8 of the best ways to demonstrate your growth mindset in a job interview

“You try something, it doesn’t work, and maybe people even criticise you. In a fixed mindset, you say, ‘I tried this, it’s over.’ In a growth mindset, you look for what you’ve learned.” Carol Dweck, Stanford University Psychologist

Why adopting a growth mindset is more important than ever before

At Hays Spain, we review the performance of new colleagues after their first three and six months in the company. My colleagues conducting these performance reviews will testify that my continual catchphrase in these meetings is “I don’t care how good they are, I care how much they are improving”.

For many jobs, a better skills match can reduce training investment slightly or produce results slightly quicker. However, the impact on long-term success in the role is usually marginal. What is critical, however, is the degree to which employees develop a growth mindset and strong self-awareness skills. Such skills involve knowing how to learn, improve, and grow.

How to demonstrate a growth mindset to your interviewer

Employers recognise that if their employees maintain fixed mindsets, this may result in fixed organisations.

So, how can you demonstrate a growth mindset to your interviewer? Below I’ve plotted out eight key ways I think you can do this:

1. Prepare fully for the interview beforehand

Those with a growth mindset will see a job interview as an opportunity to learn more about a business and its industry. These people look at an interview in a proactive and positive way instead of something to feel daunted by.

One way you can really show your interviewer that you have a growth mindset is to not scrimp on your pre-interview research. See your interview preparation as a project in itself – be thorough and don’t leave any stone unturned. Research the company in full, your interviewer, recent industry news or product launches – everything. Doing so will demonstrate to your interviewer that you’re proactive and engaged.

2. Demonstrate your strong problem-solving skills

Those with a growth mindset try to approach any problems they face head-on. People committed to continuous growth aren’t afraid to make mistakes as part of that process. Instead, these individuals tend to see problems as an opportunity to learn and develop both personally and professionally.

Growth-oriented individuals don’t allow thoughts like ‘I’m not good with numbers’ undermine their confidence in solving a problem. These people believe in their ability to learn a new skill, even if it is an area they aren’t an expert in. Additionally, those with a growth mindset view problems as opportunities to learn, develop, and improve.

So,

prior to your next interview, try to think back to when you’ve had to solve a problem.  Ideally, a problem that was a little out of your comfort zone. Be prepared to talk your interviewer through how you approached solving that problem from start to finish:

• Explain how you proactively handled any hurdles along the way
• Explain what you learnt during that process.

Don’t worry if you didn’t actually manage to solve the problem. What matters in the interviewer’s mind is that you have a proactive approach to problem-solving.

3. Highlight your commitment to continuous upskilling and lifelong learning

Those with a growth mindset love learning opportunities about a broad range of topics. You can achieve self-improvement through:

• Reading
• Listening to podcasts
• Working towards qualifications
• Attending industry events

Individuals with a growth-oriented attitude also understand that the mind is a muscle. These people know that to really master a new skill it takes practice, effort and time. Lastly, growth-focused individuals try to see those who they may find intimidating as people they can learn from. Essentially, those with a growth mindset try to see everything as an opportunity to get better.

So, in your next job interview, voice your commitment to continuous upskilling and lifelong learning. If you’ve learnt any new skills or attended any training courses, then weave these into your answers. Also, ask the interviewer about the organisation’s commitment to supporting the learning and development of their employees.

4. Admit to your failures and explain what you’ve learnt from them

Those with a growth mindset appreciate and understand that failure is a key aspect of learning and growth. So, that awkward interview question: “Can you tell me about a time you’ve failed?” isn’t one to shy away from.

So, before the interview, plan out which failure you plan to talk about. Make it genuine, perhaps an oversight or error that caused a slight ripple in the ocean. In the interview, don’t make excuses or blame others.

Instead, explain how the situation happened, and, importantly, explain how you are learning from your mistakes. Also, outline what you would do differently if faced with a similar scenario in the future.

5. Showcase how you set yourself goals and are motivated to reach them

People with a growth mindset put time and effort into any task, no matter how challenging they may perceive it to be. A common tactic is setting SMART goals or targets. This process involves breaking down each project into manageable and realistic tasks or goals.

In your next interview, explain how you set personal SMART goals or work towards milestones to stay motivated. Showing your goal-setting ability demonstrates your capacity to complete challenging projects on time and to a high standard.

6. Show that you are comfortable with being out of your comfort zone

Prove your ability to step beyond the boundaries of your day-to-day routine, exploring new territories with confidence.

An example of this could be learning to use a new piece of technology or tool. You could then go on to train other members of your team on its use. Essentially, you need to prove to the interviewer that you can operate outside of your comfort zone. Moreover, you should demonstrate the added bonus of driving the business forward and delivering results.

7. Ask well-prepared questions to prove your inquisitiveness

Being curious and interested helps the interviewer see you as somebody who has a mindset of growth. So, ask positive questions of them and the company which you have prepared beforehand. Positive questions will demonstrate that you see others as invaluable sources of learning and growth.

You could ask:

• The interviewer’s career to date
• What they’ve learned
• Their experience of the workplace culture

Learn more about the questions you could ask your interviewer in this blog.

8. The hard work doesn’t just stop once the interview has ended

Those with a growth mindset understand that the interview experience doesn’t stop once you’ve walked out of the door. Send a follow-up email via your recruiter to the interviewer.  Thank the recruiter for their time and reiterating your interest in the role. This follow-up email serves as another example of proactivity and a tendency to go above and beyond.

If faced with rejection, use your growth mindset to see this as an opportunity to learn and grow for next time. Above all, keep persevering and remain determined. This process is just another learning experience which can help you develop and grow.

On the flip side, if you receive an offer for the role, continue to showcase your mindset of growth. Reflect your growth mindset in how you prepare for your first day and how you behave in those first few weeks, months, and years.

To succeed in today’s and tomorrow’s world of work, we all need to adopt a growth mindset more often. There’s no doubt about it. Hopefully, these tips will help you stand out in the interviewer’s mind. You can do so by demonstrating your ability to help take the business forward, innovate, and relish change.

Read more expert advice to prepare for your next interview:

• How to interview confidently against the competition
• The secret to giving strong interview answers
• This important mindset will make you more successful
• Work is changing – can your mindset keep up?