What is it exactly that separates you from a list of candidates when applying for a job you desire? Skills? Everyone can learn and master them, and there will be plenty of people who boast the same skill set as you. Knowledge? There are lots of hungry professionals that continue to improve through educational means. Experience? More people consider themselves experts because of their long tenure in their respective fields, and some of your rival candidates might even have past jobs.
With skills, knowledge, and experience out of the question, you might not know what recruiters and HR are looking for in the ideal employee.
Skills, knowledge, and experience can all improve, but personality will be challenging to change even if you have years to dedicate yourself to it. Employers heavily consider people’s personalities to measure if a candidate is a good fit for their respective companies. As a result, personality tests became a standard part of the recruitment and hiring process.
Fortunately, you can get ahead by developing the traits that make you an attractive candidate, starting with the following:
Patience
If you don’t have any work experience, then prepare yourself for a bumpy ride. Your career, which will dominate the next 30 or so years of your life, will be full of stressful up-and-down moments that will test everything about you. There is no exaggeration about this. There might even be a point where employees decide to rage quit and leave their jobs because of the chaotic environment they experience.
Of course, there is a high chance that the company you want to work for does not have that kind of chaotic environment. Still, the stress and pressure could overwhelm you. Moments of frustration, misery, and anger could happen, but it is essential to avoid losing your cool. Patience is a vital virtue in the workplace.
Even if the situations make your blood boil, you must muster the patience to stay calm and collected. The trait ties directly with professionalism, which is a critical component to being an ideal employee. If patience is not your strong suit, there are many activities to help you practice it.
Ambitious
During the interview, the recruiter will ask you where you see yourself in five or ten years. The question is common enough for people to develop a standard answer. You might end up copying answers you find on the internet, but there is a reason why you should take the question seriously. Candidates need to be worthy investments in the eyes of the employers. The question allows them to check if you will offer them something more than just the average work.
Employees need to develop goals, especially when it comes to their careers. Those goals are ambitions, driving your every move and ensuring that each day progresses towards them.
Fortunately, developing the ambitious trait is easier than others. Listing your short-term and long-term goals should give you a better picture of the journey you want to take. Employers need to know that you are ambitious and determined to attain your goals. Try to ensure that the quality reflects during the interview and your work performance.
Teamwork
It is natural for people to think about themselves first when trying to identify what to improve. However, a career is rarely a lone journey. Your work will always involve your colleagues, be it the members of your department or other collaborative divisions. Employers need to know that you are a good fit for the company. The conversations and interviews will tell them a lot about your teamwork capabilities.
If you feel like being part of a team is not for you, practicing communication with your friends and family can help you develop that trait. Learning how to be a good listener is a significant part of becoming a team player, making it necessary to master the art.
Leadership
Gunning for a leadership or management position might not be part of your short-term plans yet, but it is critical to show employers that you can be a leader. However, the trait is something that people need to develop over time. Being active in discussions, making suggestions, and taking initiative are all promising signs of leadership quality. However, you might be in a stage where the management position is within reach. If you want to improve yourself, getting leadership development training or coaching might be part of your journey.
Your personality will differentiate you from the rest of the pack, making you the ideal candidate for the position. Every company will look for different traits to see if you are a perfect fit, but these qualities will always be the most important qualities throughout your career.
