USING PERSONALITY SKILLS IN INTERVIEWS
All of the personality skills are common words which
everyone knows, but it is helpful to put the words in a different perspective.
Reading the definitions will enable you to describe yourself more effectively
in interviews.
At the end of some description you'll find synonyms or
phrases that you might use as substitutes. You'll also find a sentence showing
how you might describe yourself. The examples are intended merely to give you
ideas, and should not be used verbatim.
Select your top Personality Skills and look for ways to
sell them in interviews.
Accepting/Tolerant
Accepting and tolerant people accept people for what they
are and value people for who they are.
Even when they strongly disagree with the actions or attitudes of
certain people, they seek to understand their positions. They try to avoid judging others.
"I accept people for what and who
they are and I enjoy working with people who come from different backgrounds.
I've worked with people from various cultures and find that I can adapt to them
rather than forcing them to become like me."
Appreciative
Appreciative people let people know that what they do is
appreciated. They are quick with a thank
you and often add special words that go beyond just a thank you. Sometimes they will give a pat on the back,
or when they say thank you, there is a special gleam in their eye or a smile
that says they really do appreciate
what was done. Appreciative people will
often say positive things about you to others.
"I think it's important to let
people know that you value them and that you appreciate their special efforts.
I like to compliment people for their successes, I always thank people who have
helped me, and I do favors for them whenever I can."
Assertive
Assertive
people are rarely aggressive but they do know their rights, and when it is
appropriate they will stand up for them. Assertiveness works best when it is
balanced with tactfulness. Assertive people avoid making scenes. When they need
to confront someone they will seek to do it in private. When in a public forum
they will present their case in a way that causes others to understand their
side and to become sympathetic to their cause. Assertive people rarely resort
to threats.
"I know how to get what I need.
I'm not shy about getting people to assist me or finding ways to break through
red tape."
Cheerful
Being cheerful does not mean always having a smile—even
cheerful people get down once in a while.
But cheerful people do bring sunshine to others and people like being
around them. Cheerful people look on the
positive side of just about everything. Although I like the word cheerful, I
would not use it in an interview.
Instead you might say:
"I'm the type of person who really
enjoys life and people enjoy being associated with me. I guess that attitude tends to rub off on
other people." Actually the best way to sell cheerfulness is
to demonstrate it rather than talk about it.
Common
Sense/Practical
People with common sense are
practical and down to earth. They find the simplest way to do a task rather
than try to make it complicated or complex. People without a good dose of
common sense often do silly things that have negative consequences. People with
common sense will generally be able to predict the outcome of such people’s
follies. Practical people show good judgment and they are sensible
“I’m a very
practical person. I find practical, common sense solutions to problems. A lot
of my coworkers seem to prefer complex solutions which may work fine in a
controlled environment, but won’t work out in the field. I always think about
the users and what will work for them.”
Compassionate
Compassionate people care about the less fortunate or those
who are feeling pain. They are willing to give emotional support. The trick for
such people is to remain compassionate without getting burned out or becoming
cynical. Instead of saying "I'm compassionate," say:
"I care about people and I seek to
empower them to achieve their own goals."
Considerate
Considerate
people are always aware of how they affect others and they are very mindful of
the golden rule. They seek to avoid those things which offend or bother people.
"I'm very aware of other people
and I would never do anything intentionally which upsets people or harms them
in any way. I know how I like to be treated and I try to treat people the same
way."
Cooperative
Being cooperative in a work setting is one of the most
important skills a person can have. Two types of cooperativeness are important.
Hiring managers first look to see if you are cooperative with others, and then
seek to determine if you'll be cooperative with them. Cooperative people meet
others at least halfway and they refuse to let their egos get in the way. As
team members, cooperative people will continue to support the team effort, even
when a pet idea is voted down.
I had a client who described her attitude this way: "I'm very cooperative, but if I get
voted down on an idea that I feel strongly about, I'll accept the majority
decision, but I will probably look for opportunities to meet with them
individually to better explain my position.
I have frequently lost a battle but won the war." I totally support that action.
Cooperation also has to do with helping coworkers. Perhaps a coworker is sick and asks you to
help out with a special project. A
cooperative person wouldn't have to think twice about helping, even if it means
some overtime. Cooperative people
cooperate with other departments even when that department has no power over
them. Cooperative people believe that
what goes around comes around.
