| What Employers (Say They) Are Looking For |
Originally published on Don Appleby's blog. To see the article in it's original format, click here.  I'm going to share some information with you. These are a few brief excerpts from an article entitled "They're Hiring" that I came across today at finance.yahoo.com. The article was written by Christopher Tkaczyk. If you're at all interested in the positions for which some of these Fortune 100 companies are (apparently) hiring, then I encourage you to go read the entire article. I help coach people on technology careers and so it's part of my mission to point out these kinds of opportunities and help you prepare for them.Now, I know that many of you (us) have grown skeptical about these kinds of articles. I personally know of an extremely bright young man with outstanding speaking and writing skills, an excellent work ethic, a servant's heart, a fantastic sense of humor, and an ability to learn and apply anything FAST who has probably applied to over 100 companies, organizations, and government entities in the last year - with not even a response. I think this is not uncommon. Personally, my reaction to this is rather cynical: this is a joke. (I'm just being honest here). Nonetheless, let's take this at face value. Here are a few quotes relative to what these companies are looking for in a candidate: 1 – Candidates impress us when they show insight (understanding customers, company, financial impact) and self-awareness (personal brand, how they are perceived by others, how customers see them). The ability to anticipate a conversation's direction, and the ability to quickly assess customer needs are big. 2 – We look for candidates who focus on the customer, are clear thinkers, generate new and creative ideas, value teamwork, and are experts in their field. 3 – Strong candidates demonstrate a focus on customers, results and performance, business acumen and leadership capabilities. Energetic, passionate and team-oriented individuals integrate well... 4 – We look for individuals who can collaboratively lead teams and deliver results. 5 – ... looking for innovative thought leaders and skilled technologists across a range of disciplines. Give us examples of your ability to work in a team or group and take on leadership roles. 6 – Show initiative and desire; demonstrate that you are interested in joining the organization by attending the company's events and meeting its recruiters and leaders. 7 – We are looking for relentless problem-solvers who not only have strong technical skills, but who are also good communicators, can challenge the status quo, and thrive in a sometimes ambiguous environment. 8 – We look for candidates who are passionate about technology and innovation... 9 – ... technical proficiency required for the position as well as proven leadership, teamwork and interpersonal skills. 10 – ...looking for innovators, inventors and builders across the business... 11 – ...we believe that every employee is a leader, whether you're an individual contributor or a manager of a large team. 12 – Our recruiters look for people who demonstrate a love for learning, who are self-driven and flexible, who have the desire to operate not as an individual but as a collaborative team member pushing others and themselves to excel. 13 – We love adaptability, agility, and the ability to think beyond today. 14 – We are looking for professionals who exemplify the strategic thinking, innovation, integrity, personal leadership, and results orientation... 15 – We are interested not only in what someone can do but also how they do it. We want to know that the behaviors that candidates use to approach problems or challenges are consistent with our values. There you have it. I appreciate Mr. Tkaczyk's article and I commend it to you. I hope that there are some real opportunities here.
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