Building a Strong Work Ethic: Six Traits and Habits that Employers Value

Given the competitive nature of today’s job market, a strong work ethic is critical for individuals looking to stand out from the crowd and both secure, and maintain, meaningful employment.

A strong work ethic is comprised of a set of traits and habits that employers value highly, particularly given the dynamic and fast-paced environment within the Australian business landscape.

But what exactly are the qualities that must be cultivated to demonstrate a strong work ethic? We list six below:

Reliability and Punctuality

One of the most valued traits in not just the workplace, but life in general, is reliability. Employers and teammates love individuals who consistently show up on time, adhere to deadlines and fulfil their responsibilities. Being reliable demonstrates a strong commitment to the job and a willingness to go the extra mile to get things done. As an extension of reliability, punctuality is also highly regarded. It is a sign of professionalism, and a sign of respect for other people’s time.

Initiative and Self-Motivation

Employees who are self-motivated and demonstrate initiative are highly sought after. Those who go above and beyond with their assigned tasks, and proactively seek out opportunities to contribute to the business, are valued team members and stand out from the crowd. Exhibiting such a mindset, and a willingness to take on responsibilities, shows a strong work ethic and a willingness/drive to excel in their role.

Adaptability and Flexibility

While always valued and important, the need for flexibility and adaptability in the post-Covid business landscape is essential. Employers cherish those who can navigate through uncertain situations, handle unexpected challenges and adjust their approach to a task at a moment’s notice. Not only are these important skills to have on a personal level, but adaptable and flexible employees allow organisations to remain competitive and responsive to market demands.

Commitment to Continuous Learning

With a heavy emphasis on education and professional development in the Australian job market, employees who commit to learning and self-improvement are in high demand. The ability learn new skills, remain up to date with the latest industry trends and undertake education and training shows initiative and a commitment to personal and professional growth. Individuals who can bring innovative ideas and new knowledge to an organisation are highly regarded.

Strong Communication Skills

The ability to effectively communicate is a key component of a strong work ethic. Those who can articulate their thoughts clearly, listen actively and collaborate effectively – with colleagues and clients alike – are highly valued by Australian employers. Strong communication skills help create a positive work environment/culture, foster teamwork, and ensure that projects and tasks are completed efficiently and on time. Given the high levels of multiculturalism in modern-day Australia, the ability to understand and communicate with different backgrounds and cultures is especially important.

Ethical Conduct and Integrity

While not specifically traits of a strong work ethic, it would be remiss not to touch on these. Demonstrating honesty, trustworthiness and ethical decision-making is highly valued by employers. Organisations are continually on the lookout for employees who will uphold their values, and act with integrity with colleagues, clients and stakeholders alike. Maintaining high standards of ethical conduct and integrity helps build a positive culture, trust and credibility.

Are you hiring? How to make sure you’re getting the best candidate in the market

Recruitment is an essential process for any business, but it can also be costly. The time, effort, and resources required to attract, screen, and hire candidates can quickly add up. The average cost of a bad hire can be up to 30% of the employee’s first-year earnings.

Fortunately, there is a solution to reduce the cost of recruitment while still attracting top talent: partnering to a professional recruiter like PERSOLKELLY.

Here are some of the ways in which outsourcing recruitment to PERSOLKELLY can help businesses save time and money:

  1. Reduce advertising costs: One of the biggest expenses in recruitment is advertising job openings. Posting job listings on job boards or in newspapers can be expensive, particularly for businesses with multiple openings. PERSOLKELLY has an extensive network of job boards and social media channels that it uses to advertise job openings, reducing the cost of advertising for businesses.
  2. Streamline the hiring process: The hiring process can be lengthy and time-consuming, particularly for businesses that lack a dedicated HR team. PERSOLKELLY can help businesses streamline the hiring process by handling all aspects of the process, including screening resumes, scheduling interviews, and conducting background checks. We can also support you in areas that people don’t often talk about, like counter offers. This can reduce the amount of time and effort required from internal staff, freeing them up to focus on other business priorities.
  3. Access to a wider pool of talent: Businesses that try to recruit candidates internally may miss out on top talent who are not actively looking for work or do not see your company’s job ad. PERSOLKELLY has an extensive network of candidates, including passive candidates who are open to new opportunities. These relationships have been built over many years with the time invested in building our candidate database. This can help businesses find the best candidate for the job and reduce the cost of turnover.
  4. Expertise in candidate assessment: One of the biggest costs to a business is investing in the wrong candidate. PERSOLKELLY has extensive experience in candidate assessment, including conducting skills tests and assessing cultural fit. This can help businesses reduce the risk of hiring the wrong candidate and save money in the long run. Additionally, if the candidate does not progress as expected, partnering with PERSOLKELLY provides you with a replacement guarantee, ensuring the investment is not lost.

