Career Resources

Career Resources

The 5 Cs of Getting Hired: Personality Traits That Will Get You the Job

Posted November 18, 2013 & filed under Interviewing, Job Search, Resume

The 5 Cs of Getting Hired: Personality Traits That Will Get You the Job

Hard skills will only get you so far in the job search. While your qualifications often take the forefront in the mind of hiring managers, your soft skills, more commonly referred to as personality traits, are often what will set you apart from the masses. When it comes to what hiring managers want to see in candidates, just remember the five Cs. Demonstrating these personality traits will get you hired in no time.

Confidence

Be careful not to overdo this personality trait. Hiring managers want to see that you are confident in your abilities but taking it too far pushes you into the realm of arrogance. It is perfectly fine for you to know your worth and wear it as a badge of honor so long as you do not flaunt it or hold yourself too far above others.

During the interview, you can exhibit confidence by staring with a firm handshake after you walk through the door. From there, maintain an upright (but not uptight) posture. Don’t slump, and maintain eye contact while speaking. Avoid sounding unsure of yourself as you answer. Just remember that pausing to think is not a bad thing so if you need a moment to plan your response to a question, take it.

Compatibility

How well do you work with others? More importantly, how well will you mesh with the team that is already in place at the company? There is no set way to guess what the culture is like at the company (in fact, this is one of the questions that you should pose to hiring managers during the interview). Instead, you should make a conscientious effort to appear open, adaptable, and easy to get along with. Hiring managers will have a much easier time offering you the job if you put to rest any fears they might have of how well you will fit in with the company culture.

Capability

This personality trait is a pre-requisite to all others. It is absolutely vital that you prove to hiring managers that you are capable of handling the responsibilities that come with the job. This starts with your resume. Remember, hiring managers tend to quickly glance over resumes for keywords that pertain to their industry or the position being offered. Make sure that your skills are front and center by placing them at the top of your resume. Tell the hiring manager what you can do for the company before you even delve into your work history.

Creativity

One of the most crucial personality traits that will get you hired is creativity. Most people that apply for the job have the necessary skills, but the people that actually get the job are those who demonstrate that they have something unique to offer the company.

Think about what sets you apart from everyone else and highlight it both on your resume and during the interview. Make sure you research and learn the company goals so can demonstrate how you will help them get there. Leave no doubt in the hiring manager’s mind that you are the best person for the job.

Charisma

Finally, adding an undertone of charisma to your personality will go long way. Maintaining a friendly, personable demeanor during the interview is a sure way to get you remembered when it is time to decide who gets the job. Just be polite, friendly, and confident in yourself and you should have no problem impressing any hiring manager.

By Kevin Withers

Image courtesy of Leo Reynolds via Flickr