When compiling a resume, applicants usually describe “Work Experience” in great detail, and the “Personal Qualities” section often remains blank; many treat this item formally, underestimating its significance. But for the employer, this information is no less important than the professional skills, achievements and functional responsibilities of the applicant at the previous place of work. By indicating your positive personal qualities in your resume, you will have a much greater chance of attracting attention to your candidacy.
List of positive human qualities for a resume
The employer considers each character trait from the point of view of convenience and usefulness for the company. Therefore, the set of qualities you include in your resume should depend on the specifics of the vacancy. Of course, all the personal qualities listed below cannot be inherent in one person; you need to limit yourself to only 4-6 characteristics.
For convenience, the list of positive qualities is divided into subgroups.
Qualities that influence relationships in a team
The ability to work and make decisions independently, to be responsible for the results of one’s work, non-conflict and communication skills are important for any position and in any company. These qualities are essential for teamwork and will always be a priority. Nobody wants to hire into a well-coordinated department a person who is incapable of communication, a brawler who despises everyone around him, an employee who needs constant prompting and control, who shifts responsibility to others.
- communication skills;
- goodwill;
- tact;
- decency;
- no conflict;
- I can hear others;
- I can find an individual approach to each (client, child);
- I can carry on a conversation on any topic;
- I treat people (clients, colleagues) with respect;
- I do not lose my composure in conflict situations;
- ability to find a common language with colleagues (children, students).
Traits that are relevant to work
Personal qualities that help characterize the applicant as a responsible person, ready to work to achieve his goals, able to plan his work, showing persistence and patience - all that a manager expects from his subordinates.
- hard work;
- scrupulousness;
- discipline;
- determination;
- ambition;
- independence;
- multitasking;
- organization;
- punctuality;
- perseverance;
- desire for professional growth;
- demanding of oneself and results;
- stress resistance;
- focus on results;
- you can rely on me in important matters (tasks);
- concentration on goals;
- I treat my work conscientiously;
- I always achieve my goals (results);
- ability to make decisions independently;
- I take a responsible approach to doing my work;
- attention to details;
- I have a creative approach to solving any issues;
- I maintain and maintain order in everything;
- the ability to find non-standard solutions even for the most complex problems;
- I bring the work to its logical conclusion.
Personal qualities that will form the right image
Another group of personal qualities that will help you form the right image. All the qualities presented here are universal; choose only those that are most inherent to you and that can help you get the desired position.
- self confidence;
- sincerity;
- straightforwardness;
- honesty;
- integrity;
- integrity;
- creativity;
- initiative;
- diplomacy;
- responsibility;
- reliability;
- determination;
- politeness;
- persistence;
- stress resistance;
- self-criticism;
- enterprise;
- openness (readiness) to new knowledge.
Example of positive qualities for a resume of a salesperson, sales manager
A good “sales person” must have special qualities and constantly develop them in himself. If the applicant fails to convince the employer that, in addition to knowledge of sales technology, he meets the profile of the vacancy in terms of personal qualities, then most likely he will not get the job. So what does an employer want to see in a salesperson's resume?
- Ability to persuade. Probably the most important quality that sales employees should have.
- Ability to learn, readiness for new knowledge. This quality is important for many professions and positions, but for a sales manager it is one of the main ones. You cannot sell a product or service without studying everything that is connected with it.
Don't forget to mention in your resume how you educated yourself to reach your professional level. In additional education, you can list the courses and trainings you have attended. Briefly describe how the acquired knowledge and skills help in your work.
- Self-confidence, communication skills. Only a confident, competent specialist is able to properly structure a conversation with a potential client and sell a service or product. Also important in sales is the ability to find an approach to the client and be able to communicate correctly.
- Decency, honesty. These qualities are of enormous importance. Finding a decent and honest employee is difficult. It's no secret that salespeople often have to be cunning, hiding product shortcomings. But, if we are talking about a large and stable company and the concept of “customer focus” is not an empty phrase.
- Resistance to stress, ability to resolve conflict situations. The qualities are rare and therefore extremely valuable. If a rude word or an unexpected whim of a client can throw a person off balance, then don’t be a salesman. People in this profession must be “thick-skinned”, in the good sense of the word. They must remain calm and cool in the most acute and conflict situations. And not just remain calm, but also be able to find a compromise in order to take the conversation in a calm, productive direction.
- Ambition, dedication, focus on results, that is, sales. These qualities must be expressed very clearly. There are employees who are able to maintain a certain work process, and there are those who strive for maximum results.
This feature can be emphasized in your resume by describing your achievements in previous jobs, indicating what you were able to achieve and what you did for it. Use verbs in the completed form for this: made, increased, studied, created, developed. It would also be correct to support this information with numbers.
