What Employers Are Looking For When They Hire

Part I:The top eight things employers are hoping to see in job applicants.

By Alison Green Oct. 10, 2012 Comments SHARE

Here are eight key things that employers are looking for when they review job applicants:

1. First and foremost, can you do the job? This isn't about whether you think you can do the job; employers are looking for concrete evidence in your past that shows that you can. This doesn't mean that you need to have done this particular job with this particular title before, but it does mean that you need to have a track record of success in the skills that the position requires.

2. Are you going to be reasonably easy to work with? No matter how skilled you are, most employers don't want to hire someone who's high maintenance, rude, negative, volatile, or overly sensitive.

3. Will you be satisfied with the job or will you be looking to leave within six months? Most employers want to hire people who will stick around for a solid block of time (usually at least two years, and more for senior-level positions). They also want to hire people who will be happy with the job, because unhappy people tend to be less productive and a drain on other employees' morale.

4. Are you reasonably likeable? You don't need to be a charmer on the level of George Clooney, but you do need to be someone your interviewer can envision working with every day without feeling stomach pains.

5. Do you seem like you can put up with whatever the negatives of the job are? Every job has downsides, whether it's a difficult boss or a long commute or an office culture that makes it hard for new ideas to blossom. Employers want to make sure that you're going to have at least a reasonable "immunity" level to whatever the more difficult elements of the job will be.

6. Will you fit in with the company culture? Do you seem like you'd easily embrace the culture, or do you seem like you'd struggle to assimilate? Company culture matters because it's the invisible force that controls "how we do things here."

7. Do you have a strong work ethic? It's not enough to just show up at work every day and do the minimum required. Employers are looking for candidates who care about getting things done and who don't start distracting the receptionist or open up Facebook or Gmail the moment the boss leaves for lunch.

8. How enthusiastic are you about the job? Is this just one job of hundreds you're applying to, or do you have a special interest in this one? Employers would rather hire someone who will be excited to come to work than someone who sees it as "just a job."

Part II: Important Qualities to look for in a job candidate:

Leadership Qualities

  • Even in non-managerial positions, employers still look for employees with leadership skills. Leaders must understand the goals and visions of the organization and possess a confidence in their abilities and the abilities of others. According to Joyce Lain Kennedy of For Dummies, leaders within an organization know how to encourage and inspire others around them.

Positive Attitude

  • Employers desire to hire job candidates with positive attitudes about their skills, professional contributions, and the organization. Employees with positive energy affect others with the same energy. Co-workers and managers desire to work with you if you display a positive attitude and friendly demeanor.

Flexibility

  • Business needs change from time to time within organizations, and employers look for workers who can easily adapt to changes. Flexible workers don’t complain when a manager needs to reassign job duties or work hours. The ability to adapt to different situations and roles within the company is an attribute greatly valued by employers.

Work Well with Others

  • The ability to work well with others is an important attribute that employers look for when hiring employees. Many employers value the benefits teamwork brings to an organization, and look for employees know how to work with others to accomplish a common goal.

Honesty and Integrity

  • Doing the right thing even when no one knows is an important attribute recruiters look for in employees. They look for employees who are honest and not likely to participate in corporate scandals. Randall S. Hansen and Katharine Hansen of Quint Careers state that honesty and integrity are among the major attributes that employers value the most.

Dedication

  • Employers desire employees who are dedicated to the organization. Employees show their dedication by arriving to work on time and committing to their duties. Showing a lack of dedication is usually an indication that an employee is unsatisfied at work and may decide to leave the company in the near future.

Confident Workers

  • Employees should possess self-confidence without arrogance. An employee who is confident in his skills and knowledge is typically highly productive. This is one of the main traits employers desire.

Interpersonal Skills

  • Employees with strong interpersonal skills are valued by employers. Managers look for individuals who can build trustworthy and strong relationships with co-workers and managers.

Strong Work Ethic

  • Managers seek to hire employees with strong work ethics. Certain duties or projects may require employees to go beyond the call of duty. Employers desire workers willing to meet the challenges presented.

Communication Skills

  • According to an article written by Randall S. Hansen and Katharine Hansen of Quint Careers, many employers include communication skills as one of their most desired attributes of potential employees. Employers want to hire workers with strong verbal and non-verbal communication skills. The ability to effectively communicate with co-workers, managers and clients is an important element within the workplace. The ability to listen and follow directions is a skill that employers desire.

Part III: Top Ten Things Employers Look for…

While you may think that choosing the “right” major is key to getting a good job, your long-term professional success will depend far more on acquiring the right skills for a rapidly changing workplace.

  1. The ability to work well in teams—especially with people different from yourself
  2. An understanding of science and technology and how these subjects are used in real-world settings
  3. The ability to write and speak well
  4. The ability to think clearly about complex problems
  5. The ability to analyze a problem to develop workable solutions
  6. An understanding of global context in which work is now done
  7. The ability to be creative and innovative in solving problems
  8. The ability to apply knowledge and skills in new settings
  9. The ability to understand numbers and statistics
  10. A strong sense of ethics and integrity