Some people dig in their heels when asked to do something
they don’t enjoy, They are often highly capable people and would not get fired
just for being uncooperative, but they do pay a price. When they get assignments they don't like
they complain and say it isn't their turn.
If they still have to do it they often perform the task half-heartedly
and either turn it in late or with barely acceptable quality—at least far below
the quality they are capable of.
Let's assume I have two employees. Joe is a genius and is heavily
experienced. You are my other
employee. You are very good, but less
experienced than Joe. You have always
been cooperative and I know that if I give you some "dirt work"
you'll give it the same attention and effort as you would a great
assignment. In fact I've gotten to a
point where I give you more than your share of the dirt work types of
assignments. I virtually never give them
to Joe because he screams and hollers and just makes a big scene. The quality of his work on those assignments
is poor, so it isn't worth giving them to him.
One day a great assignment comes in. It could be a consulting assignment in
Let's also assume that I am now about to get promoted. You know the old axiom, you can't get
promoted until you have someone to replace you.
Well, I do, and it ain't Joe. In
fact, even though Joe is a genius, he may never get another promotion. Besides, by giving you the position, now you
have to deal with Joe and I don't. You can see why employers value
cooperativeness so highly.
I've devoted a lot of space to cooperative, but that's how
important I feel this quality is. Team
player, team oriented.
"When I work with people I'm
virtually always willing to meet them more than half way. If I'm dealing with a
matter of principle I probably won't compromise, but otherwise I will be the
key person to strike a happy medium. I like working as part of a team and I'll
help out anyone that I can. I think in every job there are tasks which no one
likes to do but someone has to do them. I usually take on more than my share
and I don't mind it. Of course I like to work on really challenging projects
also."
Decision
Making
People need good decision making ability. Ask yourself whether you feel good about most
of the decisions you've made in life. If
they've been sound, with perhaps a few exceptions, then you have good decision
making ability. It means you examine
different sides of an issue, and even though the issue is not black and white,
you make the decision that gets you the best results.
"I make good decisions. I gather
all the information I can and look at the issue from as many sides as possible.
When I can I'll usually seek input from others. Usually there is no obvious
right answer so I have to apply logic with a touch of gut feeling. Usually I
make the right decision."
Decisive
Decisive people make decisions and then stick with their
decisions even in the face of strong criticism — as long as they still feel
they are right. Decisive people will
also suddenly turn 180 degrees and go another direction. But they are decisive about that also. Decisive people are not bull-headed. They will not continue something when it is
clear it was a mistake. Decisive people
remain open-minded and when it is clear that a certain decision will not
achieve the desired results, they will change directions. Decisive people rarely make snap
decisions. They usually weigh things
very carefully and may postpone decision making as long as possible, but once
the time arrives when a decision absolutely has to be made, they will not
waffle and they will not pass the buck.
"I don't pass the buck. When a
decision's got to be made I'll make it. As long as I continue to feel it was
the right decision, I'll stand behind that decision and give it a chance to
prove itself. Sometimes when you start a new program things actually get worse
for a while and everyone who doesn't like the decision or the program will
point to that as proof it won't work. Often it just takes time, but if you drop
something or keep changing something before it’s had a chance to prove itself,
then you can really cause problems. If I realize I've made a mistake, though, I
think my staff would agree that I'll be one of the first to admit it and change
it."
Diplomatic
Diplomatic people enjoy the art of diplomacy. Diplomatic
people are skilled at helping others resolve their differences without using
threats or force. They understand,
however, the value of negotiating out of strength. Diplomatic people often
function as mediators at work and in social situations because people trust
their ability to see all sides of an issue and to remain objective. They know how
to phrase thins so that when concessions have been made, all sides feel they
got most of what they really wanted. Mediate,
mediator.
"I'm very good at mediating. I'm
naturally diplomatic and I'll really listen to both parties that are having a
disagreement. Then I can usually come up with a solution that will give both
parties most of what they need and then I'm able to sell it to both parties.
Because I really listen and show that I care, both sides will trust me and know
that I'm not favoring one over the other."
Discreet
If
you are known to be discreet, your friends, boss, and coworkers will have the
assurance that things said in confidence will go no further. Discreet people
consider the impact of their words and use good judgment when they speak to
others. Discretion is also necessary
when dealing with customers or suppliers—you must take care what you say and
don't say, what you reveal and don't reveal.
"Wherever I've worked my bosses
have always trusted me with important information. They know I'm not going to
reveal anything I shouldn't."
