The one thing you need to do to succeed - according to top bosses

The one thing you need to do to succeed - according to top bosses

Big bosses reveal the secret to getting hired

What helps someone stand out in a crowded workplace?

For some bosses, it is less about having the ideal CV and more about how you think, the questions you ask, and whether you are willing to take a chance.

Six business founders and leaders explain the qualities they value most and the advice they would offer to people trying to move ahead.

Charlotte Tilbury says one of the biggest forces behind her career has been refusing to let other people define her limits.

"Nothing is impossible in life - it's only your own limitations you give yourself."

The beauty mogul says there will always be naysayers, and many people told her she was "mad" or that her ideas would not work, but she says it is important to ignore them.

Tilbury advises trying not to see setbacks as mistakes, but as chances to rethink and improve.

"I don't think about mistakes, I think mistakes are opportunities," she says.

Many of the biggest challenges she has faced have ultimately made her a stronger business leader, and "challenge is opportunity and it leads you to greater places".

Charlie Bowes-Lyon, co-founder of deodorant brand Wild, says attitude matters far more than having the perfect set of skills.

"For me, it's 90% attitude and 10% skills, as skills can be taught, attitude can't."

One thing he wishes he had understood sooner is that even successful people do not always feel as confident as they seem, and "everyone is faking it until they're making it".

If you are in a job interview, Bowes-Lyon says it is very important to have a few questions ready at the end, because "candidates who say they have no questions rarely get the job".

One question he suggests asking the interviewer is what success in the role looks like.

Marcia Kilgore, the serial entrepreneur behind brands including Beauty Pie and Soap and Glory, says curiosity is one of the main traits she looks for when hiring.

She values people who will "roll their sleeves up, ask lots of questions and think about how they can be useful".

Kilgore also says strong communication is essential, as she realised early in her career that poor communication is often why things fall apart.

Her advice for communicating well at work is to "listen to what's being asked and take a breath or five" before replying.

"Your response doesn't have to be immediate, but it does have to be considered."

Anabel Kindersley, CEO and co-owner of Neal's Yard Remedies, says one of the best ways to develop your skills is to keep saying yes to new opportunities.

"Do everything and say yes to everything - it might feel uncomfortable but do it anyway," she says.

That approach has shaped her own varied career, from working as a child actress to becoming an author and later entering business.

She adds that honesty matters greatly and that you should be truthful about your experience and confident in what you can bring.

When hiring, Kindersley says she looks for people with "equal EQ as IQ", valuing emotional intelligence alongside ability.

Charlie Nunn, group chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group, says curiosity, resilience and a growing willingness to think about how AI tools can also be used in the future are among the skills he values most in his employees.

He also places strong emphasis on hiring people who work well in a team, because "at the heart of most jobs is the ability to work together in support of something much bigger".

His advice for gaining experience is to take opportunities that are outside your comfort zone.

Nunn says he was "terrified" about taking on retail roles earlier in his career, but found they gave him valuable experience.

"If something feels risky, try and do it as you'll learn more from it and it'll build breadth around your CV that you didn't have previously."

James Reed, chairman and chief executive of recruitment company Reed, says one of the biggest mistakes people make is focusing on what an employer can do for them rather than what they can offer in return.

"The biggest mistake is thinking that the world owes you a living," he says, and instead suggests asking yourself: "How am I the solution to an employer?"

As AI is being used more in recruitment, Reed says applicants need to think about how their skills are being recognised by technology as well as by a person.

"Try and mirror the job description with your skills and experiences in your application," he says, so the match between what an employer wants and what you can offer is clear.

He describes AI as "a wonderful tool", but says it should not replace your own judgement or voice – the goal is for it to strengthen an application rather than do the work for you.