Personal Traits Sought By Employers

Employers are requiring more of their employees today in a technologically fast paced world. Employees must be able to not only adapt and thrive to an ever-changing world, but also must possess many skills and traits that will showcase and make them stand out from the crowd when job searching.

A resume must not only show potential employers a wide array of skills, work experience, accomplishments, but also character traits. The following personal traits in this article are some of the most sought-after qualities found on resumes; ones that are sure to get the attention of potential employers.

Professional

Professionalism is the ability of an employee to ‘be professional’ [remain calm, respectful, and keep their verbal / physical composure], within a variety of diverse, complex and/or stressful situations. Professionalism extends to appropriate appearance/dress for the position. Professionals complete high-quality work on time.

When an employee becomes part of a company, they also represent that company. Most employers desire candidates that will represent their company properly. When you tell your potential employer that you are professional, you are assuring them that you will do your best to represent the company well through your appearance, behavior, and work ethic.

In addition to adding this trait to your resume, you must also dress the part. Professional employees dress-to-impress, have great interpersonal skills, and offer up a great interview. These workers conduct themselves as they should at work, always thinking of the company first. Professionals are also ambitious and have integrity. They are friendly, hardworking, and enjoy improving the company.

Flexible

Most jobs require their employees to not only perform multiple tasks, but to prioritize those tasks. By adding in flexibility to your list of personal traits on your resume, you’re telling your future employer that you are able to adapt to any situation. An employer needs to have workers that can complete tasks on their own, and be able to change their priorities when necessary.

A flexible employee is able to adapt to changes in the company, job, and world. Flexible employees also adapt quickly; prioritizing their tasks properly. They can perform more than one task at a time, work the hours necessary to complete a task, and react to changes in their environment calmly and efficiently. Employers need their workers to be flexible, so that daily changes can always be managed.

Motivated

No employer wants to hire a person who isn’t motivated. Possible candidates should never be lazy and lack ambition. When you show your future employers through your resume that you are motivated, they will know that you are determined and ambitious. Ambitious employees will always go above-and-beyond the necessary task.

Motivated employees are more positive about their company and career, and typically put more effort into their work. These types of employees are also able to perform tasks on their own, are self-driven, and have a desire to move up in the company. Potential employers know that those who wish to move up in the company have greater motivation to their jobs to perfection.

Dependable

Ambition and flexibility count for nothing if an employer cannot rely on their employee. Dependability is an extremely important quality in any person, but especially employees. Bosses want to know that they can rely on their workers, and that they are responsible. By adding this trait to your resume, you not only show potential hirers that you can be trusted with company responsibilities, but that you can be relied upon.

Dependable employees show up to work on-time, when they are scheduled, and are always reliable when it comes to communication. They can be trusted to reply to calls and messages, pick up shifts, and tell the truth. They typically have wonderful work ethics, and are typically the first in line to become leaders and managers.

Confidence [Not Arrogance]

Being knowledgeable to the point of being able to excel in your position brings confidence in your own ability. Employers need employees that they can depend on to successfully complete projects, run programs, and step in for colleagues. Taking time to learn what you don’t know builds confidence.

Honest

Employers are always looking for potential candidates that can be trusted; who are reliable. They need to trust their company to their employees, so being able to trust them with daily tasks, information, and reliability is essential. When you can show a hiring manager that you are an honest person and worker, they know you have a key ingredient: integrity.

Honest employees own up to their mistakes, learn from them, and never lie. They can be trusted to do their work and protect the interests of the company. People who are honest not only keep their jobs, but move up the ladder quicker than unreliable employees. If a company cannot trust an employee with simple tasks, they certainly cannot trust them with more responsibility. Those who can be trusted in the little things, can be trusted in the larger things.

Positive Attitude

A positive attitude is contagious and will make other team members motivated and want to work with you.
It also will make you the kind of person that your customers, vendors and clients would want to work with. And your employer will be pleased to support and promote you within the organization. During your employment with the organization as well as in the job seeking process, genuine enthusiasm and an energetic personality can ‘win-out’ over being completely qualified. It is an important element within employee/team motivation to remain positive when faced with challenges.

Self-Directed

Also known as self-motivated. Employers need employees that they don't have to watch over constantly (employers aren't babysitters). Employees need to cultivate ways to develop their own drive for success within the organization and for the organization. Self-directed employees enable busy supervisors to be productively focused on their own set of responsibilities, while providing little direction. A self directed employee will demonstrate initiative to their employer, and that will provide an accomplished feeling.

Conclusion

A potential job candidate with strong personal traits are in a position to be attractive to employers who want good people to work for them and represent their organization. Employers are always looking for motivated, honest, dependable, flexible professionals to help their company grow and prosper.

These personal traits can boost the appeal of a resume, by only using a few words. By putting your best foot forward with your resume first, you may be on your way to your dream job.