Drive
People
with drive seek new challenges and keep going even in the face of opposition
and hardship. They put a lot of energy into projects or activities that they
believe are important. People with drive have a history of getting things done,
sometimes through sheer will power.
Employers are looking for that spark which is missing in so many people.
The person who starts projects but rarely finishes them lacks drive. See
persistent.
"I have a lot of drive. When I
decide to do something I'll put an incredible amount of energy into something
to make it happen. I won't stop until I achieve it."
Easy-going
Easy-going
people have the attitude, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” They react well in emergencies
and during stressful times. Problems
don’t upset them. They often enable an entire office to work more productively
by having a calming influence during a crisis. Being easy-going is a good
example of how you should show only the positive side of your skills. If you are too easy-going you may give the
appearance of being "laid back" or "mellow," neither of
which is valued by business people. This
is also another example of how you may want to use a different word or phrase
to get this concept across. Below, the
person claims that he doesn’t “let things bother me.”
When asked about your strengths you might say,
"I think one strength has to be my
ability to not let things bother me. If a subordinate makes a mistake I'm not
going to spend time worrying about it, I'll dive right in to fix it and then
show the employee how to avoid it next time.
When my department is working on a rush job I'm better able to handle
the stress, so I'll insulate the staff from that stress as much as
possible. I'm also apt to bring some
humor into a situation to sort of release the stress. In that way my people keep working on the
task instead of worrying about it—which would hurt productivity. So I think my ability to not let things
bother me has really helped me keep productivity high."
Effective
Under Stress
People who are effective under stress are extremely valued
people. They work well under deadlines
and refuse to let the stress get to them.
Since heavy workloads and tight deadlines are major forms of stress on
jobs, people who are effective under stress are excellent time managers. If they are given a task at
People who are effective under stress also work well in
emergencies which require split second decisions. They are the ones you can count on. In sports such as basketball, there are
players who the rest of the team looks to in the last minute of a tight
game—the ones who can make that clutch shot at the buzzer.
"I work well under stress. I
think the pressure just brings the best out of me. I get really focused and
just concentrate on the task or project."
Efficient and
Productive
Efficient and productive
people are excellent time managers and they work at a fast pace. Being efficient means no wasted time or
motion. Efficient people may socialize
but they never allow "intruders" to take over their office and waste
their time. They concentrate their efforts
on important matters rather than just immediate matters. They know the danger of being busy yet
accomplishing little.
There
is a difference between being efficient and being productive. Doing an
unimportant task efficiently is not being productive. Being productive implies
doing the most important tasks and doing them efficiently.
Pace is also important.
Some people operate at only one speed—slow. Efficient and productive people can vary
their pace depending on the need at the moment.
Projects that require extreme care will be worked on more slowly, while
other projects may need to be completed quickly with less concern for quality.
"I get a lot more done in a day
than most people. I use really good time management and I make sure I'm putting
my efforts into the things that need doing. I like my coworkers, but you won't
find me chatting when there's a job to do. At the same time I'm always looking
for easier or better ways to do things. I turn it into a game and see if I can
do something in less time than I did it last time."
Emotionally
stable
Emotionally stable people are extremely reliable because
they are consistent from day to day.
Their mood swings tend to be gentle as opposed to the wild gyrations of
others. Emotionally stable people handle stress well: they don’t have outbursts
of anger, nor do they become withdrawn or hard to talk to.
A client once had a boss who was very competent, but one
never knew from day to day what kind of a mood she would be in. One day she could be extremely relaxed and
charming while the next she would bite everyone's head off. It got to the point that if a problem
existed, the decision of whether to tell her about it depended on her mood. The difficulty was, a small problem today
might become a major problem in a couple of days. Top management was aware of this shortcoming
and to my knowledge this person has never received another promotion. Managers should be emotionally stable people
because others are depending on them. Dependable,
like a rock, a steadying force, upbeat.
"I think people depend on me a
lot because I'm really stable. I'm an upbeat person and it takes a lot to get
me down. I'm a steadying influence when I'm part of a team. If morale is down a
bit I won't be the cheerleader, but I will lead by example. I'll be the type
who says "Come on guys, we can do it, we just have to hang in there."
People tend to follow and when they see me moving ahead it gives them the
confidence that we really can do it."
Empathetic
Empathetic people epitomize those who are able and willing
to walk a mile in another's moccasins.
They intuitively sense when people are having problems and they tend to
be very compassionate. Empathetic people
feel what others feel. They are willing to listen to people’s problems and they
show genuine concern. They empower others by helping them resolve their own
problems.