- Activity. It's hard to imagine a successful salesperson who is passive. Moreover, activity should be manifested not only in work, but also in life.
The applicant will emphasize this trait by mentioning in his resume that he loves to play sports, meet new people, and travel.
An example of positive qualities for a resume for a manager position
A leader, especially if we are talking about a top manager, is most effective when his knowledge and experience are strengthened by the necessary personal qualities. There is a general portrait that can be taken as a basis - these are the qualities that will emphasize the ability to lead a team, maintain a “fighting spirit” in the team, and achieve great results.
- Leadership, the ability to lead and motivate people. A true leader knows how to inspire subordinates and create relationships in a team that will maximize the potential of employees. The leader makes decisions and is responsible for their consequences. Only such a leader enjoys the respect and trust of the team.
- Purposeful and demanding. The pursuit of a goal is accompanied by high demands. The manager has to demand from his subordinates, sometimes in a harsh manner, that they comply with deadlines and perform their duties in a high-quality manner. But this demand must be justified. A tyrant leader, just like a soft-bodied boss, will not bring any benefit to the company.
- Stress resistance. Everyday work with people and enormous responsibility lead to constant stress. An applicant applying for a managerial position must be able to think and act calmly in this state, and also have the practical skill to compensate for stress.
- Optimism. The positive attitude of the manager creates a favorable atmosphere in the team, employees feel confident, and this has a positive effect on the quality of work.
- Systems thinking, independence. The manager has to make decisions on which the fate of the team and the unit sometimes depends. Therefore, the ability to foresee the outcome, possible developments of events, and the ability to prevent negative consequences are very important. This is possible if a person thinks systematically and is ready to invest his time and energy in solving strategic problems.
- Self-criticism, objectivity. These are very rare personal qualities, but they are the ones that increase the effectiveness of a leader. A person who is able to adequately evaluate himself will respect the opinions of others. Such a leader will enable his subordinates to realize their potential, grow professionally and move higher up the career ladder.
- Self confidence. The head of a company or large division needs this character trait. Once you show doubt or the slightest weakness, you can lose the trust of your subordinates. And it will be very difficult to regain this trust.
What not to write
Under no circumstances do recruitment experts recommend pointing out laziness as a shortcoming. Even if you have a habit of being lazy on weekends. The second taboo is the fear of taking responsibility. Since any specialist, to one degree or another, has to make independent decisions dictated by professional necessity and it is foolish to avoid this.
You should also not highlight the habit of sleeping longer, unpunctuality and inattention.
It is also not recommended to attribute to yourself negative qualities that you do not possess in order to look better and more objective in the eyes of the employer. It is better to choose 2-3 weak traits than to indicate a list that is at odds with reality.
In what cases can positive qualities cause harm?
Typically, recruiters describe in detail the psychological profile of the desired candidate for a position, so you should pay attention to this and edit your resume in accordance with the requirements. It is very important to correctly determine to what extent this or that quality you specified is suitable for the vacancy. Any positive quality, if presented inappropriately, can cause harm. For example:
- A sales manager should not claim that he works well in a team. The salesperson achieves the result on his own: he finds the client himself, negotiates himself and sells himself. An applicant applying for the position of general director should not focus on this character trait. A leader must be able to organize and lead a team.
- If the vacancy is at the level of a department head, then there is no need to focus on the ability to make decisions independently; this may not be necessary, for example, if the superior manager does not like competitors.
- A sales manager should not write in his resume about his perseverance and diligence; this is more suitable for an accountant; it is better to indicate that you are creative and sociable.
- An accountant cannot be given qualities such as leadership or a creative approach to business. Creativity is not appropriate in this profession; such an applicant cannot wait for an invitation to an interview.
- If the vacancy is in the creative category, then modesty and pedantry will be the weaknesses of the applicant.
Let your positive qualities become the final chord in your resume, which will dispel all the employer’s doubts and convince him that you are not only a professional in your field, but also a harmonious person.
How to correctly indicate the desired position in a resume?
What negative personal qualities should you include on your resume?
Checking the veracity of what is written
Most job seekers tend to embellish their resumes, so employers invite applicants for interviews and ask additional questions that help reveal a person better.
For example, they will want to know your opinion on a specific conflict, and based on the answers received, they will conclude how truthful the answers in your resume are regarding squabbles and scandals.
There are a number of simple rules to remember when interviewing:
When talking to a person, you need to look him in the eye.- Try not to look away while talking.
- You need to listen to your interlocutor’s questions to the end.
- Speak clearly and calmly.
- Don't indulge in familiarity by making cutting jokes.
- Try to intrigue and surprise the employer with your knowledge that is directly related to the desired position.
