Job searching can be tough, and finding the perfect job can be even harder. As a job seeker it’s important to connect with a company, what they stand for and what values they hold, as well as the benefits and career progression they can offer.

It is just as important for the employer to connect with you. This is the only way you will;

1. Get the interview

2. Land the job

Always remember, your cv gets you the interview and your INTERVIEW gets you the JOB!

Taking time in your job search and being intentional about it is vital. An intentional job search needs planning, preparation, development, research, and patience.

Each role will be different. Each cv you send should be tailored to the company and role. Each cover letter personalised.

An effective job search means with each application there has been time, energy, and thought that has gone into it. If you are sitting at home sending out the same cv to 20 companies in a few hours, then you are going about it wrong.

In today’s market, you need more than a set of skills highlighted on your cv to get the job.

Questions you need to be asking yourself about each role are:

What are hiring managers looking for in potential employees?

What are the skills and qualities they seek?

While some roles do require a certain set of hard skills, the most commonly looked-for employee traits tend to be universal.

So what are they?

• A Strong Work Ethic

Understanding and willingness to work hard and work smart.

• Dependability and Responsibility

Always be on time and take responsibility for personal actions and behaviour.

• Positive attitude and confidence

Having a positive and confident attitude motivates and inspires others. A self-confident person is not afraid to ask questions on topics where they feel they need more knowledge.

• Adaptability

Show employers, that you can tackle tasks and changes as they come.

• Results-driven

Highlighting how you have outperformed in previous roles and having positive reviews from employers boosts your chances of being hired. Show what value you have previously brought to employers and what value you can add to this role.

• Honesty and Integrity and humility

Employers value employees who maintain a sense of honesty and integrity above all else. Good relationships are built on trust. Do what you say, be truthful and be less self-involved and more attuned to the feelings of others. Never exaggerate your qualifications to secure a job, this is unwise.

• Passion

Employers want to hire employees that are passionate about the work they do, the company they work for, and the product or service they are fighting for.

• Ambition

Having something you are working towards to better yourself and your circumstances is a fantastic thing to share with potential employers. It shows that you know what you want and are willing to do what it takes to get there. They will likely find value in it, and it will positively impact your worth.

While all these traits are incredibly important by themselves, having the right mindset is key.

There is only one type of person everyone wants to work with, that’s right just one!

That is an employee-preneur!

How can you be an employee-preneur?

1. Strive to be much more than what their job description requires.
2. Don’t only know the mission of the company, live it and promote that mission in everything you do – on AND off the clock.
3. Go above and beyond what is asked, and be happy to do so.
4. Understand the importance of not only advocating for but also protecting the company’s leaders.
5. Think of the company’s goals as your own and take personal accountability for how the company performs.
6. Don’t think only of how you can succeed, rather think of how you can help others succeed.

Simply put, to be an employee-preneur, you need to create a mindset of “this is my company”.

All of this can be shown and highlighted in an interview. With the right preparation and time spent on personal development, all of these qualities will shine through.