Recruiters Seek a Learning Mindset When Recruiting Top Talent Top
“I wonder…”
Whenever I hear coaching clients start off a sentence with these two words, I feel heartened. It means wheels are turning…intuition is kicking in, and mobilization is in the offing. It means my clients are curious, and ready to move past what is safe…beyond the known. It signals that they’re ready to step out of their comfort zones.
Curiosity does that. It’s the gas in the tank that moves us forward. It’s what opens new doors and creates new possibilities – whether it’s writing a book, getting a patent…starting a business, or seeking a new role that plays to your strengths and provides a new challenge. Curiosity is also a sought-after skill in the emotional intelligence toolkit and becoming a top competency for recruiting employers as they seek top talent.
A Learning Mindset is in Demand
A recent Fast Company article by Tracy Brower posits that a curious mindset carries more weight in the current hiring market.
According to Brower, “…a 2021 study found the characteristic of curiosity and an orientation for learning were the hottest new skills, with 72% of leaders reporting they believe it’s a valuable trait and 51% who believe it has become more important over time. Leaders also believe it drives business impact (59%) and performance (51%).”
So what are you curious about? Whatever it is – explore it. Fully. Pull the thread. See where it leads.
Go Deep and Broad
Tracy Brower encourages you to have a broad curiosity but also go deep on some things and take the exploration to a more intentional level. The deeper, more nuanced knowledge will help you solve problems and develop creative solutions.
The learning mindset will help you keep your skills fresh and empower you to be agile and adaptable to change. In a competitive job market, curiosity is a competency you can hone and showcase to illustrate your desire to learn and continuously develop.
Polly Campbell, Author of Imperfect Spirituality writes in a Psychology Today article that fear can impede curiosity, but says your unabashed interest can circumvent the fear. Campbell suggests these 5 tips for exercising your curiosity muscle:
- Find what fascinates you. If you don’t know what that is off the top, think about the types of blogs, podcasts, music, TV shows, films you’re drawn to, the things you love doing on a day off, or even what you naturally loved doing as a kid as places to start.
- Don’t allow boredom to become you. Campbell suggests that even in the most mundane circumstances – in a restaurant, at the grocery store, or waiting in a ticket line – you can exercise your curiosity and find things and people that fascinate you.
- Ask questions. This will go a long way in helping you further discover what fascinates you. While it can feel risky, at times, to ask questions, don’t let fear stand in the way.
- Go to people. Not Google. I love this tip, and it’s so true! Actually asking questions of a real live person can inform and inspire far beyond hitting ‘Search’ on Google.
- Do things you don’t know how to do. Find ways to challenge yourself – even if it’s just picking up a crossword puzzle, or a musical instrument, or studying a new language.
Curiosity is our natural instinct, so if you’re not immediately aware of what you’re curious about, I promise you it’s there bubbling just below the surface. A learning mindset will set you apart as you seek a new job or pursue a promotion in your current company. I encourage you to push the boundaries of your curiosity and follow your nose. It’s your custom-made guide to enjoyment and expansion in life and career.
