These days, when you apply for a job and undergo the interviewing process, it takes more than charisma and qualifications to land the job. Employers are looking for employees who hold specific skills and personality traits that will complement the skills development facilitation programmes their company already has in place.
They are looking for potential employees who will build the human capital and skills value of the business through knowledge and ability. They’re looking for employees who will fit in easily with what the company stands for and push the boundaries of what the business can do. If you want to be the type of employee that most companies are looking for, you need to have the following traits.
Willingness to learn
You can trust that when you start working at a new company, you will undergo skills programmes as orientation and a means of updating you to where the rest of the employees are at. These are standard human capital and skills programmes that are designed to develop employees and tailor them to their work environment.
With this in mind, employers are looking for employees who are willing to learn. The willingness to learn shows ambition to be better, do more and strive for career goals. This type of attitude is an attractive trait for employers as that drive could potentially elevate the company to new heights in the process.
A strong work ethic
There’s a reason why South African employees are in high demand in countries around the world. Most of us have an incredibly strong work ethic and a “do what needs to be done” attitude.
Being able to work hard is one thing. But being able to produce high-quality work, always be on time, contribute during meetings, get involved with internal programmes and reach targets, is another. And that’s what employers want to see.
They want to know that you would be willing to work the extra hours and put in the additional effort before it’s even been asked of you. It’s about more than just getting the job done. A strong work ethic is also about efficiency and how to improve basic work processes to get more work done in a shorter period of time.
Creative thinking
Innovation is the name of the game in every industry where technology is constantly developing and changing the way people interact with brands. If you want to be an employee who helps the company remain relevant through your job and department, you need to be a creative thinker.
Not artsy creative, but industry creative. If you can create a way to do your job more successfully, suggest an internal communications solution to make the company more efficient or design a client feedback form that will allow you and your team to do your jobs better, you’ll be considered a creative thinker at work.
Creative thinking is what helps companies to adapt and become what the customers are asking for before they even know to ask for it. And if you are able to think on your feet and provide creative solutions to company problems, you’ll quickly be shortlisted for the job.
Flexibility
On the topic of being adaptable, employers are also looking for employees who are flexible. In some companies, departments work so closely together that you’ll be hired for one position but work a variety of jobs. As long as your salary reflects the work asked of you, you need to be flexible.
You might think you aren’t a good fit for the job if you only specialise in one field but, don’t forget, that’s why the skills programmes are in place. Being a specialist doesn’t mean you can’t be flexible and competent in more than one role and, at the end of the day, all the employee needs to see is that you’re willing to learn and are doing your best.
A team player and self-motivator
Yes, it’s possible to be both types of people. Employers want to know that the person they’re hiring is capable of working in a team, collaborating with others and leading those who need direction. It’s necessary for any position in a company, as it takes an entire office of people to do the one job of the business. Also, you’ll likely have interdepartmental projects where you’ll need to work with people you, otherwise, don’t directly work with and it’s important for employers to know that you’ll thrive in a team-based task as well as an individual one.
As for being a self-motivator, if your job means you’ll be working alone most of the time, employers need to be assured that you’re able to keep yourself motivated. If you can’t be self-motivated, employers can’t trust that you’ll be consistent in your quality of work and production.
Develop these skills and you can confidently walk into any job interview.
