Yahoo Finance Employers reveal the top traits that could cost you a job
Arrogance, dishonesty and closed-mindedness are just a few traits that could very well cost you a job, research shows.
While skills and experience are key areas companies look at when hiring, three quarters (77%) of the UK’s top 200 employers told job board CV-Library that personality is most important when considering hiring someone for a job.
In fact, it’s more important that your education (13%) or appearance (12%) – and some traits are huge top turn-offs.
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Arrogance can jeopardise your chances of securing a job. A whopping 65% of UK employers picked this frequently-encountered trait as the one most likely to put them off hiring a candidate.
However, as dishonesty came a close second at 62%, it’s best not to get caught out in any lies.
Bosses are, of course, looking for workers they can depend on, so show up on time and try not to seem reliable. Those who seem unreliable are unlikely to get hired by 60% of employers.
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Keep an open mind if you want that job, as 26% of employers cited closed-mindedness – being stubborn, prejudiced or discriminatory – as one of the most off-putting traits in a interviewee.
Morality – being a good person and doing the right thing – is just as important in work as it is in life. A quarter (24%) of employers said they would not hire someone who seemed “immoral”.
Ignorance is almost as unappealing. A quarter (23%) of employers said they would not hire somebody who seemed unaware, discourteous or rude.
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Entitlement is definitely not a good look in the workplace. Almost a fifth (18%) of bosses said they will not hire a person who acts like they they deserve privileges or special treatment.
Teamwork is critical to a business's success, so it’s hardly surprising 17% of employers are particularly put off by candidates who seem self-involved.
No one wants to walk on eggshells in the office, so 16% of employers are on the lookout for signs of a short temper, or downright cruelty in job interviews.
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Interestingly, when it comes to experience, education and potential, employers believe potential (62%) is more important than experience (35%), while only 2% said education is most important.
Employers cited being reliable (62%), confident (61%), honest (58%), honourable (51%), loyal (32%), friendly (28%) and self-disciplined (27%) as the traits they look out for when hiring.
