What we look for in a candidate
When recruiters look at job applications and review interviews, there’s a lot that they need to consider before deciding who is the best candidate for the job. It isn’t only about whether you have the necessary qualifications and experience (or ‘hard skills’ that can be measured and quantified). It’s also about soft skills such as communication and the approach to work that complement these hard skills.
In our pursuit to find out what our recruiters look for in a candidate, we reached out to them and asked them for their insight. Here are some of the qualities that they look out for in our candidates:
High level of customer service
This comprises a set of behavioural skills that you rely on when interacting with a customer. You’d need good communication skills, empathy, patience, and technical knowledge.
Excellent communication skills
There is a wide variety of skills that fall under this category. You’d need to be a good listener, convey your message through appropriate body language (eye contact, gestures, tone of voice), be clear and concise, approach every situation with friendliness and confidence, be open-minded and respectful, as well as being good with feedback (both given and received).
Stable work history
Your work history says more about you than just what you’ve accomplished. It also shows that you’ve consistently worked in settings where the skills needed for the job have been curated. If you have gaps in your work history, make sure to substantiate them with reasons.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
A fast-paced workplace isn’t for everyone. You need to be highly organized to be able to keep track of everything that’s happening, be able to embrace the unknown, and have a strong sense of motivation.
High level of integrity
Having integrity in the workplace means a lot of things. It includes being reliable, trustworthy, practise open communication, acting respectfully and with patience, and having a strong work ethic. It also means that you need to be able to make sound decisions in highly stressful situations and always provide high-quality service.
Target/goal driven, determined individuals
A goal-oriented individual is someone who plans their steps when determining how they will reach each goal which requires incredible organizational skills including good time management, decision-. Positivity and self-awareness are driving factors to accomplish these goals as they help you to focus on solutions and to seek improvement.
Sales background
If you’re going to be working in the field of recruitment, you should be able to sell. Whether it’s selling your own company’s services or selling the type of person you’re able to provide for companies that are looking to fill a position, selling experience is essential. You can gain this experience through various jobs where you interact with customers and it also helps you to develop various soft skills such as listening, negotiation, and problem-solving.
Multi-taskers
Multi-tasking refers to being able to manage multiple responsibilities at once by concentrating on one task while still keeping track of others. You would need to have the ability to switch between different tasks while effectively performing all of them.
It may seem like big shoes to fill, but once these qualities have become a habit (which only happens through practise), it’s easy as pie and the rewards are just as sweet.
