What Qualities are Employers Looking For?

If you project many of these attributes, you enhance your chances dramatically! Take a good look at yourself. What are you projecting? Which of these qualities are most important for the position you are after? How can you best project that you possess these qualities? How can you prepare yourself? It's not just how you answer specific interview questions; it's about attitude, body language, ways of communicating, thoughtfulness, planning, preparation. Think it all through, in advance. Get your support folks to help you.

• Ability to Communicate - how you talk; are you tactful and diplomatic; do you present arguments convincingly; do you field questions well; do you gain acceptance of your ideas; do your communications flow logically, are they concise; do you talk at the right level for your audience, do you emphasize key points in your written communications; can you talk comfortably to people at different levels.

• Intelligence - do you probe for information; do you have a thirst for new facts; are you able to distinguish between fact and opinion; do you learn quickly; can you master complex and diverse information; can you draw unusual connections from information and ideas; do you adapt in light of new evidence.

• Self-Confidence - do you have a realistic view of your strengths and weaknesses; do you believe in the likelihood of your own success; do you command attention and respect; do you project a positive image; do you seek advice when appropriate.

• Willingness to Accept Responsibility - do you set high standards for personal performance; do you strive to do things better; do you have a sense of urgency to meet targets.

• Initiative - do you explore possibilities and exploit them; do you start actions to achieve results; do you get around obstacles; do you take calculated risks.

• Leadership - do you inspire loyalty; do you serve as a role model for others; do you enjoy being in charge; do you energize others; do you guide your group to achieve tasks.

• Energy Level - do you work late to complete critical projects; do you persist to achieve goals; do you make a special effort when the going gets rough; do you maintain high performance under pressure.

• Imagination - do you quickly get to the heart of a problem; do you generate practical solutions; do you draw unusual connections from information and ideas.

• Flexibility - do you show sensitivity toward the corporate culture; do you believe in your power to change events and do you act on it; do you adapt your views in the light of new evidence; do you maintain a perspective between the overall picture and the details.

• Interpersonal Skills - do you speak with a minimum of jargon; do you develop useful networks; do you behave in a way that makes others trust you; do you respect the rights of privacy and confidentiality; are you tactful; do you act in a friendly and approachable manner.

• Self-Knowledge - do you know where you are going; do you take responsibility for your own development.

• Ability to Handle Conflict - do you address problems constructively without placing blame; do you treat others with respect, do you show sensitivity to the feelings and needs of others; do you listen actively and carefully; do you use confrontation constructively.

• Goal Achievement - do you have the reputation for getting things done; do you set goals for yourself; do you persist in achieving your goals; do you maintain high performance over prolonged periods.

• Competitiveness - do you set high standards for yourself; do you strive to improve things, to be better as an individual, as a group, as a department.

• Optimism - do you believe in the likelihood of your own success; do you take steps to get around obstacles; do you show a willingness to challenge the status quo.

• Ability to Work in Teams - do you build consensus; do you encourage participation and interaction; do you help others when requested; do you pitch in.