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RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif., June 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- College graduates entering the job market need more than strong academic credentials and internships: They need communication and leadership skills. For the past two years, these qualities topped the annual Corporate Recruiters Survey, a poll that measures attributes employers seek in business school hires in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.

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"You should master the skills to speak clearly and with confidence to impress your potential employer," says John Lau, President of Toastmasters International, the global organization devoted to communication and leadership skills development. "Toastmasters can help you stand out in an interview and in the workplace." View this video for tips on preparing for your next interview.

Good communication and presentation skills can help any job candidate stand out, as discovered by Kelly Hook, a recent North Carolina State University graduate, who joined Capital City Toastmasters in Raleigh, N.C., to do just that. She used the skills acquired through Toastmasters to obtain a position as public relations manager at Prezi—a presentation software company in San Francisco.

When Hook noticed a job opening at Prezi, she applied what she learned through Toastmasters. It set her apart from other candidates. "In Toastmasters, I learned a lot about how to deliver presentations with visual aids within a targeted timeframe. I also was very comfortable giving a presentation as part of the interview," says Hook.

The Toastmasters program gives members like Hook the platform to hone the skills needed to stand out in a competitive job market. They get regular practice speaking extemporaneously, delivering speeches, and giving and receiving feedback. They gain competence to:

• Answer questions on the spot
• Deliver better sales presentations
• Learn management skills
• Foster productive work relationships
• Develop and present ideas effectively
• Sharpen listening skills

To find a local Toastmasters club where you can improve your communication skills to further your career, go to www.toastmasters.org/findaclub.

About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization has more than 280,000 memberships in 13,500 clubs in 116 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters International on Twitter.

SOURCE Toastmasters International