Exploring the link between personal qualities and career advancement
Technical skills help employees work on domain-specific tasks. However, employees also look for job seekers who have strong personal qualities. Personal qualities are those that speak about a person's character.
Employers value these skills in workers. They create a healthy, positive, and structured work environment. It helps those in their personal and professional growth. It contributes to increased productivity and happiness in the workplace. Whether you're applying for your first job or looking to improve your skills, you can use our guide for help. Here's what we'll cover:
- What are personal qualities?
- Why do personal qualities matter?
- How do personal qualities affect career success?
- Big Five personal traits
- Examples of personal qualities
- Conclusion
- FAQs
What are personal qualities?
Personal qualities make you who you are. They're the unique positive traits and personal characteristics that define your personality. They show who you are and how you think, behave, and get along with others.
Unlike things you learn at school or from books, personal qualities are part of your identity. Here's how you can find out what your personal qualities are:
Ask people who know you well
Talk to friends, family members, colleagues, or mentors. Ask them what they think your positive personal qualities are. What do they admire about your personality? What's that one quality that distinguishes you from others around you?
Think about your personality
Take time to reflect on your behaviour, values, and preferences. Think about which qualities you use in different parts of your life. Are you naturally caring and kind? Are you someone who likes to lead a team? These reflections can help you understand your personal qualities better.
Pay attention to what you do
Become aware of your actions and behaviours in different situations. Look for qualities that guide your decision-making and interactions with others.
For example, you may be great at taking on tasks and managing resources well.
Or you may be everyone's go-to person at work because you are trustworthy and have integrity.
Why do personal qualities matter?
"Kiasu" attitude aside, developing solid personal qualities really will go a long way in your career in Singapore. They help you grow, communicate better, build strong relationships, handle conflicts, and become a good leader. Let's look at some positive personal qualities:
Personal growth
Personal growth can help you learn and adapt to new challenges. It enables you to embrace new opportunities, acquire new skills, and stay relevant. You can develop your growth by being resilient, curious, and self-motivated.
Interpersonal skills
Knowing how to communicate well is vital for any job. Empathy, active listening, and clear expression help you connect with others. It can also help you understand their views and express your thoughts and ideas. Good communication skills make getting along with others easier, working as a team, and making your workplace more cheerful.
Relationship building
Trust, honesty, and respect are crucial for building and maintaining relationships with others. These qualities help you create positive connections with colleagues, clients, and others. Building relationships can lead to mentorship, collaboration, and professional growth opportunities.
Conflict resolution
Conflicts can happen at work. But patience, understanding, and diplomacy can help you resolve them. These qualities help you approach conflicts with empathy. They help you find common ground and reach outcomes that benefit everyone.
Teamwork
Employers here value job seekers who can work together to achieve a common goal. Being able to work in a team requires you to be an effective communicator, active listener, and dynamic.
Discipline
Being disciplined means you can focus on what you need to do. You really want to do your tasks well. Discipline among everyone at work helps the whole team. It lets them work together smoothly to finish projects and be successful. It also makes it easier for everyone to stay organised and use their time wisely.
How do personal qualities affect career success?
Your character influences your success. Developing good personal qualities is essential for you and those who hire you.
Why does it matter to employers?
Employers look for job seekers who fit well with the company's culture. They want employees who can work well with others, are positive and helpful, and believe in the company's values and goals. Employers look for staff willing to work together to achieve success. Positive personal qualities can help you do your job better.
Employers look for people who really want to work, can handle complex tasks, and pay close attention to small things. They also want workers who listen to their bosses, value advice from more experienced people, and try to improve themselves. People with these qualities usually do their jobs better and get more done.
Communicating well, caring for others, and working well in a team are essential, too. Employers want people who can work well with others, solve problems, and help create a happy and productive work environment.
From startups in Block71 to MNCs in Marina Bay, prize individuals who work well in a team and contribute to a harmonious and productive work environment.
What do employers look for?
Different jobs require people with diverse personal qualities. For example, leaders need to be good at thinking ahead and getting them excited. Someone who works with customers must be a good listener and solve problems. They also need to be open to constructive criticism. Employers choose the best candidate who matches the job requirements.
Hiring managers also like people who want to learn and improve. They like curious individuals who want to learn new things and can handle challenges. These qualities help you prepare for new opportunities and grow in your job.
How does it affect your career?
Here are some ways how your personal qualities can affect your career success:
- Keep learning: To get better at your job, it's important to be curious, ready to change, and eager to learn more. This can help you grow, try new opportunities, and improve your productivity.
- Develop your emotional intelligence: Awareness of your and other’s feelings is also important. Employees with emotional intelligence can communicate well. They can empathise with their co-workers and work in a team to succeed.
