Workplace

Professionalism! That’s according to a brand new York College survey, where researchers had Human Resource executives break down the top qualities they’ve looking for in an applicant.

The result? Lead researcher Dr. David Polk says it’s not your smarts or skills that make HR execs go nuts for you. Instead, it’s how professional you are. That means you’re decked out in a suit, know how to give a firm handshake, and most importantly, you communicate well.

It may sound basic, but career experts say there’s a huge lack of professionalism among most applicants - especially recent college grads. And the three biggest complaints HR Execs have with recent college graduates – and the reason they don’t want to hire them?

• A sense of entitlement. Meaning they expect rewards without putting forth the effort to achieve them. Whether that’s getting a job they’re not qualified for – or expecting a big paycheck for entry-level experience.


• They have a difficult time accepting personal responsibility. “It’s not my job” and “It’s not my fault” come out of their mouths too often.


• They don’t have a clear sense of what they want to do or what they’re good at. So, what are the other top qualities employers do want, aside from professionalism? The survey found the things that’ll shoot you to the top are strong interpersonal skills, like courtesy and respect, communication skills, meaning being able to get your ideas across in a simple, understandable way and a strong work ethic.