Top 10 Qualities Interviewers Want to See

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By Patty Inglish, MS



1) Appropriate Professional Appearance.

Job applicants arriving at job interviews are being critically observed from the time they enter the building, and sometimes in the parking lot beforehand. If the job candidate is at all sensitive to the expectations of corporate life, he or she will have dressed with appropriately and practiced good interview behaviors in front of a mirror. If an applicant arrives in golf or club clothing, then than reflects a lack of corporate role awareness and their place in the organization if they were to be hired. The appropriate appearance reflects the appropriate beliefs and attitudes for a good interview and good work in the future.

2) High Energy and Interest in Working.

Employers do not want to see Hyperactivity on the job, but they do want to see their employees behaving in a manner that projects enthusiasm and a drive to produce and succeed. They want employees that will be working with good energy all the time. They can observe such a quality of energy as the employee enters the room. High energy shows in your posture, your walk, and your eyes. If you have it, your job interviews will be more successful. If you have high energy at work, employers will think you are more likely to do a good job if they promote you or give you a raise, than workers who are less productive.


3) Good Work Ethic

To a slacker, all work is too hard. A person that has a good work ethic has learned it from somewhere such as from family and teachers. Employers look for these things in an potential employee:

  • Role models and mentors that believe in the importance of hard work
  • Work-related free-time activities
  • Willingness to take a second or even a third job
  • No concern with number of hours worked -- no clock watching
  • High career goals
  • Good follow through -- completes anything undertaken
  • Paid own way through college

4) Motivation From Good Role Models.

Anyone form any background can become a success. This usually takes place because the individual had good role models among adults in their life as they grew up. These could be parents, aunts and uncles, neighbors, teachers, pastors or rabbis, scout leaders, summer youth leaders, and a host of other people that influence children. It is important to have had role models growing up and it is important to find mentors on the job to serve as current role models.


5) Emotional Maturity.

An immature person uses two targeted qualities in order to manipulate and mislead others: 1) a sometimes-childlike charm and flattery, and 2) a talent for distracting attention from their own shortcomings by creating a disturbance or bullying others. Immature people are not good employees. Their goal is to satisfy only their own short-term gratification needs. In fact, they often feel that the employer is responsible for doing so. In fact, they may have this quality in such an extreme as to suffer from Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Others who are rather immature emotionally are less troublesome on the job and may have what is called a low EQ (Emotional Quotient); however, the EQ can be raised through instruction and training.

The strongest marker of maturity is the concern for the well-being among other human beings on a daily basis.

Emotional maturity is shown by:

  • Good Judgment.
  • Handled oneself well in business affairs - no get-rich-quick schemes.
  • Financial responsibility; does not overspend and create debt problems.
  • Relatively low number of past employers.
  • Has he pursued his career in a mature and adult manner? Has she job-hopped without realistic consideration for the future of either her employers or herself?

6) Performing Well is More Important Than the Paycheck.

Some people work only for the money and they usually don't do a very good job at the work, because they don't like it. Such a person has little inner motivation to do well at this job. They often develop a resentment of work, the boss, and the company. Consequently, they will hold back their best from the job, do little real work, and coast to retirement if they can.


7) Loyalty

Loyalty is supporting your company, boss, and coworkers verbally and with actions. It means that you share a common mission statement and work together in good faith.

8) Cooperation.

Compatible and similar individuals make the best work teams for maximized production and success. A job applicant that is self-absorbed, emotionally "touchy", or seems to have a chip n their shoulder during an interview is likely to be disruptive and demoralizing on the job. A cooperative, open-minded person that works hard is an ideal employee.

9) Follow Through.

This is shown in a goal-oriented individual with a history of completing their projects, both personal and professional.

10) Ability To Channel Anger.

The best job-seekers can manage hostilities smoothly. They do not criticize past employers during job interviews.


Comments

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Andy Xie profile image

Andy Xie  says:
3 months ago

I like the last one! Sometimes the interviewer will test if you're able to control your anger by doing something ... that should anger you. Good work ethic is really important. Occasionally you have to work past your usual hours and this can make you feel torn between pleasing your boss and pleasing your family. Either way you go it's difficult so I think that interviewers look for how you can accomplish a balance between work and personal life. I've worked at places where workaholics were just... really hated by everyone.

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
3 months ago

I never have thought much about an interviewer trying to provoke anger in an applicant, but I can look back and see perhaps where some have tired to do that in my interviews.

Work and family life can be difficutl to balance. And, I have worked two places in which if ou did a good job at all, the rest of the staff hated you, not to mention workaholism.

Thanks for the additions! Very helpful.

job interview tips  says:
2 months ago

Your post genuinely assisted me understand this topic. A lot of what I have read from other places makes it seem so tricky and hard to understand.

Thanks a lot!

deo08niltiburcio  says:
4 weeks ago

Good day! Ms. Patty, I appreciate that you posted this topic because this the one that i am looking for which I need on my degree paper/thesis. Would you mind if I ask you about the exact date you posted or published this topic, this is very helpful to the bibliography i am doing..

Pls answer, urgently.

Thank you very much

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
4 weeks ago

deo - June 17, 2007.

deo08niltiburcio  says:
4 weeks ago

Oh! thanks Ms. Patty for answering my question. It reallu halps a lot. Thank you!

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
4 weeks ago

I wish for you to have a good reaction to your paper.

Best regards.

greathub profile image

greathub  says:
9 days ago

can I interpret loyalty as working for a single company for years?

I mean is it OK to work for a company for years if the employee expects growth?

Patty Inglish, MS profile image

Patty Inglish, MS  says:
9 days ago

Loyalty is 1) long-term employment, 2) sticking up for your team of co-wrokers at work, 3) doing your best work for your boss, 4) helping the company, boss & coworkers get back on track if they make mistakes - especially in audits; etc.

However, many workforce professionals advise that if you have not received a promotion in 3-4 years, look for work with another company.

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