10 personality traits the best job candidates have in common

Nicole Munoz, Start Ranking Now

My best team members are smart, passionate and well-researched in their fields. They also have the confidence to stand up to me and ask questions (politely, of course). It helps us all improve when we collaborate on why we're taking a specific course of action for a client's marketing strategy, especially when someone says, "What if we do it this way?" and they're right!

Marcela De Vivo, Gryffin

Every workplace is inundated with devices. It's easy for employees to get distracted and spend time doing other things on their phone or social media. More than anything, we value integrity — people who are honest about their time at work, who work hard and are committed to the company. Bright employees who figure out shortcuts can be a liability. Integrity is the most valuable quality.

Mac Morgan, Tonic Design Co.

If an employee is able to stand by their opinions and suggestions and defend them thoughtfully and respectfully, it shows me that they’re capable of being a true leader. Essentially, I value confidence. People who are truly confident aren't making arbitrary decisions. They’re not pushovers, and most importantly, they’re able to defend their perspective while remaining receptive to critiques.

Kenneth Cucchia, Deals4Meals.com

Loyalty is one of the most important traits I look for. No business relationship will ever work out well without trust. If you have people around you who truly believe in your vision and make it their own, they're worth their weight in gold. Make sure they eat before you do. Because if they don't, you'll starve anyway.

Josh Sprague, Orange Mud

Sloppiness can be a massive crutch, even if you're the most motivated and intelligent person for the job. I love seeing someone complete a task on time that is spell checked, organized, thorough and on point.

Joseph Walla, HelloSign

You can always find people with skills, but you can’t always find empathy paired with talent. There have been studies that indicate that the most effective teams aren’t the most intelligent, they don’t have the best degrees, they aren’t the most charismatic — they're the ones with the most empathy. That’s why we put a premium on empathy and have made it a core value.

Jayna Cooke, EVENTup

My high-energy employees are always the most successful. I look for my employees to be energized and positive about what we are doing in the marketplace. This tells me they are passionate about their job, which will get them far.

Diana Goodwin, AquaMobile Swim School

I value employees who continually show me they have a thirst for knowledge and who take the time to learn new skills that could benefit the company. Having a large capacity to learn shows me that as the company grows, there is a good chance that this employee will grow with the increasing demands of their position and continue to move up the ladder, instead of falling behind.

Christopher Kelly, Convene

Value alignment is an absolute prerequisite, but beyond that, we look for a growth mindset. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Raw talent, education, professional pedigree and personality are worthless without a drive, curiosity and passion to better oneself.