Albert Einstein once said in 1952, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” Now, you might be pondering what correlation one of times greatest physicists’ self-reflection has to do with an article, suggesting from its title, that curiosity is a desirable trait for candidates to possess?
To begin answering that question, we start with understanding that a simple Google search would populate a common misconception surrounding job interviews – that the most qualified person gets the job. And whilst there is no questioning that relevant education and experience is undeniably essential towards satisfying the requirement that a job can be completed competently at a technical level, in an ever evolving and competitive job market, employers look at so much more than just technical qualification to find the right candidate. So, when so much more is being considered than just one’s technical qualifications, what trait is necessary to give you the best chances?
It is here where Einstein’s reflection can be applied, and we can answer the correlation we set out to solve at the start of this article. What allowed Einstein to stand out in a crowd of professional colleagues, all of which possessed an unquestionable astonishing technical ability, as best summarised by himself, was his passion to be curious? The good thing for all of us here is that whilst we all may fall short of Einstein’s IQ, being curious is a quality we can all activate within us.
To help support the notion that being curious is certainly a trait worth personifying to an employer, recent data from a survey conducted on 2,400 Wall Street Investment Bankers found that “curiosity” was the most common trait these bankers were looking for in new personnel. We can also refer to an article released by Forbes, which singled out the curiosity trait as “among the most important skills for Millennials in 2017 and beyond.”
So, why is it that being curious is so desirable?
This answer comes in two parts, on an individual and on a group level. First, on an individual level, being curious emphasises desirable personality traits such as the desire to learn, willingness to adapt, ability to problem solve and demonstrate a level of comfort when presented with new situations. Second, in a broader group context, someone who is curious can cater for better relationships, creativity, collaboration, and greater conversations.
In continuation, a paper from Rasmussen University found that communication, time management, problem solving, teamwork and initiative are five leading skills employers look for when hiring. When comparing these five skills to someone who possesses the trait of curiosity, it is evident why curiosity becomes desirable.
So, whilst this journey of analysing curiosity has been extensive and hopefully fun, the most important part of this article is questioning, if curiosity is so desirable, then how can we activate our own in front of a new employer? This incorporates a four-step approach:
- Ask thoughtful questions, either along the way or at the close of your interview. This means coming to your interview prepared with questions to ask about the company, position, and interviewer. Show that you have an interest in them and want to learn more.
- Think about questions to ask during your interview based on where the conversation leads. If you are truly interested and want to know more (e.g. if they mention a particular project) ask questions to find out more. Show that you can and want to communicate and collaborate with them based off what they are talking about.
- Have examples ready of where you took initiative in a work setting where it wasn’t required. This shows your desire to learn and gain knowledge on your own.
- Come prepared to talk about yourself and your outside interests. Show that you have passions in life, to infer you can also have a passion with your work.
Applying for and starting new jobs is certainly daunting. It is worth mentioning that it is in the reported top 10 most stressful changes in life. So, to help with this process, to help put your best foot forward and give a strong impression to an employer – be curious! If it worked for Einstein, it can work for you too!