In a hot talent market, employers and HR teams are in a never-ending pursuit of the best employees around. They take significant steps by conducting in-depth interviews and talent tests to ensure they attract the right candidate.
In Singapore, fresh graduates take the initiative by applying to comprehensive training programs. One example is the SkillsFuture Series certification that allows participants to hone their skills and take advantage of employment opportunities.
While testing skills and expertise are a critical part of the hiring process, employers should also recognize the top qualities of an admirable employee. A good employee isn’t just someone who fits like a globe but also challenges the company’s bottom line for the better. With that in mind, here are the key qualities employers look for in a good employee.
Passionate
Passionate employees tend to be the most engaged employees. Having a passion for your job makes a big difference in employees, particularly showing company commitment and producing quality work. Although you can get your work done without passion, the difference lies in the staffs’ long-term performance. Dispassionate employees will eventually show signs of decreased productivity and lack of motivation.
There are plenty of ways to spot passionate employees in the workplace. These include three core aspects: the never-ending pursuit of knowledge from challenges, the ability to establish trust-based relationships, and a long-term commitment to goals.
Honest and reliable
Being transparent and direct in your office relationships plays a critical role in fostering an open office culture. It also goes hand in hand with reliability, accountability, and integrity in terms of getting the job done with accuracy and minimal supervision.
Employees who speak frankly and bring facts to the table are essential assets for the organization. Among the reasons is that people who interact with these employees feel more valued, equal, and heard.
By hiring people they trust, companies can focus on important areas of the business. Being honest also means having integrity about your performance, preferences, and capabilities. For example, workers with a high level of integrity are those you can easily rely on to accomplish a project within the given deadline.
Transparency plays a critical role in both the culture and success of the company. If employers are clear about their expectations, people can easily form group strategies to lead the success within the department.
Leadership potential
A person with leadership qualities doesn’t always mean they’re more likely to be a manager or an executive in the future. Although many employees aspire to reach higher positions, having leadership potential means being able to inspire others to do better.
In modern businesses, leadership means a person’s ability to motivate and bring out positivity to keep everyone in their game. It’s also about having the initiative to demonstrate how things should work or how they can be improved.
True leadership occurs on different levels and isn’t only limited to “being the boss.” It’s a combination of having ambition, confidence, initiative, and the desire to innovate constantly. Now and then, companies need someone who can go above and beyond their current role. These types of employees are very dependable in terms of project planning and team management and are willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the job.
Punctual
With so many pressures and distractions around, it’s sometimes difficult to put all our focus on the job at hand. But little delays at work have significant implications on your performance, including your team and the company. Being punctual isn’t just about coming to the office on time. It also means being proactive in submitting projects before the deadline and being consistent with how you start and end meetings.
Any boss loves someone who doesn’t have to be reminded to come on time and submit outputs on the dot. A punctual employee has an excellent grasp of self-management and doesn’t procrastinate but takes necessary breaks when needed.
Good communication skills
Like in any field, good communication skills are one of the top qualities employers look for in an ideal employee. During the hiring process, candidates who communicate effectively often set them apart from other candidates.
Communicating with managers, coworkers, customers, and vendors is a huge part of any job. Strong interpersonal skills guarantee these interactions are effective and positive. A good communicator should have the following traits: active listening, oral communication skills, writing skills, and presentation skills. Possessing all these qualities gives an employee a higher level of professionalism, an open-minded approach to work, and the ability to understand nonverbal communication.
When looking for ideal employees, remember that although knowledge and skills are assets, they can always be taught. It’s difficult to work with employees whose values aren’t the right fit for the company culture, so it’s important to emphasize personality. Good qualities always go a long way in driving your company towards success.