"I seem to have the ability to
feel what others feel. I can sense when someone is having a problem even when
there are no outward signs. And people can tell that I feel what they feel and
they open up to me, even people I've never met before."
Energetic/Stamina
Energetic people always have that reserve energy when they
need it. They can work a twelve- hour
day and be almost as productive during the twelfth hour as the seventh. Others will put in the same amount of time,
but their work begins to drop off precipitously after the ninth hour. In this sense, being energetic is related to
endurance and stamina. In almost any
business there will be times when people need to work those extra hours. It may be tax season for a CPA, Christmas
rush for a retailer, or simply those unpredictable rush projects that just have
to get out. Their enthusiasm and energy
helps get others excited about the work at hand. They can also instantly
elevate their energy to take care of a problem. Employers look for evidence
that a person is energetic. High energy
person.
"I can work long hours and get a
lot done. I just don't seem to get tired—as long as I have a challenging
project I keep working at it until it's done. If I've got to get something done
in a couple hours and it would normally take four hours to do, I just move into
high gear and get really focused. I wouldn't want that all the time, but I like
challenges like that from time to time."
Enthusiastic
Every employer wants to hire enthusiastic people. No one can be enthusiastic about everything,
but enthusiastic people get enthusiastic about many things. They look forward to trying new things even
if they are a little scary. Some people
are openly enthusiastic about things while others demonstrate "quiet
enthusiasm." Quiet enthusiasm may
not be displayed emotionally, but is demonstrated through a deep sense of the
person’s convictions.
Do everything you can to sell your enthusiasm for the job,
your boss, the company, and the position you are interviewing for. Enthusiastic people are perceived as those
who will be more loyal, work harder, stay with the employer longer, and accept
any assignment given them.
"My enthusiasm tends to rub off
on people. When I get behind a project I become the evangelist and others want
to be a part of it." "Give me an interesting project and I will
really get enthusiastic about it. I get very creative and I think about it all the
time, coming up with ideas that will make it better."
Flexible
Flexible people adapt well and do not get upset every time
a policy or procedure is changed. They
can handle it when they are taken off one project and put on another. They adjust their work style to get along
with different types of people and with different groups or teams. In today's economy, organizations must be
flexible and flexible organizations require flexible people. Adaptable. Roll with the waves.
"I'm a very flexible person. In
this industry you have to be. I can handle numerous responsibilities even
though I do have some favorites. When you work for a small company like mine
you have to wear several hats and I actually like that. In a fast paced
industry like this you've got to be ready to try new things. If you hold on to
one thing too long and before you know it the whole industry has passed you by.
"I'm very flexible. I can work well in a lot of different environments,
with different types of people, doing different types of things. We're facing a
lot of change in my company—we have to to survive—and I see it as a challenge
instead of something to be resisted."
Forgiving
Forgiving people do not hold
grudges. Forgiving people are not naïve and they don’t try to make excuses for
the person who did the wrong, they just don’t waste time or energy being angry.
Forgiving people know that even good friends may sometimes let them down. They
also know that friendships are too valuable to be damaged by a grudge or feud.
To forgive is to stop wishing the past were different.
Friendly/Nice
Friendly and nice people are not necessarily gregarious and
outgoing. Some shy and reserved people
are very friendly; it just may take longer to get to know them. Friendly people tend to be friendly to everyone
and don't snub or ignore others. They
try to include them in the group and they are good listeners. They are friendly to those with lower level
positions as well as those above them.
They help out whenever they can and tend to be very cooperative.
"I like people and people seem to
like me. I get along with just about everyone and I go out of my way to be
friendly with people. I know a lot of people and I enjoy meeting new
people."
Generous
Generous people are generous
with time and money. A person's generosity is often best tested by their
willingness to give of their time.
Goal-oriented
Goal-oriented people always have goals they are actively
working on. They don't live in the world
of "someday I'll." They have
short-range and long-range goals that have been written out with clearly
specified objectives. Goal-oriented
people know that achieving their lofty goals will take time and they are
willing to invest the time. When obstacles pop up they look for ways to
overcome them rather than get discouraged.
Goal oriented people love to dream, but they make their dreams come
true. Directed. Focused.
"I know where I'm going."
"I set a few key goals for myself and then work really hard at attaining
them. I'm very focused and I know what I want to accomplish in life. When I
accomplish one goal there's always another one to take its place."
