Showing grit—the ability to persevere despite obstacles and distractions—is a term that is tossed around a lot. There’s a reason for that: It’s the number one people skill employers look for when hiring.
As companies struggle to stay afloat in the ever-changing economy, an employee who demonstrates the willingness to work through difficulties to meet a goal is likely to be retained when firms are forced to make staff cuts—and will get hired in the first place.
Take the story of a young applicant who responded to an interview question about her past work experience by explaining how she peeled shrimp three hours a day at a seafood restaurant. Although restaurant experience had nothing to do with the job she was going for, the hirer knew a hard worker when he saw one—anyone who has shelled shrimp knows that it’s a tough job. The recruiter admired her work ethic and the candidate nailed the interview.
Every employer wants people who work hard, but being able to illustrate that trait goes a long way to convincing the interviewer that the claim is real. Therefore, when interviewing, candidates should be ready to talk about how they have overcome failure, how they’ve adapted to the changing needs of a situation, and how they have gone above and beyond what was expected. Bringing up the ability to maintain focus during a long-term project is another situation that requires grit, and employers will respond positively to the applicant who can speak to that issue, too.
Future employers will also respond to hearing about how a candidate has dealt with high-pressure situations and whether they view a challenge as a chance to grow. They’ll also want to know that the job seeker has goals and the plans to achieve them.
If during an interview the concept of grit has not come up, one hiring pro advises interviewees to bring it up themselves and provide an example of how they persevered through a tough situation to complete a goal. Every hiring manager or recruiter will want to hear about that!
Discussion
- What experiences have you had that can demonstrate your ability to push through difficult situations?
- In the current job climate, why do you think grit is such a desirable trait to possess?
- Can you explain why employers link grit with passion in the workplace?
Smith, M. (2024, February 14). The No. 1 trait employers are looking for right now—and how to show you have it, according to 19-year hiring pro. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com