Five personal attributes valued by employers

Five personal attributes valued by employers by Amber Rolfe Struggling to stand out? It might be time to take it personally…Although it can seem like work experience, knowledge, and qualifications are the only factors a prospective employer is interested in â€" your personality also plays a big part in your suitability. And even if you match the job specifications perfectly, not drawing attention to your essential attributes could be holding you back.To make sure you’re highlighting your attributes as well as your skills, here are five personal attributes most valued by employers:  Confidence Having the right skills and experience for a role is essential â€" but it isn’t always enough.Employers also want someone who can prove their abilities, know their worth, and actually follow through with their claims. After all, if you’re not sure of yourself, how can they be sure of you?So when it comes to an interview, always exert confidence in your expertise â€" whether it’s by providing unique examples to prove your skills, maintaining eye contact and a firm handshake, or putting your abilities into practice in roleplays or tests.And remember: it’s not just about what you say, it’s also about how you say it.So prepare your answers in advance, and think before you speak. After all, nothing says uncertainty like repetitive ‘umming’ and ‘ahhing’.  ProactivityDo you wait to be told what to do, or do you lead by example?If you veer towards the latter, you’re probably the proactive worker that most employers are looking for. After all, they don’t always have the time to monitor their employees 24/7, so a team of quick thinkers with a high level of initiative is key to a smooth-running workplace.Luckily, there are a few ways to demonstrate proactivity in an interview.Firstly, talk about previous instances that prove you can use your initiative to get things done â€" whether it’s taking the lead on a project, noticing a mistake and fixing it, or prioritising tasks effectively.Secondly â€" show an active interest in the role.Asking about the kind of work you’ll be doing and referring back to the job description wherever possible is a great way to demonstrate proactivity. It’ll also show you’ve thoroughly prepared, and are passionate about what the job involves.  Resilience No matter what the job is, roadblocks will always come up.This means that employers need someone who’s able to deal with them in an optimistic, non-defeatist manner. Not only should they be able to solve problems, they should also be able to learn and grow from failure.Without employees like this, a business will undoubtedly crumble at the first sign of trouble.So how can you demonstrate resilience to an employer? Aside from talking about any hurdles you’ve overcome in the past, it’s also key to draw attention to your determination and dedication to doing well.After all, if you’re passionate about your goals, you’re more likely to do what it takes to get there.  Adaptability Cha nge is a natural part of business.Not only will employers be looking for someone who’s open to that, they’ll also want someone who can be flexible and adaptable in their work.Whether this means you help out in different departments (for example, in retail), prioritise your workloads according to the most up and coming projects, or take on extra duties â€" adaptability is vital in almost every workplace.This doesn’t mean you have to be totally against routine and familiarity. It just means you need to show you’re open to new things and willing to expand on your knowledge.  Positivity Let’s face it, your attitude matters.Even if you’re fully qualified for a job, a negative approach to work can put you at the bottom of the candidate list. Not only will you come across unenthusiastic, you could also imply that you’d rather focus on the bad than the good.And even if you don’t think you’re being negative â€" anything from the way you talk about previous mistakes or probl ems to how you answer competency questions can imply a pessimistic attitude.So be careful with your wording, and make sure you focus on the positives in every situation â€" even if the outcome wasn’t easy to obtain.  Honourable mentions: Accountability, Ambition, Empathy, Reliability, Creativity, Decisiveness  Need more CV advice?It takes an employer just seven seconds to save or reject a job applicant’s CV. This means creating a succinct CV is absolutely vital if you want to land that all-important interview. To find out how to make your CV stand out from the crowd, buy James Reed’s new book: The 7 Second CV: How to Land the Interview. Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the How to start looking for work