Positive personality traits every recruiter has on their wish list
Letting your positive personality traits shine in an interview can help you make a fantastic first impression on employers during the holiday hiring season.
Back to TopLots of employers hire around the holidays, and each of them is looking for something special. Now is the time to show them that you are that special something by showcasing your positive personality traits and making a great impression.
Why first impressions matter so deeply
First impressions matter. Some research suggests initial judgments can be made in just 1/10 of a second¹.Therefore, it follows that placing your positive personality traits at the forefront of your job search is essential.
First impressions can even dictate how people speak about you after an interaction. "72% of your customers are likely to spread the word to six or more people."2 If word-of-mouth matters to you (and it should), being at your best is important.
Furthermore, there's a phenomenon known as the halo effect that can produce even more significant results. What's it all about? "The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which people see one good trait in another person and then make additional positive judgments about the person as a result."2 Basically, if you do well once, you have the potential to keep achieving!
Types of positive personality traits
There are several buckets of personality traits to draw from, including interpersonal (being kind, leadership, consideration, empathy and reliability), intellectual (intelligence, innovation, thoughtfulness, conscientious and effective) and emotional (resilience, bravery, calmness, optimism and humorous).4
The truth is, you need a mix to succeed in the workplace and in life, but whichever ones are most authentic to you are the ones you might want to consider pushing, as long as they align with the company you want to work for.
How to choose what personality traits to pull forward
As we hinted at above, to do well in an interview and ultimately a role, you must highlight areas you believe you excel at that would also benefit a potential employer's business. Try to tie your positive personality traits to specific requests in job descriptions or those that support the company's mission or vision.
Above all, pick traits you can back up with real examples. Anyone can claim to be a certain way, but few can prove it.
How to make the best impression and champion your chosen personality traits
We have put together ten quick tips to assist you!
- Be an intentional speaker (slow and clear speech)2
- Consider your body language2
- Be courteous (polite, respectful, kind and considerate)2
- Don't interrupt2
- Be an active listener2
- Maintain eye contact2
- Practice, practice, practice2
- Learn about your interviewer (if you can) and come up with smart questions.3
- Be confident.3
- Wear the right clothes for the occasion, professional and neat.3
And while doing those things, always be honest. That's vital.
How to prove your winning personality is real
We have repeatedly emphasized the value of authenticity. Here's how you can provide proof of it to employers.
Give real examples: Talk about how your chosen traits have manifested within the workplace.
Have references: Be ready with a list of people who can support your claims about your personality traits in case of a call.
Let your "soft skills" lead the way: Position your positive personality traits as soft skills or aspects of soft skills. We previously wrote about different skills our Divisions prize including:5
- Competitiveness
- Resourcefulness
- Personal initiative
- Interpersonal communication skills
- Leadership skills
- Independent judgment
- Passion
- Attention to detail
- Adaptability
- People person
As you can see, there's a lot of overlap in certain areas. These skills/personality traits are in demand, and if you promote your winning traits well, they can help your career.
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Are you ready to wow a potential employer with your positive personality traits? Awesome! You can start by applying for one of our open roles.
Sources and inspiration
