Motivated and reliable

If you're motivated, reliable, and prepared to work flexible hours, then you have a good chance of getting a job in the UK. Government studies show that employers prefer the work ethic of Eastern Europeans to British workers.

A study published today reported that British workers don't have the skills or the motivation to do the jobs which eastern European migrants are now doing. "The poor position of low-skilled British workers issues around basic employability skills, incentives and motivation".

The study also shows that new migrants have not caused unemployment or undercut wages for British workers. The Home Office says that recent immigration has increased the economy by £6bn, or £1,650 for every British resident.

The immigration minister said: "On average migrants are more likely to be in work, earn more and are therefore likely to be paying more tax, and are a lighter burden on public finances than those born in the UK."

Here are some of the key things that employers look for:

- reliability
- hard working attitude
- productivity
- low absenteeism
- satisfaction with duties and hours of work