Finding the right personnel to fill positions in any organization can indeed be a daunting task. Finding the right personnel for filling vacancies within the government may be even more difficult. To be a great worker in the government field, one must obtain more than a few great working qualities. Those who obtain all the needed qualities are rare and extremely hard to come by in the government industry. Below is a list of qualities we found to be of common interest to most government employers. Have a look…
Open-mindedness. When working around so many other fellow employees, it is important to have an open mind. You are bound to hear many opinions and ideas. While you may not want to buy into each of them, even having an open mind to consider them will lead to people respecting you. Being receptive to other people’s opinions does not mean that you necessarily have to agree with them. It just means you can respect the opinion of others and consider it.
Listening skills. We live in a world where we tend to talk more than we should, rather than listen to others. If we listen to others, we make them feel valued, and when they feel valued, they are going to be more dedicated to the team and mission. Active listening can be learned with practice, and includes making eye contact, asking meaningful questions, providing feedback, and avoiding being distracted or multi-tasking.
Empathy. Having empathy means that you have the ability to understand someone else’s feelings. If you feel empathy for others, you are more likely to try to work out differences diplomatically. Most great leaders share the trait of having empathy. Caring about others, in turn, creates more people who care about you.
Tolerance. Having tolerance means you will be able to accept the idea that others engage in other practices and beliefs that may not coincide with your own. We essentially live in a “melting pot,” where there are people from all walks of life. Chances are good that you will work around people who engage in different practices and have different beliefs, or you will work with the public that does.
Self-awareness. When you have self-awareness, you know what it is that makes you tick. You know what makes you get worked up and what makes you get frustrated. Having self-awareness will help you to remain a stronger person who is better able to perform your position. You will be able to identify your strengths and weaknesses and compensate for them where necessary.
Patience. As the saying goes, patience is a virtue. In any type of career, government jobs included, having patience is a skill that everyone needs. It’s important to remember that good things come to those who wait, and sometimes there are delays in change and things can move slowly, especially when it comes to the government.
Stress management. Any job, especially those for the federal government, can become stressful. It’s important that employees know how to de-stress so that it doesn’t get the better of them. There are a lot of things that can be done to de-stress, such as doing yoga, Tai Chi, journaling, meditating, and practicing breathing exercises. Find out what works for you and then use it when you feel the stress of the job, or even your home life, growing.
Leadership skills. Being a great leader means being able to bring out the best in others. Every good leader knows how to effectively motivate people, bring out their best skills, and have them contribute as a team. This is a skill that is invaluable, especially for those who want to be promoted to higher positions within the government.
Negotiation skills. Being able to negotiate with others, whether it is fellow employees, the public, or for business-to-business transactions, can be a skill that can save the government money, as well as help people get along. Being able to negotiate effectively is a skill that takes practice, but can be learned in time.
Courtesy. It’s never out of style to be respectful to others, even if many believe it is something we are losing in our society. Being courteous to others will help you gain respect in return. It also makes for a more peaceful and satisfying work environment for employees, as well as anyone in the public or business sector that you may work with.
When hiring positions in the government industry, remember these qualities. If you’re still having trouble, try utilizing our staffing firm. We have an entire page that lists all available government openings. Contact us to get started.
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