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5 Traits That Interviewers Look For and Why

Now that I've managed employees in addition to spending my career helping companies find the best job seekers on the market, I have noticed there are very concrete traits that all employers and interviewers look for when weeding through job applicants.

These are not just sales or marketing related. Instead, they apply regardless of industry or level of position. While most job seekers know many of these, they don't quite have a grasp as to why the interviewer, manager and organization desperately want them.

Luckily, it's not all too complex: understand what the other side of the table wants and then utilize that knowledge during the interview.

1. Autonomy - Every candidate says they are autonomous, but most have never managed people. Thus they gravely underestimate the importance of being an employee who can work alone.

Tell the interviewer that you respect your manager's time and while you want to learn, you'll also be able to do some of that learning without step by step guidance. Typically, in any organization, the most autonomous get ahead because they are less of a time vacuum to the executives.

2. The Desire to Better Themselves - Telling an interviewer that you are reliable simply tells the interview the same thing that the other 5 people did: you'll show up to work. Stand out by telling them that you have a desire to better yourself and not just be there, but be a part of the team by constantly increasing your capabilities.

3. Dedication to the Company - Many employees look at the company they work for as a paycheck. That's fine, but it's the employees who think of their company as a home who are the most cherished. A big fear of companies is that their employees are going to leave for a competitor, thus giving away confidential information, etc.

Be a cheerleader and, in a less direct manner, convey this to the interviewer. You'll be relieving a big hesitation that employers sometimes have with applicants. Continued

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