Do you have the traits that employers are looking for?

I know you: You’ve made looking for your next job, well… your job. You’ve scoured your resume of clichéd buzzwords, brushed up on body language and even watched a "How to interview video".

 

But all that might be for naught if you just don’t have the personality your dream employer is looking for.  The vast majority of employers (88%) are looking for a “cultural fit” over skills in their next hire as more and more companies focus on attrition rates. Lucky for you, I've hired for some of the world leading employers and I will share my data with you. (think General Electric, Nike, American Express)

 

The top personality traits employers are looking for in job candidates in 2013. 

Professionalism (86%), high-energy (78%) and confidence (61%) are the top three traits employers say they are looking for in new hires.  These first-impression traits are the most critical for employers to prepare for as they all can be evaluated by a recruiter or hiring manager within the first 30 seconds of meeting a candidate.

“As a hiring manager I can read you the moment you walk in the door,” from the clothes you wear to the way you stand to the grip of your first hand-shake, presenting yourself as a confident, energetic professional is about as basic as career advice gets. But don’t be off-put by this commonplace advice.  Confidence ranks highest on the list of skills companies think employees are missing most.

“The most successful applicant is the one who walks into every interview with her hand outstretched for a handshake, has done her homework on the interviewer and company and is dressed to fit effortlessly into the culture of the workplace.

The remaining personality traits that are critical in the hiring process aren’t ones that can be read on-sight but instead call for both resume and interview preparation. To present yourself as a self-monitoring (58%) personality type,  remember to adjust your resume language to call attention to work experience where you’ve worked independently or excelled without the guidance of direct leadership. “In interviews, chose anecdotes that show how you’ve saved, made or achieved in previous positions… and how self-motivation was critical to that success.”

Intellectual curiosity (57%) is, fittingly, a curious and I generally advise you to tightly edit the “hobbies and interests” sections of your resumes.   Employers are looking for two things,  “The ability to problem solve and the ongoing dedication to learning new technologies or solutions that will continue to advance in the changing workplace.” Employers are asking themselves whether new hires will be with the company for the long term.   An employee who will grudgingly adopt a new database is not as attractive as one who is truly passionate about learning new things.