Although it would make sense that the skills and qualifications you hold along with your knowledge and experience of the industry would play a vital part in the success of your career – there are also certain personal attributes which do to.
When writing a CV you can actually implement some of these personal attributes below, demonstrate them in the interview, and continue that on into your job once hired. These are the 5 personal attributes an employer wants to see.
Confidence
Having confidence in your own abilities and the people you work with is crucial to the success of the business. It won’t matter how many skills you profess to have on your CV if you are unable to confidently follow through on your promises and achieve great results.
Confidence doesn’t of course guarantee success, but it certainly has to be present to achieve it. Mistakes are often made if the employee is lacking in confidence, so your CV has to provide that through your achievements and results. When it comes to the interview, confidence is your number one priority, because if you are too nervous and afraid to speak highly of yourself, then the employer will move on to someone that can.
But this just isn’t about your own confidence levels but also the confidence and trust you place in your co-workers. This would be essential if you are in a leadership role, but still vital at any level. The more confidence and energy you place in others, the more likely you are to build up a good rapport and improve your team working skills.
If you feel that you are lacking in confidence and it’s affecting your chances of being hired, here are 10 things you haven’t tried to boost your confidence at work.
Positivity
Following on from confidence we have – positivity. These go hand in hand, and link nicely together to create a great atmosphere in the workplace. Negativity spreads and infects everyone around you, including the customers. It doesn’t help at all and can cause mistakes to be made and provide an unpleasant working environment. Positivity however has the opposite effect, and can improve working conditions and provide a better service to customers.
A positive CV has plenty of achievements and performance indicators, indirectly demonstrating your positive attitude to your career. Outstanding results can only be achieved through positivity and confidence, which the employer will be well aware of.
During the interview you should sound enthusiastic and upbeat about the role and the company. You need to ooze positivity so the employer can see that this is your natural demeanour. Interviews can be nerve racking experiences, so be careful not to let the pressure of the situation suppress your usual upbeat nature.
To help improve upon your positive attitude whilst at work, here’s – How to Be More Positive at Work in 7 Simple Steps.
Forward thinking
Being pro-active and forward thinking is an asset to any business. If you are constantly on your toes looking to help others, improve the processes, and make every day a success – you are the perfect hire.
Your CV should contain examples of your forward thinking, hard working and pro-active nature. Provide examples of your ideas and how they helped the company to succeed. These examples can also be expanded upon during the interview when you can go into more detail about a particular project or idea. Make it clear that you are the type of person who doesn’t like to settle for second best and wants to continue to grow and develop new skills.
For more information on how to be pro-active at work and why it’s important for your career, please read – How being proactive at work can help your career.
Cool, calm and collected
An employee who can work well under pressure is far more likely to solve a problem and come out the other end unscathed. There will always be a scenario when your resolve is put to the test and a customer or co-worker is depending on your cool, calm and collected nature to save the day. Does this sound like you?
If it does, then great! You just need to make sure the employer knows it too. Your CV can provide problem solving examples and times when you weren’t afraid to help out in a crisis. ‘Team work’ will also play an essential role when writing your CV to prove that you are willing and able to work with others to ensure success.
If you want further help on how to remain calm at work and deal with stressful situations better, here’s a great article – Coping With Stress at Work.
Flexibility
A flexible worker is one that embraces change and moves forward with the company. Having an easy going nature and being able to adapt at will and remain flexible is a great personal trait to have for an employer. It ensures everything goes as smooth as possible – from small to large changes.
This doesn’t mean to say you should avoid any kind of routine or structure to your day, but it does mean you are the type of person who is happy to take on more responsibility, help out other departments, and to expand your role to meet the needs of the business or the customer.
When applying for a job your CV can demonstrate how flexible you are through your work history section. Show how each of your roles expanded through promotions, more responsibility, training and support of other employees, and so on. You may be asked in the interview how you feel about a particular aspect of the role, and this is where you need to remain open and positive about any changes.
Throughout the whole application process you need to show the employer that you are someone who is willing to roll with the punches and see the bigger picture. Although your own daily schedule is important, those around you also need help. A company can only succeed if you’re willing to make sacrifices from time to time and to share the company’s vision.
For a detailed guide on how to be more flexible at work, please read – How to be flexible in the workplace.