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What qualities do you think employers value the most when hiring?

Asked at Massachusetts Street on June 17, 2009

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Photo of Bianca Brown

“That you seem organized and enthusiastic.”

— Bianca Brown, English/creative writing major, Lawrence

Photo of Olivia Schonewise

“I think they value interest in the work the most, so that they like what they do.”

— Olivia Schonewise, SWJH ninth-grader, Lawrence

Photo of Deanna Ricketts

“Honesty and friendliness.”

— Deanna Ricketts, store owner, Lawrence

Photo of Steve Fabac

“Integrity, dependability and someone who likes what they are doing.”

— Steve Fabac, paraeducator, Lawrence

Comments

Crossfire 8 years, 3 months ago

h(o)(o)ters

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Chris Ogle 8 years, 3 months ago

I am not sure about what qualities will get you a job, but asking for an advance before being hired doesn't seem to work very well.... I haven't got an advance yet.

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jumpin_catfish 8 years, 3 months ago

I think Crossfire is right, soooo right!

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average 8 years, 3 months ago

That there's no risk you might steal their job/promotion in the next year.

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trinity 8 years, 3 months ago

and a BRILLIANT personality! :)

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labmonkey 8 years, 3 months ago

From past experience, I have found you kind of have to feel the person interviewing you out. I got two jobs on ability to bullsht (and was later told that I got it because I was the only one who showed any personality). Other times, bullst doesn't work, so you just answer questions as honestly as possible. And be prepared. I always wrote answers to possible questions down on a sheet (strengths, weaknesses...and have a real weakness, last book I read, etc...) in case I had a brain-fart during the interview. And always know a problem that you had to solve step-by-step. That is always asked.

After you are hired, employers like employees who show up, and on time, someone who is compotent but not a know-it-all, and someone who will show a little initative but isn't a kiss-ass.

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Kat Christian 8 years, 3 months ago

Youth and nieve and willing to kiss butt without contention. Then the other stuff, integrity, who you know, willing to work. I bet if someone 50 and someone 25 apply for the same job the 25 year old will get hired first. Especially in this town.

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BrianR 8 years, 3 months ago

A prehensile tail.

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Music_Girl 8 years, 3 months ago

Ability to multitask and handle stress. With companies downsizing they need employees who can do 3 different jobs at once while still being cool under the pressure. Also technical and people skills help alot. Dress professionally (ladies, no excessive cleavage and gentleman, invest in a tie!).

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Music_Girl 8 years, 3 months ago

autie...agreed on the body piercing thing. Same goes for huge, showing tattoos. A lot of work places don't mind them if they can be covered with sleeves or whatever. Tattoos on the face, neck, hands and large/excessive piercings are generally considered unprofessional and may be the one thing that keeps you from getting a job. I think that should be mentioned a few times in college/high school courses haha.

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Flap Doodle 8 years, 3 months ago

The ability to sprint 100 yards carrying a box of files. Sometimes a business has to relocate on short notice.

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gogoplata 8 years, 3 months ago

Being highly unmotivated, with references to back that up.

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Tom McCune 8 years, 3 months ago

... that you can make money for them and not cause them problems.... I've worked both sides of the employer/employee street....

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George_Braziller 8 years, 3 months ago

The absolute first thing I looked at was the condition of the resume. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I got. Some had coffee stains, were hand written in pencil on a piece of paper ripped out of a spiral note book, folded into eighths and jammed into a tiny envelope, or contained horrible and obvious spelling errors. Those went directly to the reject pile.

When I was reviewing resumes that made the first cut the first thing I looked for was direct or related experience relevant to the job duties and responsibilities.

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sgtwolverine 8 years, 3 months ago

The ability to say the right things at the right times.

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Stuart Evans 8 years, 3 months ago

Being able to leave your cell phone turned off while on the clock and coming to work close to 100% of the time. huge pluses in my book.

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Stuart Evans 8 years, 3 months ago

edjayhawk (Anonymous) says…

Tom Shewmon: “Being able to live on a shoestring”

Especially true when Republicans are in power…haves and have nots.

oh ya, because everyone is doing sooo much better now since the Democrats took over. now it's the 'have much less and the still have nots because they continue to squander their money on lottery tickets and cigarettes.'

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Shane Garrett 8 years, 3 months ago

50% of very job is just showing up. Obama ain't done jack for me whats he done for you?

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Lacy Mohler 8 years, 3 months ago

The ability to pass a pee test. That can knock out at least 50% of an employer's job applicants.

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Flap Doodle 8 years, 3 months ago

Do you like movies about gladiators?

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ASBESTOS 8 years, 3 months ago

what the heck is a "para educator".

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wordgenie8 8 years, 3 months ago

You cheaters--I put smarter comments on here than almost anyone, mainly because I'm such a good worker who values responsibility and motivation and successfully works in very high-functioning, challenging positions. My tips were apparently removed when they could have been very educational to others. Someone must want to dumb us down so no one notices the obvious sharpies who populate Lawrence.

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Derek Neibarger 8 years, 3 months ago

duh, the answer is "attendance". you could be a complete idiot and a rude jackass, but as long as you show up for your shift, everyday, you'll keep your job.

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RoeDapple 8 years, 3 months ago

wordgenie8 doesn't make any better sense now than he/she/it did as begin60..............

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