16 Traits of Winning Employees

There is no such thing as the perfect employee. However, there are certain tell-tale signs that will either allude to the fact that a hire will work out or will turn into a headache.

The saying goes – a job seeker is either part of the problem or part of the solution. When a new hire is part of the problem, they cost the company money, emotional energy and if nothing is done about it can become a significant management issue.

On the other hand, when a job seeker who is hired utilizes the below traits they currently possess and work to acquire the ones they don’t yet have, they turn into leaders and winners within the organization.

In the experience of our recruiting agency, the individuals with the below traits become the wealthiest, most successful and respected in the professional world.

1. A strong work ethic coupled with a passion for improvement. Work ethic is the foundation of anything worthwhile. In life, the most rewarding goals require diligent work and focus. Intelligence, creativity and passion become nearly useless without the willingness to work hard.

2. Exceptional organizational skills and an understanding of the time, business and money organization brings.

3. High energy that becomes contagious and is one significant component to becoming a leader.

4. Positive outlook with a realistic sense of what to the difference is between optimistic and overly confident and unrealistic.

5. Strong sense of accountability. In life and work, things don’t always go as planned. Mistakes are part of the journey of becoming better and better…unless you don’t fess up to the mishaps which is a habit that will hurt other’s perceptions of you for the rest of your career and life.

6. Confidence in varied social and professional settings with a keen ability to put oneself in the shoes of others and see their point of view.

7. The ability to communicate effectively with everyone from the newest clerk to the CEO with respect, appropriate demeanor, and friendliness

8. Professional appearance and business formal apparel for client calls. It is a fact that interviewees, co-workers, clients and bosses significantly factor in your looks when judging things such as competency, intelligence, drive and overall fit within the corporate culture.

9. Integrity in personal, professional and financial matters at all times.

10. The ability to work with a team of varied skills and personalities. A strong desire to build and maintain substantive professional relationships with clients and coworkers is the foundation of leadership, happiness and success.

11. Foresight. The ability to see around corners and anticipate market changes. Great employees use their brains and are perceptive of what’s going on around them with co-workers, bosses, competitors, industry trends and anything else that will affect their ability to do their job and assist the organization in becoming successful. Hindsight is universal, foresight can change an employee’s universe (both professionally and personally).

12. The ability to be realistic about one’s skills and abilities and those of one’s coworkers.

13. A habit of seeing work through to its completion.

14. The ability to analyze problems from a neutral standpoint and discover creative ways to remedy any and all issues.

15. Having a professional, robust, diversified and informative presence on the web.

16. Intelligence both emotionally and intellectually speaking.

Job Seeker Assistance

For job seekers, this information can also be used to improve communication during the interview process and ensure that key points are discussed throughout the conversations with the employer. Remember that the most inhibiting habits are hard to live with, difficult to get rid off, but end up paying off in spades.

Picture of Ken Sundheim

Ken Sundheim

Ken Sundheim is the CEO of KAS Placement Sales and Marketing Recruiters, a sales and marketing recruiting firm specializing in staffing business development and marketing professionals around the U.S. Ken has been published in Forbes, Chicago Tribune, AOL, Business Insider, Ere.net, Recruiter.com, Huffington Post and many others. He has also appeared on MTV, Fox Business News and spoken at some of the country's leading business schools on HR, job search and recruitment.

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