What do employers want from candidates?
Job hunting can be kind of funny sometimes. While job descriptions can be very detailed, outlining all the qualifications and certifications required for the job, there are a lot of specific qualities and traits employers look for that are omitted.
Since no formal education teaches you how to be adaptable or ambitious, it can be tricky to know just what qualities employers are after. This is why we decided to list some of the top traits employers from all industries look for.
You’ll be a superstar candidate when combining the right technical skills with these characteristics.
Top 5 traits employers look for:
- Loyalty
- Intellectual curiosity
- Confidence
- Independent thinker
- Ambition
- Loyalty
This is one of those traits that just can’t be taught, which is why employers highly value those with it. Companies look for employees who will stick around for the long haul. High employee turnover means more time and money spent on hiring new employees when instead, that money could be allocated to other projects or be invested back into loyal employees. If you can prove you’re trustworthy, employers will love you!
- Intellectual curiosity
While some employees are only willing to do the minimum to get their paycheck, employees with intellectual curiosity are always eager to learn new skills and expand their responsibilities. What makes candidates with this quality so desirable is that they’re easily coachable and highly engaged and, therefore, can climb the career ladder much quicker than their peers. Intellectual curiosity also indicates a sense of humility as these individuals are aware that there is always room to grow, learn and improve.
- Confidence
Employers look for candidates who know who they are and what they want.
Confidence shouldn’t be confused for being cocky or self-flattering, though. While you should know your strengths, confident employees aren’t afraid to admit their weaknesses.
Practicing positive self-talk and growing your skills can help you gain confidence, and soon you’ll be walking into work with your head held high.
- Independent thinker
There’s no denying that some supervisors out there only want to hire ‘yes men’ to boost their ego, but many employers seek independent thinkers. Individuals with this quality are willing to challenge the status quo and don’t let others think for them. This doesn’t mean independent thinking requires you to be a contrarian, but it means you think critically.
Employees who speak up and offer alternative ideas help businesses stay competitive and avoid stagnancy. In industries like information and technology, complacency will only leave you falling behind.
If you want to impress your hiring manager during your next interview, consider shifting away from cookie-cutter responses and instead offer some of your own opinions and thoughts.
- Ambition
Having ambition means you are looking to better yourself both personally and professionally. Ambitious employees are willing to do what it takes to get the job done if it means accomplishing their goals, making them highly valued by employers.
Sharing your dreams and goals with employers is likely to make a positive impression, especially when you have an action plan to back it up.
Recruitment Agency in Toronto | About Live Assets | IT Staffing Solutions
Live Assets is a boutique IT Staffing/Recruiting firm specializing exclusively in building IT teams of excellence for the Information Technology sector.
We are a small, but productive team that works closely together and has had a 96% success rate for the past number of years!
We have a diverse number of clients and industries and focus on both full-time and contract I.T. opportunities.
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