Partnering with a professional recruiter like PERSOLKELLY can help businesses reduce the cost of recruitment while still attracting top talent. By leveraging the agency’s expertise, businesses can streamline the hiring process, access a wider pool of talent and reduce the risk of hiring the wrong candidate.

Contact us today.

Revolutionizing ICT Recruitment in New Zealand with PERSOLKELLY New Zealand’s ICT Division

With the ever-increasing demand for talented ICT professionals, businesses in New Zealand are facing a significant challenge when it comes to finding the right people for the job. That’s where PERSOLKELLY (PSK) New Zealand’s ICT Division comes in. We are excited to introduce our new division, which provides quality ICT recruitment services in New Zealand. With Regina Lai at the helm, we are confident in our ability to place top talent in roles such as BI, DW and Analytics, Business and Systems Analyst, Data Analyst, Infrastructure and Support, Security Consultant / Specialist, Software Developer, and more.

Why Choose PSK’s ICT Division: At PSK, we are committed to revolutionizing ICT recruitment in New Zealand. Here’s why you should choose us for your next recruitment needs:

1. Expertise: Our team of experienced recruiters has a deep understanding of the ICT industry and the skills required for success. We work closely with businesses to identify their unique needs and find candidates who are the perfect fit.

2. Quality Candidates: We have an extensive network of talented ICT professionals, both locally and internationally. We screen all candidates rigorously to ensure they meet our high standards of quality and suitability.

3. Personalised Service: At PSK, we believe in building long-term relationships with our clients. We take the time to understand your business and your recruitment needs, and we work closely with you to find the right people for the job.

4. Commitment to Success: We are committed to providing the best possible service to both clients and candidates alike. We are dedicated to helping businesses find the talent they need to achieve their goals, and to helping candidates find their dream jobs.

We are passionate about helping businesses and candidates succeed in the ICT industry. With our expertise, commitment to quality, personalised service, and dedication to success, we are confident in our ability to revolutionize ICT recruitment in New Zealand. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you find the right talent for your business, or to explore your career options in the ICT industry.

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Get in touch.

How much is your time worth when it comes to a new hire?

Recruitment is a crucial process for any business, as it helps to identify and attract the most talented and qualified candidates for job openings. However, it can also be a painful and time-consuming task for hiring managers, particularly for those who lack experience in the hiring process. Fortunately, partnering with a professional recruitment company can bring numerous benefits, making it a wise investment for any business.

One of the most significant benefits of outsourcing recruitment is that it saves time and resources. A dedicated recruitment company can handle all aspects of the hiring process, from screening resumes to scheduling interviews, allowing hiring managers to focus on their core responsibilities. This can be particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses that do not have a dedicated HR department, as it can help them avoid the cost of hiring additional staff.

Another key advantage of working with a  recruitment partner is the access to a wider pool of talent. Recruitment companies typically have a vast network of candidates, including passive candidates who are not actively looking for work but may be open to new opportunities. This can be especially beneficial for businesses seeking to fill specialized or hard-to-fill positions, as it can be challenging for internal recruiters to reach these candidates.

Finally, outsourcing recruitment can also lead to better-quality hires. Professional recruiters have extensive experience in assessing candidate skills, qualifications, and experience. They can use their expertise to identify the best candidates for the job and ensure that they are a good fit for the company culture. This can help businesses reduce the risk of hiring the wrong candidate, which can be costly in terms of time and resources.

Partnering with PERSOLKELLY can bring numerous benefits to businesses, including saving time and resources, accessing a wider pool of both passive and active talent and making better-quality hires. By leaving recruitment to the experts, hiring managers can focus on their core responsibilities and ensure that their business has access to the best talent available.

