For job seekers with similar job-specific skills and experience, there is a very real need to stand out.  One of the best ways to do this is by emphasizing your professional attributes.

These are traits indicative of how you will perform in the workplace, and employers evaluate them closely.  Knowing the professional attributes that employers value most allows you to position yourself better against the competition.

We analyzed millions of job postings in Indeed’s index from January 1st through June 30th, 2010, and extracted the most commonly occurring professional attributes.

The professional attributes found most frequently in job postings are:

To set yourself apart, be sure to highlight examples of your strongest professional attributes whenever possible – while networking, on resumes, and during interviews.

In our August Industry Employment Trends, all 12 of the major industries we track had more job postings than any other month this year.  Year-over-year job posting growth also occurred in all 12 industries.

Manufacturing showed continued signs of improvement, with a 67% increase in job postings year-over-year, and 20% more job postings than in July.  As measured by job seeker clicks, the industry’s top keyword searches included welder, maintenance, and manufacturing.

Retail showed a 55% increase in year-over-year job postings.  Also, the number of retail jobs posted was 21% greater than last month; a positive indicator as the holiday shopping season draws near.

Despite having more job postings than any other industry during 2010, Healthcare remained relatively flat through July.  That trend changed in August, as Healthcare had a 17% increase in job postings compared to August 2009.  Jobs for Medical Assistants, Dental Assistants, and Phlebotomists received the highest number of job seeker clicks.

August 2010 Employment Industry Trends

Industry	Job Postings	Annual Change
Accounting	152,152	38%
Construction	111,224	34%
Education	128,325	23%
Financial Services and Banking	267,217	44%
Healthcare	819,423	17%
Hospitality	101,365	49%
Information Technology	361,002	61%
Manufacturing	120,621	67%
Media and Newspaper	47,615	65%
Real Estate	31,106	27%
Retail	408,370	55%
Transportation	118,609	119%

Be sure to check back each month for Industry Employment Trends, a leading indicator for the job market.  Also, take a look at our recently updated Job Market Competition Index for the latest on the number of jobs available in your area.