What Hiring Managers Really Look For

Do you ever wonder what a hiring manager is actually looking for? I have talked to a lot of people at different phases in their career and those looking to make career changes, and no matter what, finding a new job can be stressful. On top of that fact, a lot of people are hesitant to look for a new job or to try to take that next step, because they do not feel that they have the qualifications or skills required. So, I want to share with you four things that hiring managers have told me time and time again, are most important when they are looking to hire someone. You don’t always need to have all of the necessary “hard skills” or technical skills; there are some other soft skills that are more important in many cases, when hiring managers are making a decision and evaluating you for a position.

First is integrity. This is something that I hear consistently as a top priority. Your word is your bond, and if you don’t follow through on your commitments, or uphold that sense of ethics and morality at all times, a company is going to have a hard time making decision to move forward with hiring you. Integrity is everything. If you can’t or don’t do what you say you’re going to do, or if you don’t have the experience that you say you have, it is really going to be a huge red flag when it comes to a company considering you. I know everyone is different and we all have different values, but integrity for me has always been essential. If I say that I am going to do something, then I am going to do it. I am always going to try to the right thing, and really have people’s best interests in mind. When approaching business or a relationship with someone, whether it be professional or personal, that sense of integrity and trust, once that is broken or violated, it is really hard to repair. Lying about something in your background or misrepresenting, is not worth what it is going to do to your reputation. Protect your reputation, that is what you have at the end of the day. And integrity has a direct impact on your reputation and how people are going to feel about you when considering hiring you or being in any kind of relationship with you. Never sacrifice your integrity.

Second is aptitude. I think this is important to share because it does not necessarily mean that you already have the skills required, but aptitude is more about your ability to learn, and this is something that so many companies look for. They do not always expect you to have all the skills from day one when they are hiring you for the position, necessarily, but they want to see that you have the aptitude and the drive to learn. If you are willing to come in and absorb as much as they are willing to give you and acquire skills to improve yourself as you’re progressing in your career, that is worth everything. You cannot train somebody to want it, or to have that aptitude and appetite to learn, but you can teach new skills. So find a way to express your aptitude and your ability to learn new things when you are talking to a potential hiring manager or going through the interview progress.

Third is attitude. Attitude is key. This kind of ties in with aptitude, if you are willing to learn, if you have a good positive attitude, you’re high energy, you show that determination, drive and hunger to really jump in and be the best that you can be, that’s going to go such a long way when it comes to you be considered for a position! Find a way to display that in the interview, and in conservations with a potential hiring manager.

Lastly, is ability. So, yes, there are certain skills that are going to be required when you apply for a job. If they are looking to hire someone, there is a reason that they are looking to hire that person, and there probably are certain skills that are non-negotiable. But I think it is important to note, ability was number four on the list, and the skills that you have today are going to look drastically different six months from now, a year from now, five years from now. So, integrity, aptitude, attitude, and ability are all critical when a hiring manager is evaluating you, but keep in mind that ability is fourth on the list, that you can acquire new skills, but it is all about you showing that attitude, willingness, and aptitude to learn new things, and having integrity in the process, that is going to get you the furthest. So, do not get too stressed out about not having all of the requirements on a job description. If the role is in line with some of the skills you have, if it is something that you are passionate about in your career, you have the willingness and eagerness to learn, that is everything for a company. So be confident in yourself and keep that in mind.

To recap quickly, integrity is number one, aptitude is number two, attitude is number three, and ability is number four.

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