5 Qualities Companies Look for in Job Candidates
A good cover letter and CV can get you in the door for an interview, but they won’t guarantee that you get the job you’re looking for. In fact, even perfect education and work experience may not be enough to convince a hiring manager that you’re the best fit for the company and/or for the position that’s available right now.
You may have a brilliant track record as far as your work experience goes, but it will not take you all the way. Companies pass over people with flawless CVs all the time. Why? In some cases, the person in question was overqualified and would likely have become bored and left the company in short order. In other cases, the candidate just didn’t seem like a good fit for the work environment.
To give yourself the best chance of being chosen for the job you’re interviewing for — even if someone is “more qualified” for the job – try to exhibit these traits and qualities.
You Can Hit the Ground Running
Show that you’ve done your research on the company you’re interviewing with. Ask pertinent questions about the work and the company’s goals. Show that you know not only what the position is all about but also how it fits into the company as a whole.
If you show all of this in your interview, your interviewers will know that you’ll be ready to start really working from the moment you walk in on your first morning of work. You may need a little bit of training on this company’s specific ways of doing things, but your future supervisors and colleagues will be confident that you won’t need any handholding or extra training to get you started.
You’re Adaptable
Today’s work environment is constantly changing. Companies reorganize, merge, split, and change in all kinds of ways from month to month and even day to day. As you discuss your capabilities with your interviewers, highlight that you are highly adaptable and that you won’t be thrown off course by changes in workload, leadership roles, etc.
You’re a Team Player
Can you get along well with others? Can you share credit for group efforts? Do you carry your own weight and contribute to team projects? Essentially, the company you’re joining is a team, and the goal is success and growth. If you can’t work well with others and be a true team player, it doesn’t matter how much experience you have or how well educated you are; you’re not going to get the job.
You Love Opportunities to Learn
Whether it’s continued education in your field, learning about the company you work for, or any other learning opportunity, show that you’re interested and enthusiastic. If you show that you have the desire and ability to keep expanding your skill set, your potential new employer will see you as a valuable investment, not just a body to fill a position.
You Can Admit Your Mistakes
Everyone hates the inevitable point in the interview when they’re asked, “What would you say is your greatest weakness?” You should already know that saying something like, “I’m just too enthusiastic!” is a poor answer. Your interviewer knows that you’re human and that you will make mistakes.
They just want to see that you have the self-awareness to recognise the kinds of mistakes you make most often and to admit them when you do. So, be humble and give an honest answer to this question, but don’t forget to discuss the work you’re doing to correct this weakness and turn it into a strength.
Next time you’re invited to an interview, try to show these qualities as best you can and see what happens. You’ll probably get the job.
Sources:
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/cpl-career-advice/2014/09/15/how-to-be-the-perfect-candidate-for-a-new-job/
http://www.northcoast99.org/docs/The-Right-Fit-How-Top-Employers-Find-the-Perfect-Candidate.pdf
http://www.businessinsider.com/get-the-job-even-if-youre-not-the-best-2014-10
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/article/20140916123750-20017018-9-things-interviewers-never-tell-job-candidates-but-should