12 Qualities Employers Look for When They're Hiring

The funny thing about the recruiting process is that if you read job ads, you'd think that
employers are strictly looking for people with very specific types of experience. That's all you
can see in a job ad -- long lists of bullet points with Essential Requirements like years of
experience with certain tools, and obscure industry certifications!
Once you get to a job interview, though, the whole picture changes. Employers are looking for
qualities in their new hires that are never listed in the job ad. They want to meet people who are
self-directed and responsible. You will bring out those qualities through your answers to the job-
interview questions and also through the questions you ask your interview.
The stories you tell on a job interview will bring out your sterling qualities, too. You don't have to
talk about your best traits. They will shine through if you let them!
Here are 12 qualities employers look for in their new hires:
Employers want to hire people who...

1. Understand their own path

You have a path that you've followed since you were born. Can you tell your story in such a way
that you make it clear how you've followed an interest or passion of yours to get to the place you
stand in right now? Can you talk about your path going forward?
2. Know what they want in their career
Employers look for 'self-directed' new hires, and here's what that means. They want people who
know what they want and are willing to work for it. I met a new grad who told me "I'm interested
in starting my own company some day but I expect that to happen some years from now. In the
meantime, I want to learn all I can about how a business works. Can I say on a job interview
that I hope to be an entrepreneur one day?"
"Yes, you can!" I said. "The right managers will appreciate that about you. You have a better
reason to pay close attention to whatever business you're working in than a person who has no
goals and took the job just to get a paycheck. Great managers want to hire people with goals,
like you."
3. Can point to successes at work or elsewhere
When someone asks you "Can you tell me a story about a time when you felt triumphant?" what
stories from your past spring to mind? You've got to be able to talk about your successes. You
don't have to have competed in the Olympics or climbed Mt. Everest. You can tell simple stories
about saving the day at work or in a volunteer situation or even at home.
4. Know their strengths
Employers are looking for people who know what they're good at. Instead of saying "I'm really
good at Excel," you can say "I love Excel -- and I love to teach other people the finer points of
using Excel, like creating nested reports and macros."
5. Think Independently
There are certainly managers who don't want to hire independent thinkers, but you don't have to
waste working for someone like that! Strong managers want to hire people who have their own
ideas. In every job interview, take the opportunity to share an opinion, rather than a cookie-
cutter, standard answer to your interview question. Managers need smart people around to
brainstorm with -- so why shouldn't that smart person be you?
6. Like to problem-solve
You've solved big problems in your life -- everyone has. They say that before a child goes to
kindergarten he or she has already conducted 50,000 physics experiments (often using water,
mud and dog food as materials). Tell a story about a problem you solved. Maybe you found a
better way to organize something or you improved on a process that didn't make sense. In the
best job interviews, your manager will see your brain working and you'll see his or her brain
working, too!
7. Have ambition
Having ambition means you have the goal of getting smarter and stronger throughout your life. It
could mean moving up the corporate ladder, starting your own business or going off the grid to
something completely new. Good employers look for people with ambition.
8. Are proactive
Proactive employees don't wait to be told what to do. They jump into action when they see a
way to help. Managers want to hire people who are proactive. One way to illustrate this quality
is to ask questions about the work you'll be performing in the job (most job applicants, sadly,
don't do this). Ask questions that show you've been thinking about the job description -- your
new manager will appreciate it!
9. Are happy to learn new things
Most of us have worked with someone who hates to be bothered to learn new things. Whenever
there is something new to learn, that person says "Oh no, not something new! I hate having to
change the way I do things." Managers want to hire people who like to learn. If you read in your
spare time or follow courses online, say so!
10. Are goal-oriented
If you like to set goals and hit them, make that clear in your job interview. Talk about how you
set a goal to start your own blog and accumulate 100 readers - and how you hit the goal! Talk
about how goals have been important in your life so far.
11. Work well on a team
Nearly every manager will tell you that teamwork is a critical attribute for anybody on his or her
team. Be ready to answer the question "Tell me about how you function on a team" with a
colorful story about a situation that required teamwork, and in which your team came through!
12. Are responsible
Lastly, employers want to hire people who take responsibility for themselves and the situations
they're in. Talk about the responsibilities you've taken on in your working life and outside. If you
were a river-rafting guide in the summers during your college years, say so!
There's a lot of responsibility in a job like that, including responsibility for people's lives! The
same is true if you were a nanny. Watching infants and young children is a high-responsibility
job. Don't ever be embarrassed or shy about sharing your 'non-business' experience.
Sometimes those experiences show our character most of all!
The Importance of Logical Thinking in the Workplace
What is logical thinking and why is it important to employers? The word "logic" comes from the
Greek word meaning "reason." Employers place a high value on workers who display strong
logical thinking or reasoning skills because their decision making is based on factual data. In
most cases, organizations don’t want employees making decisions influenced by emotions
instead of facts.

