What qualities do businesses look for during the recruitment process?

Although every job is different, there are, of course, a few basic elements that every organisation looks for during the recruitment process.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top five qualities businesses look for within every candidate.

A willingness to learn

No matter what kind of job you’re searching for, you will need to learn at least a few elements of your job role.

Whether this is new processes, technology, or systems, it is often the case that new employees will be taken through an onboarding process during their first days.

Showing a willingness to learn, and some element of adaptability is a great sign for any employer.

Communication skills

No matter what kind of job you’re applying for, the ability to efficiently and professionally communicate with colleagues is an integral element of any job role.

This includes verbal and written communication, alongside the ability to listen, follow directions, and provide feedback.

The ability to show good communication skills starts right at the beginning of the application process and follows through during the interviews and thereafter.

Ambition

A person with ambition is always someone that an interviewer will take interest in. From being able to show your passion for the industry or role at hand, through to a genuine level of inquisitiveness, a genuine level of curiosity is always appreciated.

You can provide evidence of ambition by preparing for the interview by showing an understanding of the company, its history, and how it operates.

This kind of information can be learnt from its website and social media accounts, such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Honesty

It goes without saying that honesty is integral during any application process.

From the moment you apply to the second you leave the interview room, ensure to be as transparent and as honest as possible.

If for any reason there happens to be a mistake on your CV (such as an incorrect year, for example), be honest about it and don’t try to cover up any mistakes.

Remember also that it is now common for employers to search through people’s social media accounts, so ensure that you have the appropriate privacy settings activated during the application process – no prospective employer wants to see pictures of candidates on their nights out.

Confidence

A good level of inner confidence is always pleasing to see within a candidate, as it also helps interviewers feel relaxed during the actual interview.

It’s important to remember, however, that like many things, too much confidence can be a bad thing – so finding a good level is important.

A person that is able to show an attractive level of confidence to an interviewer tends to indicate that they will gel well within a team.

On the other hand, candidates that are insecure may lead an interviewer to believe that they may need micromanaging, which can take valuable time and resources from managers and the company overall.

You can show confidence by being self-assured in your opinions and statements, and stick by assertions you feel confident about, even if you are asked to explain why.

Posted on Mar 12, 2020

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