The Personality Traits That Get the Job

When applying for a job, one should not rely so much on scholastic laurels, or professional success or vast industry experience. While these matter, for sure, these are not the only ‘jewels’ that interviewers want to find in applicants. There are personality traits that make the applicant look like the right fit for the company.

First and foremost, employers want to be sure that the applicant is best qualified for a position. They also want to see that, if ever, the applicant will fit in with the company culture. To get an idea, they try to take a peek into the applicant’s soft skills.

One may have all the experience and the skills for the job, but can hardly work with others. Or, there are two candidates with similar capabilities for a single position. The employer would often want to have a sense of the personality or each contender, and decide on that basis.

In a study, it was found that many employers prioritize similar soft skills in employees, looking for candidates who are dependable, positive, flexible and effective communicators, and who can work well under pressure, among other personality traits.

A human resource executive advises: “It’s important to highlight soft skills that can give employers an idea of how quickly you can adapt and solve problems, whether you can be relied on to follow through, and how effectively you can lead and motivate others.” And Katharine Paljug, in an article at www. businessnewsdaily.com, enumerates seven of these soft skills:

Multitasker. Nowadays employees are rarely hired to perform a single function. Especially in a small business setting, workers have to be willing to come out of their roles and do whatever is necessary. “A small business needs people who cannot only tolerate chaos, but thrive in it,” said a top official of a talent acquisition software company.

Strategist. A career psychologist said that every business needs a strategic thinker. Hiring managers want someone who can identify long-term goals. It’s critical for an applicant to demonstrate not only a vision for the future, but also a plan to get there.

Decider. People who can use their own judgment and take decisive action are valuable to any company. Business leaders can’t be involved in every minor decision, so they look for a candidate who is not afraid to pull the trigger. The ability to act and take responsibility for the outcome is essential for anyone hoping to move into a management or leadership position.

Cautious. A more cautious employee acts as a counterbalance to risktakers, says a recruitment expert. “They are riskaverse, but sometimes, you need people to provide stability and fairness, and keep [the] business from

taking on too much.”

Independent-minded. Most employees go along with everything the boss says, without question. These people may be good for an ego boost, but ultimately, leaders need team members who will challenge the status quo if it’s better for the business.

Team Player. Most jobs require some kind of collaboration, whether with a team of other employees, a group of clients or occasional outside contractors. The ability to work pleasantly and effectively with others is a key part of nearly any job today.

Adaptive. Different employers may value different traits, but they all look for the elusive cultural fit. Every company’s culture is slightly different, and each is founded on different core values. What matters most to employers is that the people they hire embody those values in their everyday lives.

The job applicants’ scholastic credentials and skills will get them in the prospective employers’ doors – but these alone may not get them the job. Scholastic achievement and skills are not always unique. All things being equal among applicants, it’s one person’s personality that often makes the difference. In general, companies don’t just hire skills; they hire personality.

It’s important to highlight soft skills that can give employers an idea of how quickly you can adapt and solve problems, whether you can be relied on to follow through, and how effectively you can lead and motivate others.