Community Employment Resource Centre

Give the Employers What They Want

Employers want to hire a person who…	How can you show it?
…won’t one day use their phones to find work	Do not include your work number on your resume
…follow instructions	If the ad says no phone calls, do not call; asks for salary history and/or requirements, provide the requested information
…writes well	Provide an error free, focused, clear and compelling cover letter and resume
…respects deadlines	Be on time for the interview. Trains, planes, traffic are not an employer’s problem
…is a nice person	Be friendly with the security guard, the secretary – not just the boss
…is honest	Don’t make stuff up
…actively listens to others	Focus your attention on what the interviewer is saying (not on what you will say next)
…actively listens to others	Does your answer address the question asked (and only the question asked)?
…speaks well	No “ums, ahs, you knows, okays’; use “going to” instead of “gonna”, etc
…presents well	Dress appropriately
…is enthusiastic	Use direct eye contact. Think only in the context of the great opportunity here
…won’t badmouth them in the future	Do not ever speak poorly of a current or former employer
…knows what s/he doesn’t know	Ask relevant questions. Give examples of when you’ve turned to others for help
…knows who s/he is and where s/he’s going	Have a compelling two minute answer ready for “Tell me about yourself”. It should consist of three parts: where you’ve been where you’re going why you’re sitting across from the interviewer in this organization right now
…thinks before s/he speaks	Think before you answer. A pause to consider a question is perfectly appropriate
…thinks before s/he speaks!	Think before you ask. Is your question relevant, well-timed and not already answered?
…knows something about their organization	Plunk your printed research on the interviewer’s desk while stating your interest and excitement
…knows the organization’s mission and relevant trends	Your research can include external articles on important relevant news and trends
…can plan and organize well	Answer complex questions thoughtfully
…can think rationally and has analytical skills	Have an example ready of how you tackled a complex and challenging problem
…is not terribly sensitive to criticism	Have an example ready of how you gratefully received criticism and smartly learned from it
…knows his/her job is one part of a larger picture	Express an interest in the entire organization and how your role fits into it
…gets along well with others; can work as part of a team	Give examples from work, school or volunteer activities, especially with diverse people
…is willing to question the status quo and innovate	Have an example ready where you changed things for the better, and (briefly) how you did it
…is comfortable with technology	Explain that with a user guide and a couple of days, you’ll figure out their software
…can manage projects and processes	Give examples from work, school or volunteer activities
…can make decisions and solve problems	Give examples from work, school or volunteer activities
…is able to manage relationships	Give examples from work, school or volunteer activities
…is able to manage across disciplines	Even if you haven’t, mention the skills you have that would allow you to do so
…is willing to learn	Give examples of cases where you’ve eagerly learned what you’ve needed to thrive
…is mature	Explain that you’re secure enough to take direction easily without it posing a problem
…can eagerly execute someone else’s vision/mission	Explain that after you’ve made your case, if another path is selected, you will gladly follow the selected path as eagerly as if you thought of it yourself – and really mean it
…can manage stressful situations	Before the interview, breathe deeply, walk around the block, smile. Mickey Rooney once said: “Ain’t no sense worrying. If you have no control over something, ain’t no sense worrying about it – you have no control over it anyway. If you do have control, why worry? So either way, there ain’t no sense worrying.”