Qualities recruiters seek in job candidates

You might be entering the workforce for the first time, or you're interested in changing jobs or careers. Whatever your current employment status, you want your next job interview to be memorable — in a good way.

You can make a positive impression by knowing the qualities recruiters seek in job candidates. The following article explains how to showcase your soft skills to a recruiter and land the job you want.

Communication and interpersonal skills

A top quality that recruiters like to see is how well you communicate and interact with others. Your ability to communicate means you can help:

• Improve teamwork and collaboration
• Bring together diverse groups
• Build a positive work culture

Here are ways to prove your communication skills:

• Ask insightful questions about the job, company, and your role
• Actively listen to what the recruiter says
• Show your interest through body language and eye contact
• Don't interrupt while the recruiter is speaking

Adaptability

Companies these days must be flexible to remain competitive. This is why adaptability is something that recruiters value. Being adaptable means you are a pro at handling change. It also means you're willing to face different challenges and improve your skills.

Here's how to prove your flexibility during an interview:

• Demonstrate your love of learning and self-improvement
• Show your enthusiasm in dealing with change
• Highlight how you handled an unexpected event with success

Self-motivation

Recruiters want to know if you can handle a task without constant hand-holding. Self-motivation means your job commitment and decision-making skills can help improve productivity. This allows a company to reach its goals.

You can prove self-motivation to a recruiter by:

• Researching the company in depth before your job interview
• Asking specific questions based on your research
• Discussing situations in which your self-motivation achieved specific goals

Teamwork

Recruiters look for individuals who embrace teamwork for many reasons, including:

• Greater collaboration
• Effective problem-solving
• Increased innovation
• Improved morale

You can show you're a team player by demonstrating enthusiasm and willingness to collaborate. You can also:

• Share examples of your collaborative skills
• Discuss how you interact with others successfully
• Highlight moments when your teamwork has led to achievements

Problem-solving skills

Employees who can pinpoint, evaluate, and solve problems are highly valued by companies. Showing problem-solving skills to a recruiter demonstrates you can help a company overcome roadblocks and reach objectives.

When showcasing problem-solving abilities:

• Detail past situations and explain how you overcome those challenges
• Outline how you analyze the big picture, identify the causes, and determine solutions
• Tailor responses to match the job and corporate culture