Hiring for personality traits – What to look for in candidates? 

Best personality traits universally

1. A team player 

Very few jobs require that a person works solely alone – most occupations require collaboration with others. Employees who manage to get along and work effectively with different personalities are valued by employers as (among most things) this raises efficiency to businesses. During the selection phase, a recruiter should pay attention to words such as “collaborated”, “worked in a team”,”contributed”. During the interview, one should pay attention to whether the candidates seem receptive to the received feedback. 

2. Positive attitude

There is nothing worse than a constant complainer for the work environment – people affect each other. If one is continuously and expressively negative, they bring the mood down, and the workdays can feel as if they are dragging. Consequently, it is no surprise that to some employers, a candidate with a positive attitude is the number one personality trait they watch for. That being said, it does not mean that candidates need to be highly upbeat to be considered positive. Those who show enthusiasm present the type of mindset that could approach the job with a positive attitude.

3. An independent thinker

Those who do not always agree with what the CEO says are valuable, as they think independently and bring perspectives. Employees who never express if they disagree and go along with everything their employers say typically hold back on changing the status quo and so forth. Employers appreciate those candidates and current employees who may not necessarily agree with the senior decision-making but still find a way to collaborate in a unified approach. 
 

4. Adaptable

As the world rapidly changes, so do work tasks. Employees who are resistant to changes stagnate the inevitable shifts and their development. It is particularly true for times such as the pandemic outbreak where businesses and employees needed to adapt to the shifting needs. Those employees who take on new challenges, who are willing to learn new skills or re-train, are the ones to enhance one’s business.

5. A good communicator

As a way to collaborate in teams, express ideas and tasks clearly in both verbal and written form, good communication skills are key. Moreover, being a good communicator is not only about being the active and well-articulated part-taker but also being able to be on the receiving end. One also needs to listen carefully and follow directions, as conversations are a two-way activity. During the interview, recruiters should look for those candidates who demonstrate an open and engaging communication style, including asking questions and accepting feedback. Those candidates showcase strong emotional intelligence  – a transferable skill that is highly beneficial for a thriving work environment.