Georgia DOL Job Search Handbook - Chapter 3 - Employer Expectations "He who has the gold makes the rules" - Employers are people, too, and their jobs often depend on who they hire.
Since profit is the bottom line for business, employers must ask themselves, "Can this job applicant make or save money for my company?" The decision to hire one person instead of another often hinges on the answer.
To convince an employer that hiring you is a wise investment, you must meet his expectations. While you may not be sure of the specific expectations of an employer, it's not difficult to conclude that, in general, most employers are looking for the same basic characteristics.
For instance, imagine that you are about to hire an assistant, someone to help you look for a job. Consider that this employee will:
be with you eight hours a day represent you to potential employers be paid from your future earnings What kinds of information/impressions will you be looking for during the interview that will help you choose among several applicants? Write down the characteristics you consider important to your hiring decision.
Now choose the 3 you consider crucial to your final decision. Compare your hiring criteria to that most frequently cited by employers when asked, "During an interview, what characteristics influence your final decision?"
1. Appearance - Does his/her appearance convey pride in himself/herself and his/her ability to do the job?
Dress - Is his/her attire at least one step above what one would wear on the job? Grooming & Hygiene - Does he/she project a clean, neat image from head to toe? Manner - Is his/her behavior/attitude polite, friendly, confident? Paperwork - Is his/her application and/or résumé neat and complete?
2. Dependability - Can he/she be counted on to do the job?
Attendance - Will he/she be at work regularly? Punctuality - Will he/she report to work on time and return from lunch and breaks on time? Will he/she complete duties timely? Reliability - Will he/she accept responsibility, follow rules, and learn as much as possible about the job?
3. Skills - Does he/she possess the skills or the potential abilities to learn and perform the job? Is he/she willing to learn new skills? Does he/she have experience or related experience?
Are your expectations very different? Although priorities may differ, all employers want basically the same thing: a dependable, neat person who possesses the skills to make or save money for their business. Successful job hunters know that the title, responsibility and years of experience on their last job means less to new employers than their proven ability to do the job.
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