Top traits and skills that employers are looking for

It's a perennial question among hopeful job applicants: "What traits and skills should I highlight in my application materials?" There are skills employers look for that are specific to a job role, and then there are the skills and traits that are universally applicable to the workplace. In terms of broadly relevant skill sets, most strong job candidates will possess certain qualities, whether learned through experience or developed innately, that fall under the broad categories of leadership and collaboration skills and traits.

In addition, while sought-after job skills and traits are often written about as if they were entirely distinct categories when it comes to the working world, it's better to think about them as both different from and dependent on each other. That's why this article details important leadership and collaboration skills employers look for and explains how individual traits can enhance these particular skills.

Leadership skills and traits

People's ideas of good leadership differ significantly, so anyone building a leadership skills list will include different areas of expertise. Still, certain effective leadership skills rank highly among employers. They include the ability to motivate others, set attainable goals, provide actionable feedback, and plan strategically. And though anyone can learn these skills, the particular personality traits below undoubtedly enhance them:

"While sought-after job skills and traits are often written about as if they were entirely distinct categories, when it comes to the working world, it's better to think about them as both different from and dependent on each other."

Self-assured

Related to but distinct from the notion of confidence is the characteristic of self-assuredness. While confidence is sometimes viewed as a performance for the benefit of others, self-assuredness is a stable belief in your own abilities. Self-assuredness means knowing what you're good at executing those things competently. But it also means knowing where you lack ability or experience and working toward filling those gaps through teamwork and training. As Nancy Clark, author of "18 Holes for Leadership," says, "You need to be clear on what your strengths are and what complementary strengths you need from others."

Compassionate

It's an underappreciated reality that compassionate leaders inspire passionate employees and clients. When a leader can cultivate an authentic sense of care, it motivates their team. Tom Armour, co-founder of the recruitment firm High Return Selection, understood this when he said, "Talented people want to work for leaders and organizations that truly care about their employees and the communities in which they operate." Leading with compassion has other benefits, too — it can enhance company culture and boost a brand's image.

Influential

When you're a leader, you must convince people to do what you've determined needs to be done. Sometimes, this is achieved through strong persuasive skills, but often it's more about behaving in a way that establishes you as an influential person in your organization. This is probably the most consequential leadership trait and must be tactfully employed. Soliciting your team's ideas and feedback, distributing tasks and assigning roles based on individual strengths, and acknowledging team members' achievements and contributions are all crucial to becoming an influential leader.

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Collaboration skills and traits employers look for

Even the most independent-seeming job roles at times require collaboration with others. That's why the skills and traits that fall under the umbrella of the "ability to work collaboratively" (a requirement you'll find on many job postings) are highly sought-after and transferrable qualities that employers will be looking for in a job applicant.

Good collaboration skills include creativity, the ability to adapt to change, conflict resolution skills, and the ability to identify and manage stress levels. You can develop collaboration skills through practice, but it can also be helpful to apply the following traits to enhance your collaborative abilities:

Communicative

When it comes to collaborating with others, communication is crucial. In any team, you'll need to communicate frequently and clearly. Often, skillful collaborators will have a talent for all three types of communication: verbal, written, and visual. Being communicative keeps your collaborators apprised of the work you've done on a project and engages their support when you need help. In addition, being communicative can inspire you to share useful knowledge with others and build a strong rapport with your team.

Self-aware

Self-awareness is more than a job skill — it's a life skill. And it is more than the ability to understand your own strengths and weaknesses. Self-aware people know what triggers their stress and how to manage it effectively. A self-aware person can identify when they are wrong or have made a mistake, and they can take ownership of their errors. When it comes to collaboration, self-awareness can help you manage your time, accept tasks that pertain to your skill set, and navigate the diversity of personalities that exist in any workplace and on any team.

Conscientious

Unfortunately, not all teams gel well together. Personalities can clash, and team morale can wane. However, if you're a conscientious person, meaning you're driven to do what is right and complete your work as best you can, then you'll be less affected by conflicting personalities or disappointing team dynamics. This is because conscientious people accomplish their work in accordance with their own values, regardless of their work environment.

While it's important to highlight traits and skills that are relevant to individual job postings, collaboration and leadership skills and traits are broadly applicable things that employers look for. Where possible, you should integrate them with other job-specific skills in your resume, feature them in your cover letter, and demonstrate them during the job interview process.