| Finding a job,
whether it is your first, a return to work after years at home, or just another step in
your career, is never easy. Once you have located a job that seems, "just for
you", you have to make yourself stand out to the employer. You must stand out first
on paper (the resume) and then in person when you get the interview. What do employers look for in job candidates? What impresses them
the most? According to surveys, following are five qualities employers want and expect in
job applicants.
1. Proven success - If you have been
successful on the job or as a volunteer in the past, then you will be successful in the
future. This is the only way an employer can predict how you will perform in the future
for them. Make sure you bring out past examples of work performance successes.
2. Ambition - Are you willing to accept a
lower position in order to move up to something better? Even if the job is routine or
non-challenging, you owe it to the employer to do your best.
3. Initiative - Employers look for people who
are willing to take the initiative to perform their job. If an employer feels that he will
be constantly telling you to do something, he will likely not hire you.
4. Enthusiasm and high energy level -
Employers need employees who demonstrate enthusiasm and energy toward their jobs.
5. Able to get along with others - A red flag
does up when a job applicant responds to interview questions by stating that he/she has
never been appreciated or has a list of grievances about former employers. The number one
reason employers let employees go, other than for economic reasons, is because the worker
does not get along with others.
Employers are looking for good workers. If you consider
yourself to be an asset to a company, it is up to you to convince the employer of that
fact. If you believe you can contribute to an organization, you must learn how to stand
out from the rest of the pack and this begins by knowing what employers want. |
