4 Things Every Employer Loves to Hear From a Candidate

If you’re a job seeker on this site, I know exactly what you’re looking for.

You could be perusing your favorite blog or double-checking your Facebook newsfeed, but you’re here instead – looking for what exactly it takes to get hired today (tomorrow works too, right?).

Unfortunately, there is no single magic spell or formula that can guarantee you gainful and satisfying employment. Fortunately, you have more than just one option for every situation. The key to getting employed is to get the right information to the right people.

As an employer and hiring manager, I have interacted with job seekers from time to time. After a while, you get to know exactly what you want to hear from the candidate you’re considering. I don’t mean flowery language or exaggerated accomplishments. I mean the real stuff I want candidates to share with me to demonstrate they are the right person for the job.

I’ve compiled a list of the four things every employer loves to hear from a candidate:

“I learned…”

We don’t hire people just because we like them. Employers want employees who are equipped with the skills and knowledge required to accomplish tasks on the job. One important quality every employer wants to see in an employee is that they are actively learning and adapting to the work day-to-day.

If you haven’t put too much thought into it before now, think back to each of your past positions and come up with at least two major things you learned whilst on the job to recount in your interviews.

“Ultimately…”

Job seekers are fabulous at talking about what they do on the job, but what happened next? As an employer, I’m not going to understand how good or worthwhile your efforts were in the situation unless you can describe what happened when everything was said and done.

“In the future…”

Okay, you should share past outcomes, but we also want to hear about what your future looks like. We all know the dreaded question, Where do you see yourself in five years? so be prepared to answer it! While that plan might not stick for the rest of your career, at least having an idea of what the next three, five, and ten years will bring gives the employer a sense of security in hiring you.

“With your company…”

We hit the in the future section, but what about my company? In the end, your application and interview should be about the company. What plans do you have for the company? How will or can you make things better?

Proving that you (a) researched, and (b) invested time in the company proves that your focus is in the right place. If you understand that the success of the company is directly linked to your success, it becomes a lot easier to write and say the right things.

What do you think? What other things do employers love to hear? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Tony Morrison

Tony Morrison is the Vice President of Business Development at Cachinko, a unique professional community where social networking and job opportunities come together. His roles include sales, marketing, and business development. He is passionate about building talent communities and brings this passion to Cachinko where he focuses on helping job seekers to find their ideal job and employers to find, attract, and engage their next rock star candidates. Find him on Twitter and Talent Connection. And, connect with Cachinko on Facebook or Twitter.