“MUST HAVE” Characteristics Employers Seek Before They Hire A Job Candidate

By Mark Baber

Over the last couple decades Employers and Human Resource specialists have devised a set of informal guidelines to help look beyond the basic information offered by a job candidate in a job interview. The guidelines are a general list of attributes that Employers seek in a person they may hire. Employers know that job seekers with those basic character traits will very likely do well as an employee. So, as a job candidate, if you adjust your job resume and job interviewing skills to accommodate the requirements reviewed here, you may improve your odds of getting hired into the job you prefer.

Human Resources Consultant Robert Cameron, of Florida, reports that Employers verify an average of “one-third of (hiring) decisions turn out right; one-third are minimally effective and one-third are outright failures.” The problem that generates those figures is the differences between what a candidate says they can do in an interview and on their resume, and what they can actually perform in a real-time employment environment. So, to bridge that gap, Employers, over time, created an informal list of “Top Job Candidate Characteristics.” Then compared that list to their list of “Top Employee Characteristics.” Surprisingly, the lists didn’t exactly match. So – Employers learned that by hiring a person who professes in a job interview and on their resume to have certain applicable skills, and that same person also matches the entries on the “Top Job Candidate Characteristics” list, those individuals, if hired, perform better and stay with a company longer.
Immediately below are the characteristics of a top job candidate. Compare those attributes to your own job search, and to the top employee characteristics in the next paragraph. Employers expect that each of the following elements become observable with every serious job candidate. If they don’t see those attributes demonstrated in your behavior, your chances of getting hired are slim. But, if you plan and prepare yourself to reflect the following attributes as you go through your job interview process, you will improve your chances of getting the job offer. In this case, actions do speak louder than words. Prepare yourself for the following:

• Good Job Résumé – clearly outlining applicable skills & achievments
• Good Job Skills – appropriate to the job
• Arrives on time for interview – somewhat ahead of time even better
• Well prepared for interview – practice makes perfect
• Good communicator – know what you want to say
• Enthusiastic about job and career – and why
• Great first impression – you only get one chance
• Assertive jobseeker – eager but pleasant
• Interested in company and have researched same
• Good follow up

Conversely, the top employee characteristics go directly to the heart of being a good employee, as opposed to being a good job interviewee. By expressing these attributes in practical ways as you go through your job interview process, you will supercharge your ability to impress an employer. Don’t just say the words. Perform the actions. Offer examples from your work experiences that illustrate your ability to conform to these following attributes:

• Highly motivated to work hard
• Competent – and can prove it
• Do More than required – and can prove it
• Do not make excuses – give example
• Anticipate problems
• Solve problems
• Take initiative
• Learn quickly
• Committed
• Focused
• Consistent
• Poised and confident
• Strong team player

While the job candidate characteristics reviewed here may seem somewhat generic or common, don’t assume they are not vitally important elements of the hiring decision. They are. Plan your job interview well. Leave little to chance. Organize your job search efforts. Find examples from your history that illustrates the attributes discussed here. Present your credentials and experiences to match the lists and you will improve your ability to get hired well.

BEST OF LUCK IN YOUR JOB SEARCH

Mark Baber has 20 years experience as an Executive Search recruiter. For individual assistance with your job search contact Mark directly at: http://www.mcbaber.com
Mark is Recruit Consultant to http://www.JobNewsRadio.com Mark is also Consultant to http://www.smarthiredirect.com , a low cost, effective recruit, hiring and job applicant tracking system for recruiters, HR staff and employers at all levels.
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