10 Things That Require ZERO Talent

Soft skills you’ve developed in school, at work and in other personal experiences can give you the upper hand when applying for jobs.

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When applying for a new role there are a lot of boxes to tick when it comes to skills, qualifications, and experience. But there are actually some important qualities that don’t require any talent at all! Soft skills. Surprisingly, these are some of the characteristics even the most knowledgeable or industry-experienced candidates lack. If you say, “YES I have all of these qualities,” then you are putting yourself ahead of other candidates who don’t have them!

It is important to communicate soft skills to your potential employer. Include these qualities on your resume, and during your interview give specific examples relating to each point to demonstrate how you have executed them in a previous workplace.

Here are some things recruiters and hiring managers look out for when determining whether you’re fit for the job!

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10 things that require ZERO talent:

1) Being on time

Show up to your interview on time and if you’re going to be late, give the person you’re meeting a phone call so they know how long they can expect to wait. Being considerate of someone else’s time will ensure you leave a good impression.

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2) Work ethic

Give examples of when you’ve put your head down to get the work done. You won’t be expected to burn yourself out on the job. Hiring managers just want to know that you’ll be dedicated and not lazy.

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3) Effort

Similar to the previous point, give examples of what you’ve done to complete a difficult task. Show that you’re willing to take initiative. You’ll learn a lot on the job but for someone to help you learn, you’ll need to help them by trying.

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4) Attitude

Let’s be real, sometimes, there will be tasks that you won’t want to do but need to. Hiring managers want to know that you’ll be a team player and complete tasks that you may not always enjoy. Try to give an example of how you’ve remained positive in a situation where it may have been hard to.

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5) Energy

You don’t necessarily need an example for this one. Just make sure to eat right, get enough sleep and get in some exercise so you can perform well in the interview. Bring in the same energy that you would if you were going into your first day on the job. The hiring manager wants to know that they can rely on you to take care of yourself so you can perform well.

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6) Being prepared

You can pause to take a moment to digest each question during the interview but you don’t want to get stumped and find yourself making up something on the spot. Practice answering a few common questions before you go into your interview. It also helps to recall your experiences so that they’re fresh in your mind and you can put your best foot forward.

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7) Passion

Explain why you’ve chosen to apply for the job. What appeals to you and what ideas will you bring to the table? Hiring managers want to know if you’re going to go above and beyond expectations. Being passionate is also a good indication to the hiring manager that you’ll stay for the long run. They don’t want to waste their resources to train someone who might leave their business a month later.

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8) Being coachable

Show that you have the right attitude and believe in your ability to learn more and do better. If you’re doubting yourself, it’s going to be hard for someone to teach you new skills. Give examples of what you’ve done to build your skills and learn more. Examples could be reading, using skillshare, taking on extra projects or finding a mentor.

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9) Doing extra

Include extracurricular activities you did in uni or talk about some of your initiatives in previous roles. If you had to decide between someone who would do the bare minimum or someone who would go the extra mile, who would you choose? Hiring managers want to see all signs that show you’ll be a great asset to the team.

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10) Body language

Face the interviewer, keep eye contact and give subtle nods to show that you’re listening. Relax your arms and use your hands to make gestures when you’re speaking to make yourself seem more natural rather than rigid.

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If you’re ready for your next career opportunity, check out our job page here!