Growth-oriented
Growth-oriented people are always looking for ways to grow
and expand. There is always another
horizon, another challenge, for the growth oriented person. They read and study on their own, they attend
seminars at their own expense, and they ask to attend company sponsored
seminars. They like to observe experts and try to learn everything they can
from them. The growth-oriented person may fear trying a new thing but is
willing to overcome that fear.
Growth-oriented people like to experiment and are not afraid of failures
or setbacks.
"I never want to become stagnant.
I've always got to be learning something new or improving in some area of my
life. That's why I read a lot of personal growth books and try to put the ideas
into practice. I love attending seminars and getting new ideas from
experts."
Initiative
People who take initiative
don’t wait for someone to give them an assignment. They are always looking for
ways to improve things and to do those things that need doing. When necessary,
those who take initiative will obtain formal approval from a boss, particularly
if the action requires funds. Otherwise, those with initiative simply find ways
to carve out the time in their schedules to complete the task.
“I’m the type of
person who will take initiative. When I see something that can be improved, and
it’s in my area of responsibility, I’ll just find a way to fix it or improve
it. My past bosses have
Inquisitive
Inquisitive people want to know about everything.. They want to know what makes things work.
They dig deeper and they work on problems longer. They sometimes discover the answer in the
obvious, which everyone else simply ignored.
They typically turn over more stones and refuse to give up until a
solution is achieved.
"I've always been one who wanted
to know how and why something worked. I've never been satisfied with
superficial information so I tend to dig a lot more than other people. I'll
look at things from many angles and generally come up with a twist on something
that others haven't seen or recognized. If I'm dealing with a problem I’ll try
everything to come up with the cause and then find a solution."
Insightful
Insightful people see things others do not see. Their insight might be in human behavior and
be expressed as an excellent parent, manager, or poet. Others have insight in the physical realm and
make medical or physics-related discoveries.
Insightful people use the same information available to others, and then
see relationships that others don't see.
"I seem to have an ability to see
things others don't see. I pull ideas and information from a lot of different
sources, and sometimes even different disciplines. I'll then make a connection
between things that perhaps no one has done before."
Integrity
People with integrity keep their word. They do not lie or
stretch the truth. They speak up when they see something occurring that is
unfair or unethical. People with
integrity will do the right thing even if it hurts them financially or in some
other way. People with integrity are trusted and respected..
In interviews I recommend that people not say "I'm a
person with a great deal of integrity."
Instead, say something like: "Wherever I've been I’ve
established a reputation for integrity."
Just as
the more you claim to be honest the more I'll question it, the same is true of
integrity. That's why it is better to
indicate you have a reputation for
integrity. While you are speaking to
someone, there is obviously no one present to confirm it, but in essence you
are letting these unknown people speak for you.
Of course, you should be prepared to discuss how you have gained that
reputation. People of integrity are
highly valued, so look for ways to demonstrate it.
"I have a reputation for
integrity with my customers. If I make a suggestion to them, they know it's
because I think it will work for them and not just because it's good for me or
my company."
Joyful
Joyful people are a joy to be around. The word joyful
implies something deeper than happiness.
Happiness is more dependent on outward circumstances being favorable,
while joyful people can express joy even while many negative things are
occurring in their lives. Joyfulness is
more consistent while happiness easily rises and falls.
“I
really enjoy life, with all its ups and downs. To me life is an adventure. I
get just about as much pleasure out of work as I do during a vacation or when
I’m skiing or hiking because it’s all part of being human.”
Loyal
The loyal person sticks by his or her friends when they are going through difficulties. A loyal employee may stay with a company that is facing serious problems. A loyal subordinate does everything possible to make the boss and organization look good.
Loyal people are still valued in today's business world
even though we see less loyalty shown today by both companies and
individuals. As with integrity and
joyfulness, it is best to demonstrate loyalty.
You might do this by mentioning a specific skill that you have and then
backing it up with an example. The
example might be an instance in which you had to forego something you wanted to
do in order to accomplish something for your company. A halfway perceptive person will recognize
the loyalty displayed there. Loyalty
implies sacrifice. Another example might
be how you stayed with a company that was going down the tubes and even had
some paychecks delayed. These are just
examples to show how you might demonstrate that you are a loyal person even
though you might never use the word during an interview.
