Landing a career today isn’t just about qualifications; it’s about showing you have the character that makes you the ideal fit for the role.
We often hear familiar advice, especially from our parents, about the importance of earning a degree to secure a good job. While a degree does hold weight, employers value credentials, and what truly makes an employee stand out is a unique set of character traits that drive job performance. Beyond education, employers look for candidates who bring essential character traits and attributes to the table, which help them succeed and grow in the workplace. Knowing these qualities and learning how to cultivate them can make you a stronger candidate for new opportunities and career growth. So, what are these qualities that employers value most?
Why Your Personality Matters to Employers
“Employers want to know that you are qualified for a position, but they also want to see that you will fit in with the company culture. The only way to assess this is to get a sense of your personality,” said Susan Peppercorn, a career strategist and executive coach.
In other words, companies are looking for more than just the right skills on paper — they want someone who will contribute positively to their work environment. While technical abilities are essential, many employers believe that a person’s character traits and "soft skills" make them truly successful in a role. These traits show how you work with others, handle challenges, and stay motivated.
Reliability, curiosity, adaptability, and a positive attitude make a big difference. If two candidates have similar qualifications, the one with strong communication skills, flexibility, and a team-oriented mindset is often the better fit. Employers need people who don’t just perform tasks but add to the team’s overall dynamic and success.
That’s why showcasing your personality and character traits is so important. It helps employers see how you’ll handle real-life situations, work under pressure, and contribute to the company’s goals and values. So, as you prepare for interviews or update your resume, remember that showing these personal qualities can help set you apart.
You can’t show off your soft skills if you don’t land the interview first, and you’ll need a top-notch resume. For expert tips on improving your resume, listen to our podcast “Resume Do's And Don'ts.”
7 Essential Character Traits That Employers Look For — And How To Build Them
1. Flexibility
Employers today, especially in smaller businesses, seek people who can adapt and go beyond their primary role. Flexibility shows that you’re willing to do what’s needed to support the team and take on challenges outside your official job description.
Ron Selewach, CEO of HRMC, Inc., describes this as thriving in chaos. Companies value people who can pivot as needed, whether due to shifting priorities or unexpected tasks. This trait shows you can handle change, which is essential in fast-paced environments.
How to build flexibility: Practice adaptability by being open to new assignments, learning different processes, or helping colleagues in other departments. Show a willingness to step out of your usual role when needed, and you’ll prove to employers that you’re a versatile asset.
2. Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinkers are essential to business success because they bring long-term vision. This means understanding goals and creating a clear path to achieve them. Employers look for people who can identify needs, analyze situations, and propose solutions.
Eileen Sharaga, a psychologist and career coach, emphasizes the importance of communicating these strategies effectively to get others on board. Persuasive communication is key in the workplace, especially in diverse teams where different perspectives must come together.
How to develop strategic thinking: Start by analyzing problems in your current role and brainstorming solutions. Set clear goals for projects and consider the steps needed to accomplish them. Practicing this in your work routine helps you build the strategic mindset employers seek.
3. Decisiveness
In any workplace, decisions need to be made quickly and efficiently. Employers value decisive employees who trust their judgment, make choices without constant supervision, and confidently own the results. This quality is particularly important for those aiming for leadership roles, where quick and confident decision-making is essential.
Selewach points out managers can’t be involved in every minor decision, so they seek candidates who can act independently.
How to cultivate decisiveness: Start by making smaller decisions on your own. Practice assessing situations, weighing options, and choosing the best path forward. Taking responsibility for your choices will make you more confident and help you develop critical leadership skills.
4. Curiosity
Employers want people who have a genuine thirst for learning. Curiosity shows you’re interested in growth and open to acquiring new skills, which is crucial as businesses evolve. In small companies especially, employees who seek to learn and adapt quickly are highly valued.
Showing curiosity about new skills and technologies can set you apart from those who limit themselves to one role.