Contact us today.

Five reasons to consider a career in recruitment

By Kurt Gillam, Executive General Manager PERSOLKELLY Australia.

The field of recruitment is not only fast-paced, challenging and dynamic, but it also offers a plethora of opportunities. Consultants can not only advance their own career trajectory but help others with their own careers as well. If you’re looking for a new direction, a move into recruitment could be worth considering.

Here are five reasons to consider a recruitment career:

1. Gain valuable and in-demand skills
One of the great things about working in recruitment is the skills you gather while working in the industry. A role in recruitment can build your interpersonal, communication and relationship management skills. These skills are all transferable to other industries, making them invaluable no matter which field you may choose to work in future. Recruitment is extremely people-focused and centres around interacting with a variety of individuals in a range of situations. Helping you develop soft and interactive skills and gain experience dealing with people from all walks of life.

Recruiters can conduct job matching, character assessments, interviews, background checks and due diligence in a typical day. As such, the job naturally suits analytical and organised individuals with excellent time management skills. A job in recruitment will help you learn and further develop a range of easily transferable skills that you’ll continue to draw on for years to come, no matter what industry you end up in.

2. Help others while you also advance
A career in recruitment means regularly interacting with employers and job seekers, helping you improve your interpersonal skills and active listening ability. It’s important to be able to carefully listen to both clients and candidates to find out exactly what they’re looking for. Doing so can vastly improve your problem-solving skills and foster critical thinking while helping individuals and companies find their perfect matches.

Finding good fits for both active or passive job seekers and organisations will widen your understanding of the job market and how it differs between industries and roles. Finding these perfect fits involves interacting with hiring managers, human resources teams and high-profile positions with companies, helping you build up a valuable range of connections.

You may use these connections to help find candidates or even for the advancement of your own career.

3. It’s a fast-moving and ever-changing industry
Recruitment is dynamic, offering countless opportunities for change and growth. As industries and job markets change, the recruitment industry evolves. New technologies have come along and transformed the way the recruitment process is conducted. From paperless applications, and digital background checks through to remote video interviews and testing suites. While application Tracking Systems (ATS) have streamlined and automated parts of the hiring process.

Advancing technologies have also brought about numerous improvements in learning opportunities available to recruiters, such as online training and conferences. You’ll have the chance to develop leadership skills, set clear directions and be agile as you advance through your career in recruitment. 

4. Autonomy can assist in better mental health
Recruitment is a people business that revolves around servicing the needs of candidates and clients. Like many roles over the past few years, recruitment has become more agile and flexible in terms of the location in which work is conducted. As consultants will often meet with clients and candidates both in and out of the office, it’s a career that suits driven individuals that thrive working autonomously.

According to Mental Health UK, autonomy in the workplace can help promote better mental health and even prevent excess stress and burnout.

5. It’s an in-demand profession
The 2021 Business Market Insights report predicted that the online recruitment industry in APAC is expected to grow from USD6.8 billion in 2021 to USD12.4 billion by 2028, nearly doubling in just seven years.

As the job market continues to boom after being heavily impacted by the pandemic, the search for clients will ensure the demand for qualified recruitment consultants remains high. Resulting in great prospects for those either already in the industry or looking to enter recruitment.

Conclusion
There’s no doubt that a career in an established recruitment firm has many long-term benefits for your career. Transferrable skills, and building your network while also helping candidates achieve their career goals are just a few of the things to be gained from a career in the industry.

Once you build your career, the rewards are endless. Quite often, there is nothing quite as rewarding that the long-term friendships that you will build with your colleagues as a result of working in a vibrant company culture, however, you will have the opportunity to get back from what you put in – be it interstate or overseas travel, awards and prizes, learning and development opportunities, promotions and uncapped earning potential. The sky really is the limit.

If you’re looking for a change to a challenging yet rewarding job, then a role in recruitment could be the perfect move for you. You never know where it’ll take you.


We’re always on the hunt for great people to join our team. If you’re confident and caring, proactive and passionate, smart and resourceful, and want to kick-start or continue your career in helping others achieve their career goals, then we’d love to hear from you.

To register your interest in a future with PERSOLKELLY, visit our careers page.