Qualities Every Hiring Manager Seeks

“What are hiring managers looking for in their new hires?” is one of the most commonly asked questions by veteran candidates seeking new opportunities. And although every hiring manager is different, there are some universal qualities that stand out across the board, writes *Forbes*. Luckily for veteran job seekers, they have many of these attributes already in hand.

Hiring managers are always on the hunt for:

##**People who connect the dots.**##

Being able to connect the dots shows that you can see the big picture. It also tells interviewers that you’ve looked beyond the job description and done some homework to understand the company, its business, and its competitors. Veterans have been trained to see the big picture, and recognize how their role contributes to completing a mission.

*Forbes* notes that someone who connects dots might ask their hiring manager “So, this position is a Regional Sales Coordinator and your company services a six-state region from this office, if I’m understanding what I read on your website. I’m guessing that this person supports your outside sales staff for the region. Is that accurate? I’d love to hear more about your sales organization.”

##**People with ideas about how they will attack the position.**##

Know your own story. Articulate where you’ve been in your career and what you learned at each stop. Since you’ll likely be asked about likely scenarios and problems the person in the role will encounter, place yourself mentally into the job beforehand. That way, you can make articulate suggestions about possible solutions. Your ideas don’t have to be 100% correct, but they do show you’ve given some thought to how you’d be a problem solver.

##**Storytellers.**##

Veterans love to tell war stories, so tailor a couple of your best to share in an interview. Outline a problem, the steps you took to resolve it, and the result. Use specifics – man hours saved, promotions, awards, increased efficiency, cost savings, etc. This will help others visualize you in action.

##**Someone who asks smart and insightful questions.**##

Asking smart questions may be even better than giving smart answers according to *Forbes*. “What is the biggest challenge in this role?” is a good start. As the interview progresses, you’ll come up with more questions. Your interviewer’s responses will help you understand the job more fully.

Finally, note the names and titles of the people you speak to viewing with, and make notes on the topics you covered with them. This will help add a personal touch when it comes time to write thank-you notes (which should be written promptly after the interview).


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