Four attributes you should demonstrate when pursuing your dream job

By Wisdom Kwame Nuworkpor FCCA, ICA, MBA

In my previous article, we looked at Six (6) attributes you should not exhibit when pursuing your dream job.  In this article, I will be highlighting four very vital attributes you need to demonstrate when pursuing your dream job or a career progression.  

In his book "I Got My Dream Job and so you can", Pete Leibman1 maintains that every employer needs four variables from potential employees.  Your task as a job seeker is to prove that you can deliver these four needs better than anyone else. These four needs are discussed below:

1. Belief

Employers want people who believe in themselves and people who believe in the mission of their organization.  It is very surprising to see candidates or prospective employees who have no clue about the mission of organisation they intend to work for.  I am not sure how anyone can support in achieving the mission of an organisation if they do not know what it is.  Knowing the mission is one thing and believing in it is another. Both current and potential employees must know the mission of their organisation and believe in it.

One of the questions you will be asked (directly or indirectly) in any interview is “Why do you want this job?” If you don’t have a great answer to that question, that’s a sign you should be looking elsewhere.

2. Excellence

It doesn’t matter what your GPA is or how talented you are if your integrity is questionable or if you look like a slob.   Excellence is essential for getting hired and for achieving career success.

It is very easy to stand out in an organisation because most employees just do the bare minimum or worse.  A little extra effort multiplies quickly over time, and it is always noticed by the people at the top.

3. People / Communication Skills

Regardless of your employer, you will have a boss, you will have colleagues, and your organization will serve other people, whether they are clients, customers, patients, donors, voters, subscribers, or students. To achieve career success, you must get along well with other people, and you must be able to communicate clearly and effectively with them.  

4. Results

Employers hire people for one reason and that is; to solve problems. When you demonstrate that you deliver top-notch results, you will almost always get hired faster and promoted faster. Simply put, if you aren’t solving problems, you aren’t getting hired or promoted. It is therefore very important to be prepared to embrace opportunities to solve problems whenever they arise (for example, an opportunity to provide cover for a colleague in his/her absence).   

I believe strongly that employees who demonstrate these attributes get hired and/or promoted faster than those who do not.  

As you pursue your career aspirations in 2017, I urge you to take these four variables into consideration.  I wish you a very Prosperous 2017.

References:

1. Pete Leibman (2012), I Got My Dream Job and So Can You: 7 Steps to Creating Your Ideal Career After College.