New study reveals the qualities employers look for in candidates. Attitude and integrity are still most important in hiring.
Express Employment Professionals, the nation’s largest franchised staffing firm, released findings that reveal which traits are most important when hiring a candidate for a job.
The findings comefrom the 2014 edition of the “America Employed” survey of 115 Express franchises across the nation. Respondents were asked to rate various traits on a scale of one to five based on how important they are when evaluating applicants. This is the second year Express has released findings from its “America Employed” survey.
“Attitude” topped the list with an average rating of 4.53, followed closely by “work ethic/integrity.” “Education” received the lowest average rating at 2.67. Full results for both 2013 and 2014 are below.
“I’m not surprised that integrity and attitude continue to top the list,” said Bob Funk, CEO of Express Employment Professionals and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. “Even the best education is no substitute for a good attitude. Of course, education is important, but while employers can teach their employees new skills, it’s much moredifficult to teach things like integrity, work ethic or attitude.
“Job seekers should keep that in mind. You’re much more than your resume. Employers don’t just want someone who has the skills and knowledge to succeed. They are also looking for people they can work with on a daily basis and trust to represent their companies well.”
“The first quality that our Central Oregon market is looking for is competence meaning the ability to plan, organize, set priorities, solve problems, and use common sense to get the job done,” said Connie Druliner, franchisee of the Bend Express office.
2014 2013
Attitude 4.53 4.50
Work ethic/Integrity 4.52 4.52
Credible work history 4.07 4.20
Culture fit 4.02 4.03
Specific skills 3.85 4.02
Job experience 3.73 3.86
References 3.45 3.67
Education 2.67 2.79
The Bend Express Employment Professionals franchise began operation in 1983, locally owned and operated by Connie Worrell Druliner, and serves the Central Oregon areas with temporary help and direct hire employees in a variety of fields, including professional, engineering, manufacturing, accounting,health care, administrative, commercial, data processing, technical, sales, marketing, industrial, and more.
Express Employment Professionals puts people to work. It generated more than $2.5 billion in sales and employed nearly 400,000 people in 2013, and ranks as the largest franchised staffing company in the United States. Its long-term goal is to put a million people to work annually.
The Bend office, located at 400 SW Bluff Drive, Suite 200, is currently accepting applications. For more information, call (541) 389-1505 or visit www.expresspros.com.
