By Clive M. Siachiyako
In addition to relevant skills, the job market seeks employees who have personal values, characteristics, and personality traits that spell success. Good personal values are what make the foundation for a good professional. Below are the top ten qualities employers look for:
In addition to relevant skills, the job market seeks employees who have personal values, characteristics, and personality traits that spell success. Good personal values are what make the foundation for a good professional. Below are the top ten qualities employers look for:
1. Strong Work Ethic:
The labour market values employees who understand and possess a willingness to work hard. In addition to working hard it is also important to work smart. This means learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments.
It’s also important to care about your job and complete all projects while maintaining a positive attitude. Doing more than is expected on the job is a good way to show management that you utilize good time management skills and don’t waste valuable company time attending to personal issues not related to the job. Downsizing in today’s job market is quite common so it’s important to recognise the personal values and attributes employers want to improve your chances of job security (and career development) should a layoff occur.
2. Dependability and Responsibility:
The labour market values employees, who come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior. It’s important to keep supervisors abreast of changes in your schedule or if you are going to be late for any reason. This also means keeping your supervisor informed on where you are on all projects you have been assigned. Being dependable and responsible as employees shows your employer that you value your job and that you are responsible in keeping up with projects and keeping them informed of the things that they should know about.
3. Possessing a Positive Attitude:
Employers seek employees who take the initiative and have the motivation to get the job done in a reasonable period of time. A positive attitude gets the work done and motivates other to do the same without dwelling on the challenges that inevitably come up in any job. It is the enthusiastic employee who creates an environment of good will and who provides a positive role model for others that also makes the job more pleasant and fun to go to each day.
It’s also important to care about your job and complete all projects while maintaining a positive attitude. Doing more than is expected on the job is a good way to show management that you utilize good time management skills and don’t waste valuable company time attending to personal issues not related to the job. Downsizing in today’s job market is quite common so it’s important to recognise the personal values and attributes employers want to improve your chances of job security (and career development) should a layoff occur.
2. Dependability and Responsibility:
The labour market values employees, who come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior. It’s important to keep supervisors abreast of changes in your schedule or if you are going to be late for any reason. This also means keeping your supervisor informed on where you are on all projects you have been assigned. Being dependable and responsible as employees shows your employer that you value your job and that you are responsible in keeping up with projects and keeping them informed of the things that they should know about.
3. Possessing a Positive Attitude:
Employers seek employees who take the initiative and have the motivation to get the job done in a reasonable period of time. A positive attitude gets the work done and motivates other to do the same without dwelling on the challenges that inevitably come up in any job. It is the enthusiastic employee who creates an environment of good will and who provides a positive role model for others that also makes the job more pleasant and fun to go to each day.
4. Adaptability:
The job market seeks employees who are adaptable and maintain flexibility in completing tasks in an ever changing workplace. Being open to change and improvements provides an opportunity to compete work assignments in a more efficient manner while offering additional benefits to the corporation, the customer and even the employee. While oftentimes employees complain that changes in the workplace do not make sense or makes their work harder, oftentimes these complaints are due to a lack of flexibility.
Adaptability also means adapting to the personality and work habits of co-workers and supervisors. Each person possesses their own set or strengths and adapting personal behaviors to accommodate others is part of what it takes to work effectively as a team. By viewing change as an opportunity to complete work assignments in a more efficient manner, adapting to change can be a positive experience. New strategies, ideas, priorities and work habits can foster a belief among workers that management and staff are both committed to making the workplace a better place to work.
5. Honesty and Integrity:
Employers value employees who maintain a sense of honesty and integrity above all else. Good relationships are built on trust. Successful businesses work to gain the trust of customers and maintain the attitude that “the customer is always right”. It is the responsibility of each person to use their own individual sense of moral and ethical behavior when working with and serving others within the scope of their job.
6. Self – Motivated:
Employers look for employees who require little supervision and direction to get the work done in a timely and professional manner. Supervisors who hire self-motivated employees do themselves an immense favour. Once a self-motivated employee understands their responsibility on the job, they will do it without any prodding from others. Employers can do their part by offering a safe, supportive, work environment that offers employees an opportunity to learn and grow and that will provide them a better sense of accomplishment and increased self-esteem.
