8 Traits Interviewers Love to See in the Job Interview
Nervous about your next job interview?
Read this blog to learn how to use your traits to ace an interview
Interviews are nerve-wracking, especially if you have to use a second language. The more you prepare for them, the better off you will be, and one way to ace an interview is to match your skills and traits to your desired employment.
Though different jobs require different skills, this blog will offer you 8 traits interviewers love to see in the job interview. I will also offer you examples of how to use these traits in an actual interview to make yourself seem like the perfect candidate.
Flexibility
Flexibility is one of the most sought-after traits in the business world. Some jobs may require you to work different hours, change tasks quickly, and be ready to help out in any way you can.
One good example of a job that requires flexibility is a teacher or a doctor. Teachers need to make interesting lessons that accommodate all their students and their different learning styles, while doctors need to pay careful attention to the needs of their patients, some of which might be emergencies.
How to demonstrate flexibility in the interview.
You can talk about a time when you helped a coworker despite being busy yourself or talk about a past experience where you had to try multiple techniques in order to find the best solution. Maybe you had to market a project, teach a class, or even write interesting content. Flexibility can go hand in hand with creativity and persistence in that flexibility tests your ability to adapt and manage your workload.
Creativity
Creativity is an important skill to have because there are often multiple ways to tackle one problem. Being creative allows you to think outside the box and bring forth ideas other coworkers might not have thought about.
Obviously, certain jobs like content creator, artist, and marketer need creativity to function, but creativity can usually be drawn upon in almost any profession.
How to demonstrate creativity in the interview.
One of the best ways to show creativity is to talk about how you found a new way to solve a problem or made a positive impact in your company and/or the lives of your coworkers.
Another option is to show your employer a past project you worked on. This could be anything from efficiency plans to interesting content or management strategies. Creativity comes in many forms, and most good employees demonstrate creativity in their work.
Loyalty
If a company wants to hire you, they expect you to help the company succeed. In #16 Dress to Impress by Riide the Vibes podcast, my co-host Winnie talked about the importance of loyalty and how employers like to know your long-term plans. If you are going to leave in six months to start your own business, you might lack the loyalty and stability that they desire in a prospective employee.
How to demonstrate loyalty in the interview
This isn’t something you can just whip up in a quick verbal response. If your CV has past jobs where you stayed long term, and if you have good recommendations from past employers, you will likely pass the loyalty test.
It’s important to express your desire to work with a company long term. Of course, that isn’t always possible. Working in Asia, I have had a lot of one-year contracts, so saying you plan to stay for at least a year, and possibly longer, might be enough in some cases. That said, no employer wants to hear that you will be looking for another job as soon as you start.
Be a Good Communicator
Even though communication is more digital than ever, the need for good communicators hasn’t changed: If anything, it is now more dynamic than ever before. You need to be able to write professional emails, use messaging apps, talk in person, and you may even need to use video calls.
How to show that you are a good communicator in the interview
It’s almost impossible to fake being a good communicator, but remembering body language, eye contact, and preparing well for the interview will give you a push in the right direction.
It also helps to have some knowledge of technology and messaging apps and programs. Familiarize yourself with modern technology and apps like Skype, Slack, and Google Hangouts, etc.
Honesty
It goes without saying that honesty is important. No company wants to hire an employee who will cause drama, lie, or steal from the company. Honesty is about being a productive employee, communicating well, and finding a way to mitigate the bad parts of the job instead of inflating them. An employee who says they are excited about the job then slacks off all day isn’t honest.
How to demonstrate honesty in the interview
You should answer questions honestly (of course without highlighting your negative sides too much). However, this is your one and only chance to enquire about the job before saying yes or no to it.
Ask your employer questions about the job. Make sure the job is a good fit for you. Employers should be able to answer any questions and concerns you have, and getting them out into the open is better than taking a job that you may not want to actually take on.
Confidence
Why does confidence matter? First, confidence is hard to fake. Second, confident employees tend to work hard and take risks. Obviously, risks are not always the best option, but confidence can allow you to be more creative, more independent, and allow you to work better in groups. Just note that confidence and arrogance are two totally different things, and nobody likes arrogance.
How can you demonstrate confidence in the interview?
One good way to display confidence is through body language. Sit up straight, keep your arms and legs open, and maintain good eye contact. If you prepared well, you might even give the interviewer ideas on how you will handle this position and improve things. This will show the employer that you are confident and ready to take on the job.
Goal Oriented
Most jobs will require employees to set goals. Maybe you want to attract more customers or improve stress management, etc. Good goals should be difficult but attainable.
Goals make our jobs more tangible and approachable If you are goal driven, you might be able to attack weaknesses in your company or even yourself and create organized methods to succeed.
How can you show that you are goal-driven in the interview?
There are many ways to show that you are goal driven. In some cases, your accomplishments will speak for themselves. However, you can give your boss examples of goals you set and reached in past jobs or even tell them about your goals outside of work.
Most employers would rather hear that you use your free time to pursue a hobby or better yourself rather than just getting drunk at the local pub every night. Don’t be afraid to reach outside of the workplace to make yourself seem goal-oriented
Resilience
Lastly, I want to talk about resilience, arguably the most important trait to possess. Resilience means that you can handle and survive difficult tasks and hard times. Maybe you cope with stress well, don’t give up at the first challenge that arises, or you don’t get lazy and do the bare minimum.
Resilient employees find ways to succeed, to be motivators, and to get the job done, even when things get tough. It doesn’t mean you can’t have a bad day or never miss a deadline, but through thick and thin, you push on.
How can you show resilience in the interview?
Again, this is something that will probably show on your resume. If you have long-term working experience, good recommendations from previous bosses, and remain productive and healthy outside of work, you are likely resilient. Let your resume and lifestyle shine.
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Of course, there are tons of other traits employers love to see, and you can use those as well. I chose these 8 traits interviewers love to see in the job interview because they fit almost any job or industry. Be sure to think of what traits you have and how they might match job descriptions and interview questions and you will crush that next job interview!
Want more job tips after reading 8 traits interviewers love to see in the job interview? Read our other blog on how to work from home successfully.
Photos
Interview-conversation-sitting by Tumisu
Planning-plan-adjusting-aspirations by inactive account
Career-hiring-job-search-boss by mohamed_hassan