- Be responsible: Taking responsibility and working hard is essential, too. Staff who do their jobs well, are self-reliant and work hard will likely do well in their careers and get rewarded.
- Accept feedback: Often, people dismiss criticism or react negatively to seniors' feedback. It's important for you to value seniors' feedback. You must respect the chain of command and use their input in your daily tasks.
Big Five personal traits
The Big Five is a way to understand different types of personalities. It includes five essential character traits that show how people think, feel, and behave. The five character traits are:
Openness
Some are inquisitive and like to try new things. Others are more comfortable with what they already know. They may be less open to new ideas. If you're seeking out new challenges in the workplace and are eager to take on complex tasks, you may exhibit this trait.
Conscientiousness
Some people organise their tasks well and are dependable. They like to plan and work hard to achieve their goals. Others are more relaxed and spontaneous. If you carefully plan your daily and weekly tasks and like everything clearly labelled and organised, you probably show this trait.
Extraversion
Some people are outgoing and enjoy being around others. They like to be in social situations and may feel energised by them. Others prefer to be alone or in smaller groups. If you like talking to your team, setting up and going to different work events, and chatting with people, you're probably an extrovert.
Agreeableness
Some are friendly and like to help others. They're sensitive to others' feelings and try to avoid conflict. Others may be more direct and assertive. If you find yourself going out of your way to help your co-workers and lend them a hand, you're kind and dependable.
Neuroticism
Some people may feel anxiety or stress more quickly than others.
Others may be more emotionally stable and handle stress better. If you constantly feel stressed about timelines or increasing workload, you may exhibit this trait to some extent.
If you continue to feel the same, you can discuss this with your superior and seek their advice.
Examples of personal qualities
Individuals have qualities that can affect their lives and relationships differently. Some qualities are more favourable than others.
But it's important to remember that personal traits can affect situations differently.
It's good to have a balanced approach. Use the good parts of these qualities. But be aware of their bad effects.
Some qualities you can learn by attending an education course, while others develop through practice. Here's a list of personal qualities and character traits to build:
Confidence
Having confidence means believing in yourself and your abilities. It helps you take risks, do challenging tasks, and be a good leader. But if you're too confident, you might not listen to or work well with others.
Loyalty
If you're loyal, you're devoted and trustworthy in your relationships. This helps develop trust and strong connections. But if you're too loyal, you might support negative views or ignore bad behaviour.
Reliability
Reliability involves earning trust by fulfilling your commitments. This makes you dependable and helps you work well with others. But if you rely too much on others, you might not grow as a person or become too dependent.
Flexibility
Being flexible means that you can adapt to change. This helps you deal with new situations and find creative solutions. But if you're too flexible, you might not develop strong opinions or values, and others might easily influence you.
Ambition
Having ambition means you want to achieve great things and be successful. This can motivate you to work hard and grow. But being too ambitious might lead you to put your needs above others to succeed. Remember that employers value staff who can work together and focus on the team's success over individual milestones.
Openness
Being open means you're willing to listen and learn from others. This helps you understand and appreciate different perspectives. But being too available could affect your opinions, making it easier for others to influence you.
Conclusion
Personal qualities are the bedrock of professional success and personal fulfilment. They're not just about how well you perform tasks, but also about how you interact with others, adapt to new situations, and contribute to your work environment.
Building on qualities like resilience, empathy, teamwork, and discipline can propel you towards achieving your career goals, irrespective of the industry or role you're in.
Not only will this enhance your career prospects, but it will also enrich your personal growth and relationships.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions regarding personal qualities:
- What are primary personality traits?
Primary personality traits are the essential qualities of a person's personality. They shape their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours consistently.
- What are the Big Five personality traits?
The Big Five personality traits are five main groups that explain the way people act and think. These categories are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
- How can positive qualities contribute to personal growth?
Positive qualities help people grow by making them more resilient, self-motivated, and adaptable. Curiosity, ambition, and openness to new experiences promote continuous learning. They broaden perspectives and encourage individuals to explore new opportunities for personal growth.
- What personal qualities are the most important?
The need for personal qualities depends on the situation and its needs. Adaptability, resilience, and emotional intelligence are vital. So is a growth mindset. They are key to personal and professional success.
- How can positive qualities contribute to success in the workplace?
Positive personal traits can help you do well at work by making it easier to talk and work well with others and by being professional.
Being honest, dependable, and understanding helps you make strong friendships at work. It also helps you deal with its workings and make it a nice and effective place.
Ambition, creativity, and self-motivation drive individual performance, career growth, and professional achievement.
- What are the top five qualities that Singaporean companies look for in a job seeker?
The top five qualities that Singaporean companies look for are integrity, initiative, honesty, discipline, and teamwork.
