This post was written by a guest contributor.
Anyone pursuing a new career now faces more distinct hurdles compared to job seekers 20 years ago. The expectations, skill sets, and experiences look completely different, yet it’s still sometimes unclear what employers are really looking for. What most first-time applicants aren’t aware of is that employers look beyond what’s written in résumés — they also look into some hidden qualifications, which applicants must consider if they want to up their chances of getting noticed by hiring managers.
So, if you’re applying for jobs and are yet to secure interviews, you may need to get creative with how you portray yourself. Beyond the skills and qualifications on your résumé, these are the 7 performance markers that employers are now screening for to find high-potential candidates.
1. Clean digital footprint and decent online presence
Employers are scraping social media profiles and job platforms to see how applicants present themselves online. They may also run your name on Google search just to see what appears. Even if these are used for nonprofessional purposes, applicants should consider how their online presence positions them against applicants who use the world wide web with greater intention and purpose.
Before sending out your applications, consider reviewing your feeds. Analyze the tone and potential perception viewers may have of your posts and photos. Long, diary-like entries ranting about friend groups and chaotic pictures from a recent party may signal a red flag to an employer. Even re-shared posts can say a lot about a prospective employee.
Social media screenings are legal if companies follow regulations, and more employers are now using it for both active and passive hiring. Businesses gain significant insights about an employee’s behaviors and habits from viewing social media platforms, which one would never get just by reading résumés. That’s why before sending applications, it pays to review your online presence and make sure it also showcases your potential as a professional, not just your lifestyle.
2. Proactive communication style
An applicant may have spent hours choosing every word to write on their résumé, but turn out to be less meticulous in other forms of communication. In many cases, a hiring manager could email an interviewee and get a first impression right away based on how a candidate responds. That’s why it’s important to sound authentic and enthusiastic while maintaining formality. The responses should be direct and productive, making the most out of the recruitment team’s time.
How you respond by writing can show your consistency with how you’ve crafted your résumé or writing samples — or it could be the opposite. Responding promptly to follow-up communications also indicates someone who’s proactive and attentive, especially if you steer the conversation toward the next action, which employers always appreciate.
To get a leg up, job seekers can learn different communication styles and note areas that could be improved. For example, if you're known for having body language that comes across as indifferent or cold, you could consider learning how to appear more welcoming and positive by incorporating more hand gestures, smiles and nods, or relaxed sitting positions.
3. Curated projects, specialized skills, and relevant experience
When crafting a résumé, most candidates focus on the education and experience sections, featuring the programs, languages, and expertise they’re most proficient in. These are the common skills that most have on their résumé. These details are especially critical in growing fields that are becoming more competitive, like occupational and physical therapy, which are expected to grow 14% and 11%, respectively, in the coming years.
While these are critical for setting a foundation, especially if you’re writing your résumé as an undergraduate, being creative with your extra details provides color to the outline of the candidate an employer is trying to picture. Think of adding these details you may have to make your résumé stand out, especially if they’re relevant to the specific industry or employer you’re interested in:
- Volunteer work
- Internships
- Attendance at industry conferences and events
- Nods to personal branding
- Certifications and private training
- One-off projects
- Side hustle work
- Participation in online communities
Adding these should also follow the best practices for writing résumés, such as quantifying and providing evidence for each capability rather than generalizing the experience with vague descriptions.
4. Tech fluency and AI adaptability
Applicants don’t have to be professional data scientists — unless this is the goal. However, demonstrating curiosity and competence with innovative technologies and digital environments is vital for standing out in a sea of applications. This is particularly important amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), especially as more businesses are now incorporating it into their workflows.
A great number of businesses are adjusting their workflows and values to be AI-forward. Resistance to these changes and showing your dislike for it can send the wrong idea to an employer. Companies want employees who are excited about how they can upskill and learn about the future of novel technologies. AI literacy and other digital skills are important to 87% of surveyed job seekers, underscoring how many anticipate their jobs being impacted by disruptive tech.
5. High emotional intelligence and professional soft skills
While having a professional demeanor is typically a sign of a stand-out employee, so is expressing care and consideration for others. Employers will analyze emotional intelligence skills to gauge a candidate’s soft skills, such as conflict resolution and feedback handling. In highly collaborative fields like arts or marketing, demonstrating these skills in interviews and test exercises is essential for proving potential longevity within a company.
To some employers, emotional intelligence may be a more competitive aspect compared to practical experience. Someone who’s stubborn or unfriendly in group settings may not perform well in certain companies, despite their experience and knowledge. Around 50% of surveyed employers say empathy and active listening are core skills in the workplace, with other soft skills like motivation, self-awareness, and social influence ranking even higher.
6. Resilience and Learning Agility
Many jobs come with an environment that thrives on change. People move through positions, their job descriptions evolve with demand, while some corporations may have to adjust for a year full of setbacks. Employees must demonstrate their emotional resilience in these circumstances by being willing to adapt to unexpected shifts.
Moving forward without being resentful or frustrated demonstrates adaptability, which shows that an employee can handle change and potentially be a leader. If you’re curious, you can do a self-assessment by taking a cognitive assessment to see how your mind works and anticipate how well you would perform in the role.
Emotional resilience is also crucial in industries that place significant pressure on staff. For example, medical workers like therapists, caregivers, and nurses frequently experience compassion fatigue because they carry the burden of their patients. That’s why applicants must be aware of their capabilities to thrive in potentially stressful environments and either pivot to a career better suited to their current capacity or learn how to strengthen their mental health.
7. Self-directed time management and organization skills
Candidates can show their punctuality and dependability long before they receive an offer letter. You can impress recruitment teams by being present before a meeting starts, promptly responding to emails within the expected time frame, and submitting trial projects long before a procrastinator would. A thoughtful and detailed response also serves as a writing sample that can tell an employer how much the applicant prioritizes thoroughness and authority.
There are tons of opportunities to demonstrate time management proficiency, as well as attention to detail and task prioritization. Employers seek applicants with a self-starting attitude. They should be able to deliver work up to standards without needing their hand held. To stand out, applicants should demonstrate these qualities throughout the hiring process, ensuring they reflect their true workflow and current habits.
Beyond your résumé
A résumé is your stepping stone to revealing your valuable skills as a candidate. Experience and education explain a job seeker’s potential commitment, while social skills, like curiosity about innovation and willingness to work in a team, signal higher potential. Combined, these analyses represent many understated, secret performance markers that can make or break someone’s entry into a new workforce. Now that you know what they are, you can tailor your applications better and improve your chances to succeed.