What Are Employers Looking For?

By: Gregg Turner, M.S.

Whether our economy is vibrant or not, employers will always have expectations when hiring new workers. After all, the recruitment, selection, training and retention of employees leads to an important investment for every firm - large or small!

One of the first things an employer evaluates is the appearance of a candidate. Are they professionally dressed? Do they present an image that the company wants to project to its customers? Also, was their behavior and attitude during the interview courteous, respectful, mature and confident? Does the person before them convey a sense of pride and an ability to do the job?

Inevitably, employers want to know about the communication abilities of a job applicant. Strong verbal and written communication skills can often make the difference in securing a position. An employer wants to be sure that a newcomer can interact effectively with others, work well in a team environment and manage all customer contacts effectively.

Another important determining factor is dependability. Will the applicant work regularly and report for work on time? Can they complete their work in a timely and accurate manner with minimal supervision or is it evident they will have to be micromanaged? Equally important is whether or not an applicant is able to accept responsibility by recognizing what has to be done and be willing to do it. In short, can the individual being interviewed be counted upon to do the job? Can he or she be accountable for their actions and be willing to take the initiative required?

Not to be overlooked are the skills of an applicant. Employers may question whether the individual is sufficient. In today’s economy, employers seek an applicant that is willing to learn new skills and that can be cross-trained in multiple areas.

Many employers expect job candidates to talk about their self-knowledge. Can they realistically assess their own abilities? Can they see themselves as others see them? And most importantly, can they clearly recognize their own strengths and weaknesses?

When selecting the one best candidate for a job, employers often ask themselves two important questions. First, can this person really help our firm to actually grow and perhaps prosper? And second, can this individual really benefit the organization; if so, how?

Many employers today want candidates that can both meet and exceed job expectations. Often additional education can make all the difference.

About the author: Gregg Turner, a former business owner and author of twelve books, is a faculty member within the Business Department of Southwest Florida College. He can be reached at gturner@swfc.edu.