grow in their career, it is important to establish a relationship with a mentor. Mentoring relationships give job seekers a glimpse into the career paths and what it takes for them to succeed in their chosen field. To learn more about the Career Advisory Board or the Job Preparedness Indicator, visit careeradvisoryboard.com.