What are hiring managers looking for?

By Joan Johnson OTR/L, MPA-HA
​Master in Health Administration
Department Hiring Manager

How do you represent yourself in the most attractive way to stand out from other applicants and shine for a potential employer?

Hiring managers want to have employees who align with the following:

• Fit with the organization and department culture: as we all know, clinical skills and documentation systems can be learned. Hiring an employee with ideal personality traits for the team and organizational culture are one of the most important factors in hiring a new employee.
  
• Eagerness and capacity to learn: are you the type of employee who is motivated, responsible for your own learning, willing to ask questions and seek answers?
  
• Integrity and strong ethics: are you a competent and professional employee who is trusted to represent the company professionally in all situations?
  
• Enthusiasm: are you motivated to learn about the company, their culture, processes, and ways of providing care? Are you willing to reach out to others and get to know your colleagues?
  
• Commitment and organization loyalty: are you an employee who is invested in the organization and department, and not looking to move and transition into another position in 6 months? Hiring managers want to have an impression that you are worth investing time, training, and energy into adding you to their team.
  
• Invested in the well being of the organization: if you come off too pushy or desperate for a position or wanting to get the foot in the door, a hiring manager post likely will pass you by. They are wanting to know that you want to be working for THEIR organization, for the right reasons.
  
• Flexibility: are you someone who can rise to the occasion when there is a challenge? For example, your colleague called out sick and you have a last-minute change to your schedule. Are you going to be upset, rude and disgruntled or are you going to be flexible and accommodating?
  
• Open to feedback: hiring managers want to know that you can have a conversation about your strengths and be open to areas of growth. You need to reflect that you can manage conflict, negotiate challenging situations, and are committed to learning and growing as an employee.
  

Including these key “soft skills” in your professional resume, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile will make your documents attractive to both Talent Acquisition and Hiring Managers. Practicing behavioral interviewing with these factors in mind will help make the long-lasting impression that you desire.