You don’t need a flawless CV or decades of experience to stand out anymore. In today’s job market, employers are placing just as much value on the person as they are on the CV. Knowing what employers look for in a candidate can help you focus on the things that really matter.
It’s not just about ticking criteria boxes, it’s about whether you’re the right fit for the company, and vice versa. That’s not to say skills and experience don’t matter. They absolutely do. Writing your CV using our CV guide will help it stand out.
But more often than not, the final hiring decision comes down to something much simpler:
Can this person be trusted to show up, get stuck in, and work well with others?
These kinds of qualities might not always be easy to list on a CV, but they come through in how you present yourself, how you talk about past experiences, and how you interact during the hiring process.
Here are a few qualities that really stand out. Click on each title to see what you need to consider.
Reliability and trust
Are you someone they can depend on, day in and day out?
Work ethic
Do you take pride in your work? Do you try your best?
Problem Solving
Can you think on your feet and find a way forward when things don’t go to plan? Are you resilient?
Approachable personality
Will you bring the right energy to the team, communicate well and get on with others?
We’ve seen it’s these soft skills (the human side of work) that really set candidates apart. Remember that every impression counts.
In fact, we recently asked four local employers what they look for most in a new hire. Their answers? Trust, reliability, punctuality, assertiveness, problem solving and personality.
🎥 You can watch the short video here:
So if you’re job hunting right now, focus on showing who you are, not just what you’ve done (though of course, experience still matters).
Set yourself apart from other experienced candidates, because in the end, it’s not about being the “perfect” candidate. It’s about being the right one.
Looking for your next role? Check out our latest vacancies on our jobs page, or get in touch with the team.
Thank you for reading this blog post.
Until next time,