What Is Logical Thinking?

 Logical thinkers observe and analyze phenomena, reactions, and feedback and then
draw conclusions based on that input. They can justify their strategies, actions, and
decisions based on the facts they gather.
 Logical thinkers don't go with their gut or develop a strategy because it "feels right."
Logical thinking also requires setting aside assumptions and biases.
Example: A sales representative modifies a presentation about a product to highlight its user-
friendly qualities after receiving feedback from customers indicating that ease of use was the
primary reason that they had purchased the product.

Deductive Reasoning
Logical thinkers can also reason deductively. They can identify an acceptable premise and
apply it to situations that they encounter on the job.
Example: An organization may work with a core belief that employees are more productive if
they have control over the ways they carry out their responsibilities. A manager could
demonstrate logical thinking using deductive reasoning by meeting with subordinates,
communicating department goals, and structuring a brainstorming session for staff to decide
methods for reaching those objectives.

Examples of Logical Thinking

The following are some examples of logical thinking in the workplace. Take a look at this list,
and think about situations at work where you have used logic and facts — rather than feelings
— to work toward a solution or set a course of action.
Conducting market research tests to gauge consumer reaction to a new product prior to
devising an advertising strategy.
o Developing a recruiting profile for new sales representatives based on an assessment of
the qualities of the company's most productive sales representatives.
o Recommending a strategy for quitting smoking after reviewing the latest studies on
smoking cessation.
o Analyzing reviews by restaurant customers prior to structuring training protocols.
o Surveying employees about their preferences for employee benefits before finalizing
contracts with vendors.
 o Soliciting feedback from users about their experience with software prior to creating the
next generation.
o Deciding whom to designate as team leader after comparing the past evidence of
leadership behaviors by prospective candidates.
o Interviewing departing employees to uncover patterns of unwanted turnover.
o Reaching out to colleagues at other organizations to discover high-impact practices prior
to finalizing strategy for the next cycle.
o Creating campaign slogans based on an assessment of hot-button issues for potential
voters.
o A contractor recommending extra insulation, high-efficiency heating, cooling equipment
and appliances, and a passive solar design to a customer who wants the most energy-
efficient home possible.
o Logical thinking helps all employees process facts and implement reasonable solutions
rather than act on their emotions. A strategy set based on logic is also more compelling
to other employees than a feeling-based strategy.

How to Demonstrate Logical Thinking as a Candidate

During job interviews, you likely won't hear an interview question that directly mentions logical
thinking. That is, interviewers won't say, "Tell me an example of a time you used logic at work."
Instead, an interviewer may say, "Tell me about the steps you took to determine the next steps
in that project you mentioned." Or, they may ask, "How would you respond if a newly launched
product received negative feedback?"
In your answers to questions like this, you want to outline the steps you'd take for the given
scenario. Walk through the process you'd use to arrive at a decision — or share an example of
how you set a strategy in the past. You can talk about what questions you asked, data you
pulled, or research you analyzed to come to conclusions. This will help show your logical
thinking skills.
You can also emphasize logical thinking abilities in your resume or cover letter. Again, you'll just
want to outline your process. For instance, instead of simply saying, "Created a new training
program," you could add more details. For instance: "Solicited and analyzed customer
feedback, then created a new employee training program to address areas of weakness and
standardize employee performance."
As a reminder, employers seek candidates with a track record of logical thinking because it
ensures a smooth decision-making process.

References:
Liz Ryan. (2016). 12 Qualities Employers Look For When They're Hiring.

Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizryan/2016/03/02/12-qualities-employers-look-for-when-theyre-hiring/?

sh=4b5fac632c24

Alison Doyle. (2019). The Importance of Logical Thinking in the Workplace.

Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/logical-thinking-definition-with-examples-2059690