6 Key Qualities Recruiters Look for in Candidates

Ever wondered what makes a recruiter's eyes light up when they scan your resume? Or what makes them go, "Now, that's someone I want to meet!"? 

Recruiters are the shoppers looking for the freshest produce – the best fit for their company. So, what makes you shine like a disko ball that catches their eye?

Recruiters aren't just after a fancy degree. They're digging deeper, looking for those standout qualities that'll make you a shiny star in their team. Think adaptability, problem-solving prowess, and a communication game that's on point. But that's not all! There are six essential qualities that recruiters are eager to spot.

So, buckle up because we're about to dive into what makes you a top-shelf candidate. 

Are you the secret ingredient their company has been missing?

Let's find out!

What Recruiters Look for in a Candidate?

Let's learn about the top qualities that recruiters want at all costs, which they can't compromise on. 

1. Passion

One of the most important qualities that a recruiter finds in a candidate is the passion for the work. Recruiters want to hire employees that are passionate about the work they do, the company they work for, and the product or service they are fighting for.

All of the employee qualities are certainly important, but not as important as being passionate about the work. Passion is the one trait that makes the most difference in employee output and their commitment towards your company. While a dispassionate employee may do their work for a while and get the job done, if they lack passion for the work, then they’re missing the key ingredient for sustained, long-term performance in the organisation.

According to a survey from Deloitte, passion is made up of the following characteristics:

• A long-term commitment towards a specific domain or field that is goal-oriented and unruffled by short-term turbulence.

• A questioning disposition where they are always seeking knowledge and skills from new challenges.

• A connecting disposition, meaning a tendency to form strong, trust-based, long-term relationships.

A passionate employee is more likely to attract customers and do that job better, so if you are passionate about the job you are applying for, the recruiter can sense it.

Here are some questions interviewers ask to find out if you are passionate about the job:

1. How would you stay up to date in your field?

2. What’s the one big question you try to solve regularly?

3. How would you connect with other professionals in your industry?

4. What makes you excited about this role?

5. What is the satisfying thing about this job?

6. How do you define success?

7. Why do you want to work for us?

8. What separates our product/service from others you’ve seen?

2. High EQ

Another factor that affects you mean hired by a company is your EQ level. Companies want to hire employees that have high EQ or high emotional quotient. Candidates with low EQ tend to damage the work environment as they demotivate themselves as well as the other employees and then the management has to spend a lot of time rectifying this by converting the negative work environment to a positive and zealous environment.

Here are the three simple attributes that allow Emotionally Intelligent people to rise above and capture the attention of both current and prospective employers:

Motivation to Improve in All Areas

Some employees take an active interest in continuous improvement to stay on top of their craft, but hard skills will only take them so far. People with high emotional intelligence strive hard to continue learning in all areas including their soft skills in communications, leadership, problem-solving, and time management. Utilising strengths in both skills and balancing them is what will take projects and initiatives to the finish line.

Ability to Energise and Influence Others

Team Leadership quality is very similar to Emotional Intelligence because it is the candidates’ ability to persuade and motivate themselves and others. This ability to influence others can be applied to every area from the success of a project to the positive affect of company culture.

Ability to Handle Leadership Challenges

The element of team leadership above must also include the ability to handle leadership challenges that occur in the organisation. Whether it is a challenge that necessitates conflict resolution or quick problem solving, one of the attributes of high EQ individuals is essential: remaining calm under pressure. This attribute is essential to employers looking for an individual who can keep a team on track despite the obstacles and deliver great results!

3. Commitment

Every company wants to hire a candidate who is committed to the work as committed employees tend to yield greater results. Also, a company does not want to be always engrossed in the hiring process and keep looking for new people and then investing time in training them to align them with the company culture and work environment.

Committed employees stay with the company for a long period and fit perfectly well with the company culture and work environment.

Why is work commitment important?

There are several reasons why commitment is important in the workplace. One of the most important reasons is that it allows an organisation to meet its goals and stick to its vision and mission. Without a motivated workforce, an organisation may lose all that they have earned over the years, be it respect or their market position and brand value.

Commitment at work leads to better productivity and therefore better profits. Imagine having employees who are not committed to what they do in an organisation, Such employees tend to use their time at work surfing the internet for personal pleasure or even looking for other job opportunities. This is an ultimate waste of time and resources.

4. Communication

Communication is of utmost importance in any job place and a candidate with good communication skills is more likely to be hired by the recruiters.

The candidate should be smart and know their way around all types of verbal and nonverbal communication mediums like social media emails, telephonic communication, face-to-face conversations, and others. This quality helps to build good business relations and deal with other functions in an organisation. Even if a candidate gets rejected in the interview, good communication can help them stay connected with the employer for any opportunities in the future.

5.  Track Record

Candidates often think that their years of experience are the only thing that matters but they must also remember that having a good track record along with experience is what matters.

Having a good track record where a candidate has outperformed the job and has positive reviews from previous employers always boosts the chances of a candidate being hired for good job positions in the best companies.

So a candidate must always highlight the work they did in previous companies, what obstacles defaced and what decisions they took to overcome that and all their achievements. This shows the candidates' capabilities and their credibility.

6. Teamwork

A company is not run by a single person and teamwork is essential for all from a Startup to multinational corporations. No employer likes to hire a candidate who does not do well in working in a team and gets more efficient and faster results. The candidate should be a team player and bring positivity to the work environment.

If you are actively seeking a job or already have a job but may look for a better job position in the future these are some of the qualities that you must develop to be recruited to your desired job position in a well-reputed company.

Teamwork is a key quality in any candidate for the following reasons:

Learning Increases

An individual learns more about working in a group than when it is done alone. When an employee interacts with the team, the probability of learning increases. There’s a constant flow of creative ideas, which shapes the new recruit’s thinking creatively, i.e., out-of-the-box thinking. It will also make you a more accountable person as he/she will feel responsible for the team while making work deliveries.

Being a team player increases the new employee’s work ethic and also enhances their knowledge about the company’s culture. This will help the employee to settle better in the organisation.

Collaboration Results In Success

Each and every employee should focus on their individual performance; however, if the team doesn’t succeed, the individual’s hard work is of no use.

Once a candidate knows how to work with a team, they know how to collaborate and calibrate with them. This helps them to sync up well with the team and lend a helping hand when required. 

Increases Transparency

When you recruit candidates who believe in teamwork, there’s very little or no chance of miscommunication between the employees. Transparency increases, and employees trust each other, which is very important in a team.

The Bottom Line

So, you learn the secret of what recruiters are looking for in you. 

Remember, it’s not just about having hard skills or experience; it’s about the whole package. Not just one or two things. 

So, you need to show that you're a team player, a problem-solver, and someone who's always eager to learn and grow. By demonstrating these qualities, you’ll significantly increase your chances of landing that job.

Remember, the job market is competitive, but with the right mindset and approach, you can stand out from the crowd. 

So, go out there and showcase your unique blend of skills, experience, and personality. 

Good luck!