When preparing for an interview, applicants are often taught to highlight the attributes they believe hiring managers are most impressed by. According to Chicago Now, the most coveted qualities in an applicant are flexibility, listening  skills, confidence, enthusiasm and the ability to work well in a team[1]. While these may be enviable attributes for potential employees, they are not all that matters. Discover the top three underrated attributes that hiring managers should be looking for at every interview.

The Ability to Work Independently

There is a big emphasis in almost every work environment to hire candidates who get along well with others, can work as part of a team and can be diplomatic with their colleagues. However, it may be equally important to look for someone who is able to work independently. Before a deadline or when a project requires individual attention, your company may need an employee who can buckle down and work alone for hours at a time without constant monitoring or reinforcement. According to Workopolis, “It comes in handy to have a highly skilled employee that can just take the reins and produce results without too much instruction or supervision.[2]”

The Drive to Experiment – And Fail

Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, has a number of interesting principles when it comes to creating an efficient and successful workplace. One of these keys, according to Bloomberg Business Week, is retaining an experimental attitude about everything. He says that Amazon, or any other company, should seek to “reduce the costs of experimentation so that thousands, not hundreds, of experiments take place.[3]” When seeking out new employees, an underrated quality to keep an eye out for is an experimental nature and the confidence to keep experimenting even when a few past ideas ultimately end up failing.

Inquisitive Nature

Hiring managers are often pleased with the candidate who shows up informed about the business and ready to answer all the tough questions. However, a better choice might end up being the candidate who asks serious questions about company growth, their place in the hierarchy and more. According to an article from the University of California, an interview should be a two-way street that involves both sides asking questions and learning more[4].

Some traits, such as a strong work ethic, enthusiasm and communication skills, are at the top of the list for hiring managers. By also including these underrated qualities, companies can benefit from having more diverse and well-rounded employees.

[2] http://www.workopolis.com/content/advice/article/6-underrated-qualities-of-truly-amazing-employees/

[3] http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-03-25/amazons-jeff-bezos-and-apollo-11-dot-hes-still-innovating

[4] http://www.law.berkeley.edu/1149.htm