An ideal employee, what does it mean? Character traits that employers value the most.

Every employer makes sure to have qualified employees in their team. When looking for suitable candidates, however, they pay attention not only to experience and competence, but also to character traits. They are the ones who can ultimately decide about employment.

Positive qualities can already be mentioned in your CV, but it is worth finding out in advance which ones are currently most desired by employers and what they actually mean, because already during the recruitment meeting, the employer or recruiter may try to verify their authenticity.

So what features should you emphasize in your documents when applying for a job? The following list of characteristics of an ideal employee will help you with this.

What distinguishes an ideal employee?

These are primarily:

Commitment and Positive Attitude

Every employer values an employee who is fully committed to what they do. When going to a job interview, show that you are a committed person by creating a professional CV and preparing for the interview (the article on the most frequently asked questions at a job interview: 5 questions that are likely to be asked during a job interview will help you with this)

Good organization of working time

It became particularly important – crucial not only for employers, but also for employees – when multitasking, which is required so often, appeared on the labor market. People who can prioritize and plan tasks so that their completion does not cause them problems and does not take too much time are the most desirable candidates.

Willingness to learn

In order to be able to follow new technologies and increasingly different work models, continuous development has become a necessity these days, which is why the willingness to learn is a dominant feature in the current job market. Once you’ve mastered a skill, don’t rest on your laurels – take the next steps to get better at what you do.

Initiative and independence

By taking the initiative and showing independence in action, you show that you can think outside the box. This is a very important feature of a good employee.

Honesty

It is evidenced, among other things, by keeping one’s word, fulfilling one’s obligations, as well as not acting to the detriment of the employer.

Loyalty

Every employer expects loyalty from their employees. A loyal employee is the calling card of the entire organization. He speaks well of employees and management and represents the company with dignity to the outside.

Flexibility

Continuous progress, the new technologies and improvements mentioned above are accompanied by many changes, which is why employees who can adapt to them are valued.

Assertiveness

That is, the ability to express one’s own opinion without hurting the interlocutor’s feelings, which helps to build honest relationships with co-workers and makes it easier to resolve possible conflict situations.

Confidence

An employee should know their value and speak openly about their advantages and achievements. Of course, without going to extremes and bragging too much.

Before including the above character traits in your CV, think about whether you actually have them and how you can prove it at the interview.

Key characteristics of a good employee

What qualities of a good employee are of key importance in the context of the work performed? We must remember that everything depends on the job position, but a good employee should be characterized by responsibility for the duties entrusted to them, conscientiousness, flexibility, i.e. adaptation to changing conditions and requirements, communicativeness, diligence, taking the initiative, should have leadership skills or the ability to work in a team. Employers are looking for people who are empathetic, have good work organization, resistance to stress, honesty, or creativity in the broadest sense.

The above-mentioned personality traits are only a signpost. Very often, when choosing from among the characteristics of a good employee, we forget that there are negative character traits. What’s worse, the recruitment process can turn into a search for an impeccable or even perfect person. After all, this is not what it is about.

Characteristics of an ideal employee – what matters to the employer?

The most important characteristics of a good employee may vary depending on the specifics of industries or the company that conducts permanent recruitment. However, there are some universal features that are highly valued by employers. The most important characteristics of a good employee include:

• Professionalism – every boss appreciates an employee who cares about details, keeps his commitments and behaves impeccable in the workplace.
• Competence – the ability to work in a specific industry is necessary for the employee to be able to cope with the duties entrusted to him. The ability to teach is also important.
• Problem-solving skills – analytical thinking enables you to solve complex problems and is of great importance. Especially at work, where the employee takes full responsibility.
• Communication – without clear communication, it is impossible to cooperate between the employee and the boss or the employee and the employee. Teamwork skills also mean listening to others and expressing your opinions and ideas freely.
• Teamwork – employers are looking for employees who are great at working with other people. Building relationships, supporting team members and a smooth flow of information is important for the development of the company.
• Ability to cope with stress – nowadays, the qualities of a good employee are not enough. Employers care about people who can operate under high stress that does not affect productivity.
• Time management – the ability to manage time is crucial in achieving goals.

Communication skills – why is it so important for employers?

Employers are increasingly paying attention to soft skills, including interpersonal skills such as communication skills. A good flow of information affects the efficiency of work in the company and builds good relationships within the team.

Good communication increases work efficiency, but also improves team cooperation, which is important in the context of project implementation and daily tasks. Broadly understood conversation is also important in the aspect of conflict management.

Daily conversation, but also appropriate coaching make employees work with full commitment. Importantly, a well-informed employee knows what goals the employer sets for him and what is most important for the company.

Communication skills are also an integral part of customer service. Better contact with the customer translates into better sales and building long-term relationships.

Efficient communication allows you to effectively give and receive feedback, manage changes within the company and build the company’s image. An employee who communicates well both inside and outside the company is a showcase for the organization in which he works on a daily basis.

Proactivity and initiative – how to gain recognition from the employer?

Modern work environments require proactivity and initiative. This is the easiest way to stand out as an employee and gain recognition in the eyes of your boss.

People who are self-reliant contribute to the development of the company. A proactive employee does not wait for orders or detailed instructions, but moves on to action, proposes changes and engages in additional projects.

How to gain recognition from the employer? It is important to understand the company’s goals and challenges. It is also good to propose specific solutions and boldly communicate your ideas. As an employee, you need to be open to learning, personal development, and acquiring skills that adapt to changing working conditions.

Also, remember to build positive and honest relationships with your colleagues. Don’t be afraid to offer help if you know how to solve a problem or improve your work faster.

Proactivity and initiative are not only a chance for quick promotion. Through activity, you will contribute to the success of the company, emphasizing your own commitment and professionalism.

Problem-solving skills as a valuable employee trait

Why is problem-solving skills so important?

First of all, it affects efficiency and productivity. An employee who diagnoses problems well effectively moves from one problem to another, which means that projects do not get stuck.

Solving problems quickly minimizes costs and downtime that can result from delays or employee errors. That is why employers value people who can quickly diagnose and eliminate the problem.

The ability to solve problems can build trust and credibility among the team, but also among potential customers. Such an ability is often seen as being competent and professional.

Efficient troubleshooting is also useful when providing customer service. An employee who effectively and quickly responds to the customer’s problems and needs builds a bond with them that can bring measurable benefits in the future.

Problem solving is strictly related to analytical thinking. A person who can analyze problems well and find solutions often also demonstrates other valuable analytical skills, which are very useful in other aspects of work. Especially when it comes to recruiting IT staff.