You could have high grades and pretty much experience in your career but sometimes employers are looking beyond that. 

With the changing market, employers are also changing hiring strategies and in most cases seek candidates with for example a positive attitude, confidence, dedication and so forth. 

Personality traits have the potential to make you the right fit for a job. Here are some of them;

Enthusiastic

For Emmy Gahigana, a business expert in Kigali, enthusiasm is one of the traits that push employees to work with love and commitment. Enthusiasm is the energy, intense zeal, inspiration, focus, fervour, excitement or the enjoyment found in people when they are possessed by a conscious or unconscious desire to do a thing.

Gahigana states that the beauty about enthusiasm is it’s infectious and so, thus easier to inspire others; therefore, they will do their tasks with more focus and self-assurance. This will hasten their journey towards success. Such a person learns and updates their skills in order to develop the organisation and resolve crisis situations.

Flexible 

"Having a high level of flexibility makes it easier for you to live a less stressful and hectic life at work. Being flexible in your life allows you to adjust to changes without negative side effects, allows one to manage the unexpected, stay employed and satisfied. Employees with such a trait can take up any opportunity irrespective of their concerns,” he says. 

Team player

Gahigana carries on that the ability to achieve goals in the workplace requires collaboration. Employers seek candidates who can work well in a team environment, have strong communication, collaborate with others, be active at listening, and good with problem-solving skills.

Optimistic 

Optimistic employees not only give 100 per cent of their energy, but are also less likely to be affected by workplace stress, or experience burnout or fatigue. An optimistic employee has the ability to hearten and reassure those who are struggling, having a positive impact on overall morale, Gahigana adds.

Career experts and therapists say that optimists tend to take a solution-driven approach to problems, rather than a fear-based approach. And while they may initially feel a hint of panic, they are able to let go and get started. They envision their tasks like a game to be played and won. The challenge becomes something they want to conquer and enjoy the process of doing so due to their initial positive mind-set. This is effective because they take the time to become clear on their action items and do what they can do to move forward. They don’t get stuck in indecision, because they trust their gut and go for it.

Confidence

According to TopCV, a credible career website, talking yourself up is never easy. Add the stressful environment of a job interview and projecting confidence may seem impossible. It’s still important though, because 61 per cent of HR managers called confidence an essential personality trait for candidates.

One of the common roadblocks to showing confidence in a job interview is the fear of being perceived as arrogant.

‘Preparation is key to showing confidence in an interview knowing what points you want to get across, practising your answers to common questions, completing thorough research. All of this will help you calm your nerves. From there, you can focus on saying the right things that will impress.’

Authenticity

Gahigana also points out that authenticity is quickly becoming one of the biggest factors for job seekers when looking for new opportunities. Employers benefit from hiring authentic employees because authentic behaviour is an outward behaviour that aligns with one’s true self and can foster work engagement and increase internal motivation, leading to better business outcomes.