How to build curiosity: Demonstrate your willingness to learn by taking on tasks outside your comfort zone or studying new trends in your field. Taking online courses, reading industry news, and asking thoughtful questions show you’re a curious, adaptable employee.
5. Independent Thinking
Employers need people who don’t just go along with everything but are willing to question ideas when they believe there’s a better way. Independent thinkers contribute fresh ideas and help improve company processes by not being afraid to offer alternative viewpoints.
Meg Sheetz, former president and COO of Medifast, values employees who will advocate for what they believe is best for the business, even if it challenges the current way of doing things.
How to show independent thinking: Practice respectfully voicing your opinions and backing them up with sound reasoning. Employers appreciate team members who think critically and bring fresh perspectives.
6. Teamwork
Teamwork is among the most valued traits because so much work happens collaboratively. Employers want to know you can work well with colleagues, clients, and outside contractors. Getting along with various personalities and work styles is a significant asset in any job.
As career strategist Susan Peppercorn notes, examples of successful teamwork are essential to highlight in job interviews.
How to strengthen teamwork skills: Focus on listening well, being supportive of others, and celebrating team successes. Reflect on your past team experiences and think about how you contributed. These examples show employers that you’re a collaborative and considerate team member.
7. Cultural Fit
Every company has its own culture based on core values and work style. Employers want to ensure that hiring people will naturally align with these values. Being a cultural fit means that your personality and values match the company’s way of working.
Max Yoder, CEO of Lessonly, describes his company’s culture as “work-hard, play-hard, humble, self-reflective, and collaborative.” Companies want employees who live these values every day.
How to show cultural fit: Research the company’s values and mission and consider how your values align. Reflect on how you work and communicate and think about ways to show that you would thrive in that specific environment.
How To Highlight Your Character Traits
Personality traits can be complex to convey on a résumé, so letting them shine in an interview is essential. Your interview is your opportunity to go beyond qualifications and bring your character to life through strategic storytelling. As Sheetz advises, “Sharing stories that demonstrate how you performed during an experience is extremely important to help get across your personality traits.” Think of examples that show your resilience, adaptability, or leadership — moments when you handled a challenge, took on responsibility, or made a difference.
Another way to make your personality traits stand out is to provide real-life examples of your skills. Instead of simply saying, “I’m a team player,” give specific instances where your teamwork made an impact. As career expert Rosemary Haefner, partner at RHHR Consulting Services, says, “Provide a concrete example of when you worked as part of a team to achieve a goal.” Maybe it was a complex project that required collaboration or a success that came from working closely with others. Real examples show the interviewer that you’re not just listing qualities but living them.
It’s also crucial to stay true to yourself. Yoder emphasizes, “If you’re a great fit, it will be apparent. If you’re not, it will also be apparent.” Interviews are two-sided; being genuine helps you and the employer assess if you’re a good match.
Finally, prepare examples that fit the company’s values and culture. Tailoring your stories to reflect the qualities valued in the role will make you memorable. If adaptability or creativity is key, choose a story that brings those traits forward. This way, your personality will not only shine but also align with what the company values most in its team members.
Essential Traits, Expert Tips, and Seamless Job Connections With Swob
The personality traits, or "soft skills," you highlight in an interview can be just as important to an interviewer as your "hard skills," or direct work experience. Swob is here to help you showcase those skills and get noticed. With expert career resources like resume tips, interview guides, and our podcast, you’ll gain insights into developing key traits employers value, from adaptability to teamwork. In today’s job market, having these standout qualities can set you apart, and Swob provides the tools to help you polish them.
But Swob isn’t just about resources — it’s also about simplifying your job search. Designed to make finding the right job as easy as swiping, Swob connects job seekers and employers seamlessly. As an award-winning platform recognized by Richard Branson, we’re dedicated to creating a better hiring experience for job seekers and employers. Are you ready to take the next step? Download Swob on the App Store or Google Play to build your career, one swipe at a time.
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