11 Key Qualities of a Good Employee in 2023 (What Makes a Good Employee)

By Reid - January 24, 2023

Qualities Of A Good Employee

Employees are the backbone of your company which makes hiring quality candidates a vital part of a successful organization. I have hired countless employees over the last nine years and couldn't agree more with that statement.

Whether it's a new receptionist or your next Chief Financial Officer, make your next great hire by matching these top qualities with your potential candidate.

Questions Answered:

How would you describe a good employee
What to look for when hiring employees
Additional words to describe a good hire

One of the most essential ingredients of a good company is a dedicated staff. No question about that! Great employees help fulfill your mission by doing their work with precision and dedication daily.

When you have employees who possess a sense of passion for what they do, it benefits your business and your customers.

Hiring the right workers from the start is essential to ensure that your employees are an asset to your business. The best way to do this is to know exactly what to look for in an employee.

How Would You Describe A Good Employee?

Reliable and honest, with a strong work ethic, can describe a good employee. Workers with these traits are in high demand. Technical skills can be taught, but you should seek soft skills when hiring.

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11 QUALITIES OF A GOOD EMPLOYEE (PROFESSIONAL ATTRIBUTES)

By identifying the qualities of a good employee, you'll be able to single out the most qualified candidates and whittle away the rest. Here are some of the most important traits to seek out during the hiring process.

1. Reliability

What a feeling it is when you can depend on your employees to do a good job every day. When an employee proves themselves reliable, you know that you can trust them to do their work well and on time.

While looking for reliable employees, remember that this trait involves more than just showing up to work on time. Your ideal worker should also meet all their deadlines consistently, submit high-quality work and attend other work-related events.

2. Determination

Without determination, your employees won't get far working at your company.

Dedicated workers are willing to put in the extra work required to grow and succeed. While other employees might do the bare minimum and call it a day, the most passionate workers go the extra mile to produce work that positively impacts your company.

To spot determined employees, see if they have a positive attitude toward their work. They should also set ambitious goals and follow through with everything they say they're going to do.

If you take the initiative to hire determined employees, you'll create a more positive work environment that helps build a more substantial business.

3. Collaboration

No single employee runs the business. Each person is part of a team, so a willingness to collaborate and work closely with others is one of the most essential qualities of a good employee.

When all of your employees work well with each other, you build a more robust workforce that benefits your business as a whole.

Employees that are good team players are respectful and understanding of their colleagues. They're open to different perspectives and willing to discuss a problem with others to reach the optimal solution.

4. Communication

There's a good reason why so many recruiters list "strong communication skills" as one of the most desirable traits in a candidate.

Employees who communicate well with others know how to get what they need efficiently and productively.

If there's a problem that someone is experiencing in the workplace, they'll resolve it quickly and effectively if they make an effort to communicate it to their boss or coworkers.

5. Resilience

Obstacles are inevitable in the workplace. Whether an employee is struggling to meet personal goals or running into conflicts with colleagues, a little bit of adversity now and then is expected. However, it isn't the obstacle itself that matters in the end. It's the way your employees choose to deal with it.

Not only should your workers readily bounce back from challenges, but they should also take action to rectify the situation. Employees who make a conscious decision to confront an issue are the ones who usually come up with a solution first.

Be sure to actively seek out resilient workers with take-charge attitudes who can help boost the morale of your entire workforce.

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6. Open-Mindedness

Every employee's goal should be to learn something new each day and add something of value to your company. This embodies open-mindedness, one of the most vital qualities of an excellent employee to look for during the hiring process.

Open-mindedness encompasses many different traits. First, open-minded employees should listen to the feedback they receive and take it seriously.

Instead of taking offense at the input that others give them, open-minded workers view feedback as a valuable opportunity to grow.

7. Self-Confidence

A healthy dose of self-confidence can go a long way at work. When your employees have a sense of conviction in what they do, they approach it with a can-do attitude that allows them to do their best work.

In addition to doing their work well, confident employees actively seek opportunities to improve and encourage their colleagues to succeed.

8. Adaptability

Things are constantly changing in today's dynamic workplace. To keep up with these changes and make progress amid uncertain times, it's crucial to hire highly adaptable workers.

These employees are eager to acclimate to a new environment and are always looking for creative solutions to new problems.

Adaptable employees are also the most proactive in terms of their success, which helps set them apart from workers who struggle with or are resistant to change.

9. Honesty

Whether they are working with clients or alongside other team members, you will want direct, transparent, and honest employees.

Hiring someone who isn’t afraid to speak up and help contribute to the organization's overall goal will be admired amongst coworkers and the leadership team.

Honesty is a characteristic you want to build a successful business around, which makes seeking out workers with this honesty trait important.

10. Optimistic

Upbeat and optimistic employees are an essential part of your company's culture. They can bring others together and keep the team focused (even during tough times).

Hiring someone with a positive mindset will energize the team and help push your organization to new levels. This sense of hopefulness and confidence is vital!

11. Down To Earth

There’s a BIG difference between confidence and arrogance. You want employees to be confident in what they are doing but also level minded.

When great things happen, they should celebrate their successes but stop short of pushing them too far. When some issues or mistakes occur, great employees will also be the first to accept any criticism that comes with it.

Actively seek out candidates who can share their successes and tell you a little about their failures and what they learned from them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are other Words To Describe A Good Employee?

Punctual
Versatile
Opportunistic
Educated
Motivated
Humble
Dedicated
Dependable
Loyal
Persistent
Proactive
Self-managed

What are the benefits of hiring a good employee?

Several benefits come with hiring a good employee. Increased productivity, improved morale in the workplace, better quality customer service, reduction in turnover, and enhanced business reputation are just a few of the key benefits you might receive.

Where can I find good employees?

Many online platforms can be used to find quality employees. Some of the most popular ones include:

LinkedIn (professional networking site)
Recruitment Agencies (like ManpowerGroup)
Indeed (job board)
Glassdoor (job search site with more about companies)
ZipRecruiter (another job board)

These digital platforms can help find quality employees but should be used alongside other recruitment methods, such as networking and employee referrals.

Wrapping Up | Qualities Of A Good Employee

We often hear, "But what is the most important characteristic of a good employee?”. Our answer typically starts with "It depends” but tends to lean towards workers with integrity. Most of the characteristics we discussed can be rolled into this one word which sums up our ideal employee. To recap our list of professional attributes to target:

Reliability
Determination
Collaboration
Communication
Resilience
Open Mindedness
Self Confidence
Adaptability
Honesty
Optimistic
Down to Earth

If you want to help your business achieve long-lasting success, seek out these critical qualities within your next hire. Not only will great employees help drive success within the business, but they'll also be a positive influence on both their colleagues and the leadership team.

Good luck with your next hire!

Title: 11 Qualities of a Good Employee (Professional Attributes of a Good Hire)

Category: Employer Resources

Tags: qualities of a good employee, sound hire, professional attributes, professional attributes of a good employee, hiring the best talent, how to find and hire the best candidates, good employees

Author: Reid is a contributor for theJub. He’s an employment and marketing enthusiast who studied business before taking on various recruiting, management, and marketing roles. More from the author. | Author Profile