What Employers are Looking For

By Elliott Cirkovic

Having worked in agency recruitment where I guided many candidates through the recruitment process, and now working in an internal position I have a keen insight to both what employers look for and some tips on how to put your best foot forward.

One of the key traits I believe employers look for, is confidence. Yes, I know, very cliché! 

The word confidence means different things to different people, to me it’s someone who has a strong understanding of what their strengths are and what value they can provide, as well as knowing what they need to work on, both personally and professionally. 

Throughout the recruitment process and within your industry, there are many opportunities to show that confidence, such as:

· Researching a company prior to your interview to be seen as knowledgeable and prepared;

· Having questions ready to ask a potential employer;

· Having the correct attire for the position you want;

· Reading through your CV to make sure it’s tailored to the job you’re interviewing for;

· Networking in your industry to be seen as an industry expert;

· Following through on what you say; and

· Constantly trying to upskill yourself, both professionally and personally.

I think one of the main mistakes people make is to be unprepared, or think that they’ve already got a job they’re interviewing for. There is a fine line between arrogance and confidence and sometimes, you won’t know until you ask for some constructive feedback.  

Another big factor that employers look at when hiring people is what value the candidate can provide, and this will change depending on why the employer is hiring. Some of the reason’s employers hire can be:

· For a particular project;

· Certain skill set (i.e. someone with business development ability);

· Someone has resigned; or

· The company is growing and need more resources.

If you can find out why the company is hiring, this will help you tailor your approach. To find out, all you need to do is simply ask. Ask the recruiter who is representing you to the company or the internal recruiter that has engaged you. If there isn’t a recruiter involved, ask the hiring manager directly. 

Understanding why a company is hiring can guide your preparation such as what questions you’re going to ask (i.e. if it’s for a particular skill set, such as Business Development, you can ask how they are currently winning work & you can provide examples of your BD process). 

Key Tips 

· Be prepared

- Whether it be for an interview, networking event or business meeting

· Follow through with what you say

- People remember action, not your words. Be honest and set realistic deadlines

· Be confident in your ability

- As I mentioned before, know what you're good at, lean into your strengths and work on your weaknesses

· Be a sponge for information, you’d be surprised who you can learn things from

- You can learn from anyone, be open and kind to people 

· Constantly learn about your industry and upskill yourself

- Need to do a Microsoft Office course? 

- Learn how to network efficiently?

- Learn how to create realistic agendas and get the best out of meetings?

- Learn how to touch type?

- Read the Financial Review every morning (or just the paper)?

- Learn how to utilize LinkedIn as a tool?

Hopefully this has provided you some insight into what employers look for when they are hiring and how you can set yourself apart from other candidates.