Do You Have a “Growth Mindset”?

The language of recruitment is constantly evolving and changing. Periodically, new terms are used in recruitment specifications and job descriptions that seem to take hold and become fashionable and widespread.

One such common term that has become pervasive in recent times is the requirement for candidates to show a "growth mindset". This phrase has become an overarching, catch-all term embracing various attributes. So, what does a growth mindset mean, and more importantly, how can job candidates best demonstrate this competency in their CVs, LinkedIn profiles or verbal career narratives throughout the recruitment process?

Employers or recruiters typically attribute three levels of meaning to a growth mindset when they include it in their job specifications:

1. Personal Growth: During each stage of your career, what have you done personally to grow and develop your own knowledge, skills, experiences and qualifications? Do you consistently demonstrate the value and capacity to embrace new challenges, learn from setbacks, respond positively to feedback and set high standards of advancement and achievement?

2. Growth of Others: Throughout your career, what have you contributed to the growth of others around you, such as your direct reports, peers and colleagues, that has improved their capabilities and experiences? Are you someone who continuously develops others, seeing it as a central part of your own success?

3. Growth of the Business: In the various roles you have held, what have you done, achieved, or influenced that can be shown to have contributed, either directly or indirectly, to the successful advancement of the wider business?

So, how can job candidates demonstrate that they have a positive growth mindset during an interview? Consider the following tips:

1. Emphasize your willingness to learn and develop: Highlight specific instances where you sought out new opportunities to learn and grow professionally. Talk about how you actively seek feedback and use it to improve your skills and performance.

2. Share experiences of overcoming challenges: Describe situations where you faced difficulties or setbacks and explain how you approached those challenges with a positive mindset. Discuss the steps you took to learn from your mistakes and adapt your approach.

3. Discuss your openness to change: Emphasize your flexibility and adaptability when it comes to changes in the workplace. Talk about times when you readily accepted and embraced changes, explaining how it enhanced your skill set or productivity. 

4. Show enthusiasm for professional development for both yourself and others: Discuss your involvement in activities such as attending workshops, pursuing additional certifications or joining professional networks. This demonstrates your proactive approach to self-improvement and continual growth.

5. Provide examples of seeking and applying feedback: Describe situations where you actively sought feedback from supervisors or colleagues to enhance your performance. Discuss how you took that feedback onboard, made meaningful adjustments, and achieved positive outcomes.

Remember, the key is to showcase your growth mindset through real-life examples and be able to clearly articulate how events, learning and experiences have positively influenced your professional growth and performance.

Like many aspects of the recruitment process, the only concrete way a recruiter can truly know if you possess a growth mindset is by referencing the success stories you tell, the specific actions you have taken and the tangible impact and outcomes of these actions for yourself, others, and the wider business.