"I think loyalty is still
important. Last year my company was having financial difficulties and on three
or four occasions my checks were a week late. Morale was also down because we
had a few layoffs and our sales were really down. Some of my coworkers got fed
up with it all and left. I felt though that my boss had taken a chance on me
when he hired me four years ago and I owed him something. Besides, I felt they
were doing the best they could to turn things around and that they were being
fair to people. Within a year things started to improve and as we started
growing again I got a promotion that gave me a lot more responsibility. I might
have been making more money if I'd gone somewhere else, but I wouldn't have
learned as much. Besides, I have a great boss."
Mature
Maturity does not come strictly with age. It
is that quality we sense in people who do not let their ego or hurt feelings
get in the way of doing what is right. In fact, it is rather difficult to hurt
their feelings. They have high self-esteem, so saying something critical of
them tends to slide right off. Mature people make good decisions because they
have experienced and observed a lot (even if young in years) and thus have a
sense of the consequences of their decisions or actions. They tend to remain
calm in crisis situations. They rely a lot on common sense. The person in their 20s or 30s who might be
described as "mature beyond their years" should seek to sell this
quality.
"I think I've been entrusted with a lot of responsibility wherever
I've worked because my boss always trusted me and knew I would make good
decisions. I'll take on the dirty jobs if I have to and I can handle the really
critical ones. I think it helps too that I don't let my feelings get hurt if
someone disagrees with me or even works against me. I don't hold grudges, I
just want results."
Motivated
Motivated people are focused
and dedicated. They have a clear sense of purpose and all of their energy goes
toward achieving a goal. The motivated person works harder and smarter than
others and can work for long periods at peak capacity.
Motivated people are not workaholics.
Instead they work at peak capacity throughout the day and then go home and
enjoy themselves. Employers look for self-motivated people. You just give them
a project or challenge and they take off. Highly motivated people will even put
high energy into less desirable projects.
"One of my strengths
is that I'm a really motivated person. If I'm given a task that doesn’t seem
that important or exciting, I'll still put everything I have into it because
that's the most important thing I'm working on at that moment. I was taught
that if something's worth doing, it's worth doing well and I believe that. Once
I'm into something I take off. I've taken projects home with me and spent hours
on them in the evening because I was on a roll and just didn't want to stop. I
know that on numerous occasions my motivation helped motivate others."
Open-minded
Open-minded people are willing to see all sides of an issue
and they tend to be flexible.
Open-minded people make good mediators because they gain the trust of
people. They are liked because they are
usually good listeners and are not interested in blaming. Flexible.
"I'm a very open-minded person.
Even if I have strong feelings about something I'll listen to anyone because
they may have some insight or a new view on something that will help me. My pet
peeve is closed-minded people because it seems such a waste to develop one view
and then not even be willing to consider other views. That quality has made me
a better manager. I've had staff make recommendations where my first
inclination was to totally shut them down because it was so contrary to what
we've done in the past, but they know I feel an obligation to listen, so I do.
On several occasions I was able to see the merit in their recommendations and
we decided to try it. I think in every case it worked."
Optimistic
As a humorist put it, optimists are not always right, but
they do enjoy life more. Optimists see
the glass half full while pessimists see it half empty. Optimists are more fun to be around because
they look for the positive in everything and don’t waste their time
complaining. Optimists tend to be
cheerful. They don't worry about the past.
Instead, they look forward to the future. In addition, optimists and pessimists often
have to deal with their own self-fulfilling prophecies. I prefer the self-fulfilling prophecies of
the optimists. I always look on the positive side of things.
"I just always have the sense
that there is a way to make things work out. If I can't, then I tend to accept
what has happened and go on to the next project. I never cry over spilled milk
because that is such a waste of time and energy. I think that because I think
so positively that many things worked out just because of the attitude I
took."
Patient
Patient people make excellent supervisors and trainers. They are more willing to listen and more
willing to answer questions. They are not bothered when someone asks the same
question twice. Patient people are important in business because they are
willing to give something enough time to prove itself, and don't demand instant
results. Patient managers have been known to turn around employees that
everyone else had given up on. Given the right opportunities these people can
become very capable and valued people—and loyal. Patient people are around for the long haul
and do not expect instant results. A patient person sets long-term goals and
then is prepared to work toward those goals over a period of several years.
