The 1 Skill Getting People Hired (and 7 Ways to Build It)

Forbes says, "In fast-moving organizations where assumptions expire quickly, curiosity is emerging as a core competency. The willingness to question, explore, and challenge old thinking is no longer optional. It’s a performance differentiator."

And Jennifer McClure, CEO of Unbridled Talent wrote: "Curiosity: The number one trait I look for when hiring.

If I had to build a team from scratch, and I could only look for one trait, it wouldn’t be experience, education, or even technical skill.

I’d choose curiosity. Every time."

And look at these headlines:

Curiosity is innate in us as children, but so many of us let is go as we grow into adulthood.

So here are 7 ways to bring back your curiosity (and get hired):

➟ 1. Delay your first conclusion

When you catch yourself thinking, "I know why that happened," force yourself to come up with three other explanations.

Example:

Your boss seems short in a meeting.

Instead of assuming they're upset with you, consider:

They're under a deadline.
They had a difficult conversation before yours.
They're distracted by something outside work.

This trains your brain to explore instead of assume.

➟ 2. Replace judgment with observation

Instead of:

"That person is lazy."

Try:

"I wonder what's causing that behavior."

Curiosity creates understanding.

➟ 3. Become a collector of "why"

Every day, pick one thing and investigate it.

Examples:

Why are airline tickets priced the way they are?
Why do some LinkedIn posts spread while others don't?
Why does my team always get stuck in the same meeting?

It's more about the habit than the answer.

➟ 4. Read outside your lane

If you're in marketing, read psychology.
If you're in finance, read design.
If you're in HR, read behavioral economics.

Innovation usually happens when ideas from one field collide with another.

➟ 5. Ask one more question

Most people stop too early.

Instead of:

"What do you do?"

Ask:

"How did you get into that?"
"What's the hardest part?"
"What surprised you once you started?"

Conversations become far more interesting once people realize you're actually listening.

➟ 6. Keep a "Things I Don't Understand" list

Whenever something confuses you, write it down instead of ignoring it.

Examples:

Why do some people negotiate confidently?
Why do certain habits stick?
Why does one presentation persuade while another falls flat?

Spend 15 minutes each week finding one answer.

➟ 7. Learn to love being wrong

One of the biggest killers of curiosity is needing to be right.

Try saying:

"I hadn't thought about it that way."
"Tell me more."
"What led you to that conclusion?"

Being wrong occasionally is cheaper than staying uninformed forever.

What is one way you are building your curiosity skill?

Most of all, trust yourself.

💜 Brianne

Now that you've deepened your curiosity...I can help you prepare for interviews in 3 ways

You don't have to figure out the awkward conversations and reading between the lines on your own. Here are three ways I can help! 

1. Free Resources

Networking Rubric: start with the people you already know and who WANT to help you...+ a rating system so you know who to reach out to first.

Life Resume Template: go from, 'I don't have enough experience,' to stories that get you hired.

2. 20 Interview Frameworks

The Interview Q&A Framework Guide walks you through exactly how to answer the questions that trip up most candidates. This is the tool people come back to before every interview.

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3. Mock Interview to Build Confidence

If you want feedback on your actual answers and communication skills, book a mock interview session. We'll run through real questions, and I'll tell you what's working and what's costing you the offer.

Book a session