Intellectual Curiosity
When you interview someone for a job, what do you typically look for? There are plenty of really important aspects, such as a relevant background, success in school or past jobs, ambition, strong people and communication skills, personality, fit into the company culture, among others.
What I’ve found to be the most compelling trait is intellectual curiosity. I’m not the most seasoned recruiter, but I’ve been part of the interview process for full-time and intern positions here at the Caps, at my former consulting firms, and even back in high school when I worked at Champs Sports and the local supermarket. I’ve discovered that to me, the most influential characteristic of a candidate is the ability to ask insightful questions to garner a deeper understanding of how things are done and how s/he can impact and improve the company, even if the job is selling sneakers or scanning groceries. I think that intellectual curiosity can overcome certain shortcomings, such as a lack of direct experience for the position at hand, as it shows the ability to learn, assess, understand, and adapt.
What do you think? Have you found that intellectual curiosity is something that’s important to you?
Yes, I agree Mike. I found your blog by searching with “traits of no intellectual curiosity” because I too find that it is an important trait when hiring or seeking peers for friendship. It’s that desire to know more that propels certain individuals on a different trajectory.
Like you say: ” I think that intellectual curiosity can overcome certain shortcomings, such as a lack of direct experience for the position at hand, as it shows the ability to learn, assess, understand, and adapt.”
When you are hiring you are making an investment and trying to enrich: your company, yourself, and the new hire. If you understand their aspirations and intentions and they demonstrate intellectual curiosity, there should be a valuable return for everybody involved.
Couldn’t agree more. Thanks for commenting!
Good observations. I generally agree. Just make sure that the curiosity doesn’t turn into the need for constant hand holding.
I agree. You definitely have to include all of those other traits that I mentioned, but in my experience, intellectual curiosity is one of the better predictors of success. If you were recruiting for an accounting position, you obviously wouldn’t select a intellectually curious candidate with a background in art, but if a candidate had some relevant experience coupled with an inquisitive nature, I would for the most part hire that person over someone who has a ton of accounting experience but doesn’t show the willingness to learn and understand.
Hopefully your curious new hire doesn’t find out that they are really more interested in some other job / position and then u r back to the recruiting zone again with a lot of time wasted.