4 traits that might give you the edge in an interview

What's a surefire way of impressing hiring managers?

Simple. Be competent, qualified, and smooth in job interviews.

However, according to Obed Louissant, the VP of HR for IBM Watson, there are a few other, less obvious characteristics that can make a candidate irresistible to hiring managers.

If you're able to convey these traits in an interview, you could really set yourself up for success.

Here are the four traits that Louissant says will give job applicants an edge:

1. You're curious

Louissant says that this characteristic is particularly important at IBM Watson, the branch of the tech company that focuses on the question-answering computer system.

"I think one of the things that bind a number of IBMers together is an endless curiosity," he says. "It is a significantly scaled organization and we're always going into new ventures, so our people have to be able to share that attribute around being curious and tenacious."

A drive to learn is admirable in any job candidate, so it's definitely a quality to showcase in your next interview.

2. You're interested in global affairs

In our increasingly connected international economy, demonstrating that your interests span borders isn't a bad idea.

"We are a very global organization," Louissant says. "Individuals who have global experiences or who appreciate the world — even if it's just through travel. Having people who think globally is really important to us as well."

So, how can you demonstrate that you're globally-minded? Talking about your past travel experiences can help.

"You can demonstrate that you love the world by going out into the different parts of it," he says. "There's quite a few individuals who in university or at some point decided to take a job in another part of the world or an experience in another part of the world or had a very unique holiday."

However, not everyone has had the opportunity or financial means to travel abroad extensively. If you haven't seen the world yet, just be prepared to demonstrate your interest in global affairs — especially ones that pertain to the organization you're interviewing with.

3. You're a team player

Louissant says that he's always on the look out for "individuals who are all about themselves." If you can signal that you're a team-oriented person from the get go, that will give you a leg up with most hiring managers.

"I think in our environment things are done through teams and through working together and growing together," he says. "That generally is a red flag, the way in which the person focuses just solely on themselves and not on being a team player."

4. You're authentic

Hiring managers may be trained to look for culture fit, but smart ones know that encouraging diversity of thought is important too. It's fine and good to hire people who line up with your organization's vales, but not to the point that everyone on your team thinks exactly the same as everyone else.

So feel free to be yourself in the interview. Showcase your unique way of solving problems and approaching work.

"We do value people who think differently from us," Louissant says. "When they're authentic and let their curiosity show, and they show there's a distinctiveness in them, then we like that because that's going to test us and bring us into new areas."