The job market seeks employees who are adaptable and maintain flexibility in completing tasks in an ever changing workplace. Being open to change and improvements provides an opportunity to compete work assignments in a more efficient manner while offering additional benefits to the corporation, the customer and even the employee. While oftentimes employees complain that changes in the workplace do not make sense or makes their work harder, oftentimes these complaints are due to a lack of flexibility.
Adaptability also means adapting to the personality and work habits of co-workers and supervisors. Each person possesses their own set or strengths and adapting personal behaviors to accommodate others is part of what it takes to work effectively as a team. By viewing change as an opportunity to complete work assignments in a more efficient manner, adapting to change can be a positive experience. New strategies, ideas, priorities and work habits can foster a belief among workers that management and staff are both committed to making the workplace a better place to work.
5. Honesty and Integrity:
Employers value employees who maintain a sense of honesty and integrity above all else. Good relationships are built on trust. Successful businesses work to gain the trust of customers and maintain the attitude that “the customer is always right”. It is the responsibility of each person to use their own individual sense of moral and ethical behavior when working with and serving others within the scope of their job.
6. Self – Motivated:
Employers look for employees who require little supervision and direction to get the work done in a timely and professional manner. Supervisors who hire self-motivated employees do themselves an immense favour. Once a self-motivated employee understands their responsibility on the job, they will do it without any prodding from others. Employers can do their part by offering a safe, supportive, work environment that offers employees an opportunity to learn and grow and that will provide them a better sense of accomplishment and increased self-esteem.
7. Motivated to Grow & Learn:
In an ever-changing workplace, employers seek employees who are interested in keeping up with new developments and knowledge in the field. It has been noted that one of the top reasons employees leave their employers is the lack of opportunity for career development within the organisation. Learning new skills, techniques, methods, and/or theories through professional development helps keep the organisation at the top of its field and makes the employee’s job more interesting and exciting. Keeping up with current changes in the field is vital for success and increased job security.
8. Strong Self – Confidence:
Self-confidence has been recognised as the key ingredient between someone who is successful and someone who is not. A self-confident person is someone who inspires others. A self-confident person is not afraid to ask questions on topics where they feel they need more knowledge. They feel little need to have to impress others with what they know since they feel comfortable with themselves and don’t feel they need to know everything.
The self-confident person does what they feel is right and is willing to take risks. Self- confident people can also admit their mistakes. They recognize their strengths as well as their weaknesses and are willing to work on the latter. Self-confident people have faith in themselves and their abilities which is manifested in their positive attitude and outlook on life.
9. Professionalism:
Employers value employees who exhibit professional behaviour at all times. Professional behaviour includes learning every aspect of a job and doing it to the best of one’s ability. Professionals look, speak, and dress accordingly to maintain an image of someone who takes pride in their behaviour and appearance.
Professionals complete projects as soon as possible and avoid letting uncompleted projects pile-up. Professionals complete high quality work and are detail oriented. Professional behaviour includes all of the behavior above in addition to providing a positive role model for others. Professionals are enthusiastic about their work and optimistic about the organization and its future. To become a professional you must feel like a professional and following these tips is a great start to getting to where you want to go.
10. Loyalty:
The job market values employees who are trusted and exhibit their loyalty to the company. Loyalty in the workforce has taken on a new meaning. Gone are the days when employees plan on starting out and retiring with the same company.
The job market values employees who are trusted and exhibit their loyalty to the company. Loyalty in the workforce has taken on a new meaning. Gone are the days when employees plan on starting out and retiring with the same company.
More companies today encourage employee feedback and offer employees an opportunity to lead in their area of expertise. This gives employees a greater sense of satisfaction and a sense of control over their job. Empowerment encourages employees to do their best work since companies are displaying a trust and expectation that they believe in their employees to do a good job.
Aligning an employee’s values with the goals of the organisation will foster loyalty and a bond between employer and employee. Fostering good relationships within an organisation and offering constructive ways to handle conflict provides a win – win situation for both employer and employee.
Creating an organisation that values loyalty within the organisation can also work to its benefit by using the same techniques and strategies to establish loyalty with customers; and loyalty from customers ultimately makes for a successful business.
Therefore, as a career seeker, shape your destine according to the labour market needs. Align your personality with values and qualities that benchmark you as the class A employee the job market is looking for. As you plan and pursue your career, be a trail blazer in your specialty, make the impact and grab what the labour market has for you. Extract from the 2011 Career Expo for Zimbabwe. Courtesy of Penny Loretto
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