Values employers look for in workers

Despite the fact that millions of people, many of them graduates with impressive results, are looking for jobs, there are reports of employers lamenting that there is a dearth of talent.

While the falling educational standards is often blamed for the inability of job seekers to pass recruitment tests and interviews, some experts say it is partly down to the fact that many people do not understand what employers want.

According to them, many people focus on skill acquisition to the detriment of good work ethics.

Work ethics over skills

A study by the Centre for Social Justice in 2011 shows that to eight in 10 employers rate good work ethics higher than skill in terms of importance when they are filling entry level positions.

The study explains that 62 per cent of the employers said they decided against employing people for positions which did not require experience when they observed poor work attitude and ethic. According to it, 57 per cent of respondents said poor presentation was responsible, with only 29 per cent blaming poor academic qualification.

“Many employers told us that they believe students should leave education ‘work ready’ and that currently too many students fall short,” the study says.

Attributes it says employees look out for are timekeeping, self-awareness, confidence, presentation, communication, teamwork and an ability to understand workplace relationships.

It adds that employees say even when applicants have these attributes, they are often below the standard required.

The Executive Director, CSJ, Gavin Poole, was quoted as saying,“A key message this report highlights is that for many who feel that work is beyond reach, employers do not agree.

“For those entering the workplace, often for the first time, attitude and personal responsibility are regarded much higher than qualifications.”

Another study of 174 employers by OI Partners, a global talent management and leadership development/consulting firm,came up with eight qualities employers value the most in workers.

The Chair, OI Partners, Steve Ford, says, “Workers need to demonstrate to their bosses that they are making critical contributions, have the qualities the company desires most, and that they have earned retention rewards.”

The eight qualities employers value the most in workers, according to the survey, are:

Being a team player

This was chosen by 71 per cent of the surveyed companies. “Being part of a team has taken on a higher priority since many companies are still operating with leaner work forces and there is a greater need to accomplish goals through others,” says Ford.

Ability to stay fully focused

This was chosen by 68 per cent of employers.Here, Ford says employees should share complimentary letters and emails they receive with their bosses. “Don’t assume that he or she already knows about your excellent customer service, but do it in a discreet way,” he adds.

 Ability to motivate and engage others in their jobs

This was chosen by 65 per cent of the companies. And, according to Ford, in a challenging economy, employers appreciate when their employees reach out and keep each other motivated and involved in their work.

Success in achieving your ‘critical few objectives’

Picked by 62 per cent of the companies, Ford explains that these objectives are among the top one or two reasons why an employee is hired in the first place, hence accomplishing them will count more than any other contributions they have made.

 Ability to work smart

This was selected by 60 per cent of the companies. This includes being up to date on the latest technology, keeping your skills and professional knowledge current, and continually searching for improvements in productivity, efficiency, and profitability.

 Hard worker

57 per cent of the companies surveyed chose this. Ford says, “Although companies for years have preferred working smart to working hard, they still want to see that you are dedicated to your job, put in an extra effort and volunteer to fill any gaps when necessary.”

Ability to add value

This was preferred by 52 per cent of the organisations surveyed. According to them, retention rewards recognition of your value. Fords says it is important for employees to track and document the specific ways they have added value to your employer.

 Ability to contribute to improving the bottom line

This was selected by 48 per cent of the businesses. According to Ford, there are various ways to do this, including helping to increase sales, cut costs, decrease turnover, and make useful suggestions and recommendations.

A human resources expert, Penny Loretto, who has more than 20 years of experience in career counseling and internship advisement, in an article published on About.com, says the following are the top work ethics employers value:

Strong work ethic

Employers value employees who understand and possess a willingness to work hard. In addition to working hard it is also important to work smart. This means learning the most efficient way to complete tasks and finding ways to save time while completing daily assignments. It’s also important to care about your job and complete all projects while maintaining a positive attitude. Doing more than is expected on the job is a good way to show management that you utilise good time management skills and don’t waste valuable company time attending to personal issues not related to the job.

Dependability and responsibility

Employers value employees who come to work on time, are there when they are supposed to be, and are responsible for their actions and behavior. It’s important to keep supervisors abreast of changes in your schedule or if you are going to be late for any reason. This also means keeping your supervisor informed on where you are on all projects you have been assigned.

A positive attitude

Employers seek employees who take the initiative and have the motivation to get the job done in a reasonable period of time. A positive attitude gets the work done and motivates others to do the same without dwelling on the challenges that inevitably come up in any job. It is the enthusiastic employee who creates an environment of good will and who provides a positive role model for others. A positive attitude is something that is most valued by supervisors and co-workers and that also makes the job more pleasant and fun to go to each day.

Other values employers look for, according to Lorreto are self-motivation, motivation to grow and learn, strong self-confidence, professionalism, honesty, integrity and loyalty.

Culled from Punch