Employers are looking for qualities in their new hires that are never listed in the job ad. They want to meet people who are self-directed and responsible. You will bring out those qualities through your answers to the job-interview questions and also through the questions you ask your interviewer.
Here are the most important qualities employers look for in their new hires: Employers want to hire people who…………..
Know what they want in their career
Employers look for ‘self-directed’ new hires, and here’s what that means. They want people who know what they want and are willing to work for it. Great managers want to hire people with goals.
Know their strengths
Employers are looking for people who know what they’re good at. Instead of saying “I’m really good at Excel,” you can say “I love Excel — and I love to teach other people the finer points of using Excel, like creating nested reports and macros.”
Think Independently
There are certainly managers who don’t want to hire independent thinkers, but you don’t have to waste working for someone like that! Strong managers want to hire people who have their own ideas. In every job interview, take the opportunity to share an opinion, rather than a cookie-cutter, standard answer to your interview question. Managers need smart people around to brainstorm with — so why shouldn’t that smart person be you?
Have ambition
Having ambition means you have the goal of getting smarter and stronger throughout your life. It could mean moving up the corporate ladder, starting your own business or going off the grid to something completely new. Good employers look for people with ambition.
Are proactive
Proactive employees don’t wait to be told what to do. They jump into action when they see a way to help. Managers want to hire people who are proactive. One way to illustrate this quality is to ask questions about the work you’ll be performing in the job (most job applicants, sadly, don’t do this). Ask questions that show you’ve been thinking about the job description — your new manager will appreciate it!
Are happy to learn new things
Most of us have worked with someone who hates to be bothered to learn new things. Managers want to hire people who like to learn.
Are goal-oriented
If you like to set goals and hit them, make that clear in your job interview. Talk about how you set a goal and how you hit the goal! Talk about how goals have been important in your life so far.
Work well on a team
Nearly every manager will tell you that teamwork is a critical attribute for anybody on his or her team. Be ready to answer the question “Tell me about how you function on a team” with a colorful story about a situation that required teamwork, and in which your team came through!
Are responsible
Lastly, employers want to hire people who take responsibility for themselves and the situations they’re in. Talk about the responsibilities you’ve taken on in your working life and outside. Don’t ever be embarrassed or shy about sharing your ‘non-business’ experience. Sometimes those experiences show our character most of all!
Employers want and need to be able to trust their employees to work professionally to meet the employer’s best interests. Employers do not want to hire people who require close scrutiny or who cannot be trusted to represent the company in public.
How can you let an employer know that you have these qualities when you are applying for a job?
- Provide a resume that uses the words employers are looking for to get their attention
- Send a cover letter with your resume that clearly demonstrates you understand the skills needed for the job and provide examples of where you have used these skills
- Make sure your references will say good, appropriate things about you on inquiry
- Volunteer and have your supervisor provide a reference
- Have great letter of reference from a previous employer to give to prospective employers
- Have good communication skills, on your resume, on the telephone and in the job interview
- Have examples and stories to tell in the interview of how you learned something or how you solved a problem at a previous position.
