by Leigh Goessl

Created on: December 03, 2008   Last Updated: December 10, 2010

When applying for a job it is important to put together a solid resume and cover letter. While today's employers still look at experience and education, there are also many other qualities and skills hiring managers look for as they consider candidates for a position.

As a candidate, it is a good idea to think about what other qualities can be used to describe yourself which would be appealing to a prospective employer. Keeping this factor in mind as you construct a resume and cover letter could very well give you the competitive advantage in nabbing that coveted position.

Today's workplaces are evolving and it is important to recognize this when applying for a job. Not only do today's applicants need hard skills to be an attractive candidate but also possess those soft skills which often cannot be measured by education or work experience.

Here are 10 of the top qualities and skills employers seek:

• Loyalty

Loyalty is one of the most attractive attributes employers will look for because they want to see longevity and dedication. If they hire you they want you to be able to give the company a good face and give your dedication to the company's success.

Many employers will offer both tangible and intangible benefits in order to appeal to loyal candidates and if you demonstrate you possess this attractive quality of loyalty this will make you a viable candidate. These days your trustworthiness counts significantly.

• Work Ethic

In today's business world employees are often faced with difficult ethical choices to make. This is often facilitated by financial problems and challenges which have arisen due to the dependency on technology.

If you possess a strong work ethic employers will recognize that you have the ability to make good choices when these challenges are presented. Employees who work on a strong moral compass will make the company look attractive to everyone doing business with them; customers and clients are not typically attracted to companies with a reputation of doing shady business. Integrity counts.

• Interpersonal Skills

Applicants who illustrate they possess strong interpersonal skills will also hold a competitive edge in the pool of resumes. Today's businesses have gone global and technology facilitates high levels of interaction with customers, other businesses and even offices located across the world within the same company.

• Communication

When you can demonstrate that you can get along with people and be able to communicate

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