"I think my patience has really
paid off on a number of occasions. I inherited a staff person who just seemed
very slow in picking things up. I felt I saw some determination in this person
and decided to try an experiment. I removed her from the ten or so tasks she
had been doing, and I gave her four new tasks, three of which were things that no
one else in the department wanted to do, but they were critical to the
department. Then I spent many hours working with her on those areas. Once she
truly understood how everything worked together, and she found that I wasn't
going to get mad at her every time she made a mistake, she dug in and got to
know everything there was to know in her new specialties. Now she takes a lot
of pride in her work because people come to her for advice when they have
problems. They know she's the expert."
Persistent
Persistent people never give up. They are motivated when they hear the story
of
"When I start working on a project
people say I'm like a bulldog—I just won't give up until the thing is
done."
Real
Real people are genuine—what
you see is what you get. They don't try to appear to be something they aren't.
Neither do they try to impress people. They are never phony. Their
self-confidence is often contagious and helps others relax and open up. What
you see is what you get. Genuine.
“People have told me
that what they like about me is that I’m real and genuine.
I certainly don’t put on airs. I’m not sophisticated and I don’t try to be. I
like simple things.
Reliable
Reliable people will never have trouble finding a job
because they will always get wonderful recommendations from former bosses. You can't even imagine an employer not wanting
someone who is reliable. It is an
absolute requirement in most jobs.
Reliability includes getting to work on time and rarely missing work due
to illness, but it goes far beyond that.
The ultimate in reliability comes when you are recognized as a "can
do person"—that person who can always be depended on and always finds a
way to complete tasks. People develop
reputations for reliability, and managers will vie for those people to get them
on their task forces. When crunch time
comes a manager will always give the most critical project—that one which
absolutely, positively must be done right—to the most reliable person
available. Reliable people are
recognized and they get promoted.
Reliable people keep their word.
When they say they will do something or be somewhere, it's a done
deal. No one has to think twice or worry
about whether it will get done.
In interviewing I talk about the four ways to get employers
excited about you. They are: showing how you can make money, save money,
solve problems, and reduce the stress
and pressure your boss faces. Reliable
people reduce stress because once the boss assigns a task, he or she knows it
will get done. It’s great knowing that something is getting done and not having
to worry about it.
Reliable people and unreliable people think and act in
different ways. When working on a
project which turns out to be far more difficult than originally presumed, the
unreliable person will often hope for a miracle. Three and a half weeks into a four week
project the person will come to the boss and say it can't be completed on
schedule and will list all the reasons why.
By that time of course, it is too late to do anything about the
situation and there may be serious repercussions to the company.
The reliable person would have handled it differently. Perhaps two weeks into the project it became
clear that there were unanticipated problems.
The reliable person would go to the boss and explain that either more
resources must be devoted to the project or the deadline needs to be
extended. In other instances the
reliable person would simply devote additional time to get it done. In another instance it might require
motivating the staff and getting them to put in additional time as well. In any case, reliable people find ways to get
the job done.
"When I agree to take on a
project my boss knows it's as good as done. Once I have the necessary
guidelines and a completion date, I go to it. The same is true with community
service projects I get involved in. If I take something on—and I won't if I
don't think I can do a good job—people know it's going to be really high
quality stuff."
Responsible
Responsible people are almost always reliable and reliable
people are virtually always responsible.
In fact the two are similar, yet also different. It is possible, however, for a person to be
very reliable yet not want to take on greater
responsibility. The first measure of a
responsible person is reliability — you can trust the person. Some take responsibility to the next level —
they seek to take on more
responsibility. Responsible people are
usually growth oriented and they hate to stagnate. They also realize that they, not their boss,
is ultimately responsible for their own career progress. As a result they often volunteer for tasks,
or they ask if they can take over a function that the boss has handled in the
past. At other times they just start
doing something on their own because they know it will be beneficial.
"I
love taking on more responsibility. I like trying new things and I seek
challenges. When I'm on a new job I'll learn everything as thoroughly as
possible, then I start looking for things that could be improved or things that
need to be done. Some things I'll just start doing on my own, and for others I
know I need the approval of my boss."
Resourceful
Resourceful people make do when they don't have all the
tools or resources that are usually required for a task or project. Somehow they find a way. Others show their resourcefulness by
obtaining the necessary resources through other than normal channels.
"I've always been a person who
can make do with whatever is available. We'll just find a way to make something
work. Sometimes it looks like it's being held together with baling wire, but we
make it work. It's not pretty, but when you lack the necessary resources
sometimes you just have to make do."
