Today, the world is becoming very competitive. In a recent article that
appeared in the STAR on Sunday, 11th November with a headline of
Need For A Truer Test – Instead of hiring graduates based on their degrees –
which puts pressure on a few to fake one – companies should devise better ways
to gauge if they can do the job.
When we read the article we could not agree more. Today there are just
so many graduates around! We always tell this in our talks. Throw a stone into
the crowd and if it hits somebody, ask that person whether or not they have a
degree. Chances are they will answer yes! That is how tough the competition is
today.
But from what we gather from people in the industry and employers the
main challenge is not finding a candidate with the academic qualification, the
bigger question is whether or not that person can actually do the job. The
following is a list of 18 traits that employers are looking for in a candidate.
Go through them and see how you rate yourself.
The best way to do this is ask yourself, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1
being the worst and 10 the best, how do you rate for each of the 18 traits. J
1. Ability to Communicate
·
To have the ability to organize your thoughts and ideas effectively.
·
To express them clearly when speaking or writing.
·
To present your ideas in a persuasive way.
·
Even the Batman can have problems communicating. J Check out this funny video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xef7lHlkUI
2. Intelligence
·
To have the ability to understand assignments.
·
To be able to learn details of operations.
·
To be able to contribute ideas to your work.
3. Self-Confidence
·
To demonstrate a sense of maturity that enables you to deal positively
and effectively with situations and people.
4. Willing to accept responsibility
·
To have someone who recognizes what needs to be done and is willing to
do it.
5. Initiative
·
To have the ability to identify the purpose for work and to take action.
6. Leadership
·
To guide and direct others obtain the recognized objectives.
7. Energy Level
·
To demonstrate forcefulness and the capacity to make things move ahead.
·
To maintain your work effort at an above-average rate.
8. Imagination
·
Confront and deal with problems that may not have standard solutions.
9. Flexibility
·
Be capable of change and being receptive to new situations and ideas.
10. Interpersonal Skills
·
Be able to bring out the best efforts of individuals so they become
effective, enthusiastic members of a team
11. Self-knowledge
·
Realistically assess your own capabilities.
·
See yourself as others see you.
·
Clearly recognize your strengths and weaknesses.
12. Ability to handle conflict
·
Successfully contend with stress situations and antagonism.
13. Competitiveness
·
To have the capacity to compete with others.
·
Be willing to be measured by your performance in relation to that of
others.
14. Goal Achievement
·
To have the ability to identify and work toward specific goals.
·
Will such goals challenge your abilities?
15. Vocational Skills
·
Do you possess the positive combination of education and skills required
for the position you are seeking.
16. Direction
·
Have you defined your basic personal needs?
·
What type of position will satisfy your knowledge, skills and goals?
17. Common Sense
·
Ability to see the big picture.
·
Ability to see what is missing.
·
Finish what you start.
·
Willingness to help.
·
Being nice to everybody inside & outside the organization.
18. Team B.U.L.A.T.
·
Are you a team player or a destroyer?
·
If you are a team player, you need to be B.U.L.A.T.
§ B ~ Boleh Buat
§ U ~ Boleh Ubah
§ L ~ Boleh Lari
§ A ~ Boleh Ajar, Diajar dan Mengajar
§ T ~ Boleh Tahan
How do you rate yourself? In short what you need to do is add value to
yourself. The more value you add to yourself the more valuable you become.
Eventually you want to become an asset and not a liability.
