ZU Magazine is a publication of ZU Media. Below is an article from Issue 4, “Character.”

Staff Writer | Nicole Johnson

For college seniors, the countdown to graduation has started and the race for jobs is on. Everyone is busy updating their resumes, getting last minute connections on LinkedIn and making sure that they have an all-star cast of references.

These things are important when applying for a job, but candidates are noticed for more than how great they sound on paper. Employers are seeking more than someone whose skills meet the mandatory requirements of the job description.

Andrew Henck, director of Azusa Pacific’s Center for Career and Calling, said, “Employers are not only looking to hire candidates who can fulfill the technical requirements of the job, but who fit with the culture and values of the organization.”

Employers look for someone who, besides their list of skills, can impress them with their personality.

Universum is a Stockholm-based employer branding firm that annually surveys over 400,000 students and professionals worldwide on job-related issues. According to them, the top three traits an employer is looking for upon hiring are professionalism, high-energy and confidence.

Employers are perceptive and able to discern between qualified and unqualified candidates the second they walk in the door. Research has shown that before a person even begins talking about his or her resume and accomplishments, an employer has already taken note about whether or not he or she exudes these top traits. This may seem like a quick judgement, but consider the benefits of letting your character and personality speak for itself.

Susan Peppercorn is CEO of Positive Workplace Partners and author of “Ditch Your Inner Critic at Work: Evidence-Based Strategies to Thrive in Your Career.”

“Knowing that someone has the experience and skills to be successful in a job is paramount, but when two candidates have similar capabilities, often the soft skills are why one person gets hired over another,” Peppercorn said.

Some soft skills from a CareerBuilder study that can make the difference between a strong candidate and a new employee are being a multitasker, an independent thinker and a team player.

Graduation is just around the corner for senior applied exercise science major Alyse Darnall. She said, “It’s comforting to know that employers are looking for more than your resume in writing.”

The Universum study’s example of a candidate who displays what employers are looking for is someone who walks into an interview with their hand outstretched for a handshake, has done their homework on the interviewer and company and is dressed in a way that matches the standards of the workplace.

Since personality traits are difficult to show on a resume, it is essential to highlight them when speaking to a hiring manager. Henck noted that the best way to show your character is to demonstrate how you handled yourself in a crisis or how you were a leader during a difficult time.

When it comes to ideal candidates for a position, Henck said, “Now more than ever, the need for people of integrity who embody a good work ethic is critical, no matter what career you are embarking upon.”

Character plays a huge role in the world of job-hunting. Applicants with integrity are searched for and noticed by employers. Don’t withhold your identity for fear that the employer will reject you. Let you and your resume stand out from the others.