Traits CEOs and Executives Look for When They Hire

You may or may not be in the market for a new job. Yet, what executives look for when they staff their organizations suggests as much about the priorities and personalities as the new hire's own. So if you intend to set up a strategic partnership with them, sell to them, socialize with them, or work for them, learning what they value never hurts.

Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, says that he looks for "personality or passion." Angela Ahrendts, senior vice president of Apple Retail, says that when she interviews people for a top slot, she's trying to determine how they think--their analytical skills. Ralph de la Vega, President and CEO at AT&T Mobile and Business Solutions says he values most someone's integrity and credibility--things that aren't found on résumés.

"Qualifying" Qualities

• Hardworking
• Dependable
• Positive
• Self-motivated
• Team-oriented
• Organized
• Works well under pressure
• Effective communicator
• Flexible
• Confident

But these traits help qualify you to get your foot in the door. The ante goes up if you plan to move up. And if you plan to move up, you need to know what the decision makers at the top value most.

Branding Qualities

• Strategic thinker
• Risk assessor/taker based on solid analysis
• Decision maker
• Emotional stability
• Chief marketer
• Cultural transformer
• Connector
• Visionary, storyteller, motivator

What's Your Trademark?

You'll notice a key difference between these two lists: In the first group, all the items but one are descriptive. They describe one skill, trait, attitude, habit, or characteristic. (Yes, a few like "team-oriented" could be modified to a noun, i.e. "team player.")

But still, none of the "Top 10" traits are important enough to overshadow everything else about the person so that the ONE trait stands as most memorable, most important, or most valuable to the exclusion of all the rest. To paraphrase the "it takes a village" cliché, it take a whole lot of these 10 traits to get hired.

On the other hand, in the second list, the items are stated as nouns (except for "emotional stability"). Hiring executives talk of people with these qualities as if that quality alone mattered enough for the hire as in, "I've narrowed my hiring decision down to Kimberly, Carlos, or the Strategic Thinker." On second thought, if none of those three applicants works out, I may call back John, Sara, the Visionary, or the Risk Assessor for another interview."

These overpowering traits become your trademark. Your reputation, influence, and career opportunities grow from these.