Risk-taking
Risk taking people take calculated risks not crazy
risks. They weigh the odds carefully and
when a reasonable chance for success exists, they go for it. Risk takers do not fear failure because the
word failure has no meaning to them. If
they fall on their face they will simply get back up and either try it again or
try something different. In an interview
you would not typically say, "I'm a risk taker." Instead you might say, "I'm not afraid
to try something new," or "I weigh things carefully, but when I see
an opportunity that could make the company a lot of money, I'll put everything
I've got behind it to make it successful."
I respect risk takers, but as a small businessman if I hire
someone who says he is a risk taker, I'm very aware that he will soon be
risking my money and not his. That's why
it is usually not wise to come right out and say you're a risk taker. There are exceptions, however. Assume that the employer has stated clearly
that there are risks because the company is young. If it succeeds, it will succeed big and
everyone will be wealthy, but if it fails, the company might not exist in a
year or two. If you are firmly ensconced
in a nice cushy job with total security, you would need to convince the
employer that you are indeed a risk taker and that this opportunity is a risk
you want to take.
"The way I look at it, you'll
never get anywhere if you don't take a chance once in a while. Sometimes they
pay off and sometimes they don't. I try to minimize my risk if the thing
doesn't work out, and maximize my gain if it does."
Self-confident
Self-confident people let you know they are self-confident
just by the way they talk and carry themselves.
Self-confidence is demonstrated more than discussed. If you lack some experience which seems
important to the job, the employer may ask if you feel you can handle it. How you respond will make a major difference
in whether you get the offer. Come
across as confident but not cocky.
"I have confidence in my
abilities. I know my limitations, but if I know I can do something I really go
for it. That's why I'm excited about this position."
Sense of Humor
People with a good sense of humor are fun to work wit. They
can laugh at themselves and they never use humor to put others down. People
with a good sense of humor often have a quick wit, but others demonstrate their
sense of humor just by being able to laugh at amusing things in life.
You do have to be careful how you sell this quality. No one wants a cut up or a practical
jokester. The best way to sell a sense
of humor is by demonstrating it — and I don't mean with a string of one
liners. In most interviews I've been on,
somewhere during the interview the two of us found something to laugh
about. It might be that the employer
said something amusing or told an amusing story. He started to laugh and I quickly joined in
with a sincere laugh or at least a good smile.
Sometimes that was it. At other
times I then told an amusing story and again we laughed, or just had good broad
smiles on our faces. When you laugh,
avoid the belly-laugh-roll-in-the-aisle type.
I have seen people laugh almost uncontrollably and it is not very
becoming. I have also seen applicants
say something which they thought was extremely funny and they began laughing
very hard while the employer thought it barely deserved a slight smile. Watch the interviewer and match your laugh to
his or hers. If the interviewer says
something which he thinks is quite amusing and has a big grin on his face, you
must at least be able to put a nice smile on yours. Think of how it feels when the person across
from you is laughing and you have a stone cold stare on your face. Immediately the employer asks himself,
"What's wrong with this person?"
"People say they enjoy working
with me. When things get tense or stressed I get people to lighten up with my
sense of humor."
Sincere
When sincere people
say something, you know they really mean it. You'll get no flattery from them. When sincere people say they like your dress
or your suit, you know they mean it and they make you feel good. When an insincere person gives a compliment
you wonder what the person is after.
Demonstrate sincerity during the interview. Genuine.
"I say what I mean and I mean what
I say." "People know that when I say something or recommend
something, it is only because I really believe it."
Tactful
Tactful people know how to
say the right thing at the right time. They speak in encouraging terms. When
they need to say something critical they know how to say it in a way that does
not offend people. Diplomatic.
“Since
I deal with a lot of angry people, I’ve got to be tactful. Sometimes I just
want to tell people off, but I know I can’t. I’ve learned how to listen and
then say just the right thing to calm people down. I’ve worked at it. It didn’t
come naturally.”
Thorough
Thorough people believe that if a job is worth doing, it is
worth doing right. Everything they do is
thorough. When they research something
they really research it. When they
complete a project it is really done—there are no loose ends for someone to
take care of later. If a project is
being planned, all of the details have been taken care of.
"I'm a detail oriented person.
I'm very thorough. When I do something I do it right the first time.
Warm
Warm people enable you to relax immediately in their
presence. They are comforting and
enjoyable to be around. They open up
immediately to others which enables others to open up to them.
"I develop rapport very quickly
with people and standoffish people often warm up to me very quickly."
Copyright,
Tom Washington 1995, 2001
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