Answered at: https://www.quora.com/As-a-recruiter-what-are-the-top-3-intangible-qualities-you-look-for-in-all-job-candidates/answer/Kay-Stoner-3 – check out some of the other great answers there
I’m not a recruiter, but I have talked to hundreds of them over the past 30 years, and the number one thing they look for is a candidate who can be placed with a company and won’t run away after just a few months.
Recruiters are in their commission by placing people with companies successfully. If they place someone Who very quickly fails to be a good fit, their reputation is tarnished, and they can lose not only that commission but future commissions as well.
Years ago, I took a job with a firm that turned out to be a total nightmare. The company misrepresented it’s self, I had no idea how much they were struggling just to stay in business, and the work environment was toxic. I called the recruiter placed me there and begged her to find me another position, but she explained that if I didn’t stick around for at least six months, she would lose her commission, and her firm would be harmed by that.
I ended up sticking around for over a year, and while it was horrible and I dreaded going to work every day, I still learned so much from it, and it was the kind of professional experience I have been able to parlay into other great opportunities as well.
Recruiters make their living from people like me – who are a good fit for the companies they connect with, who contribute, and who really bring their best every single day. It’s a basic fact, given their business, that they want to find people who are versatile, professional, and who can tolerate a lot of hardship in the course of everyday work.