How to Demonstrate a Growth Mindset in an Interview | Hays (2024)

A mindset for growth is essential for effective learning and problem-solving, both of which are desirable skills in the workplace. Find out how you can show a growth mindset in a job interview with our tips below.

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 about how much they are improving”.

To be honest, for many jobs, the degree to which an employee matches the skills profile of a role one hundred percent is not a critical success factor. A better skills match can reduce training investment slightly or produce results slightly quicker, but the impact it has on long-term success in the role is usually marginal.

What is critical, however, is the degree to which employees have a mindset of growth and metacognition skills, including knowing how to learn and improve.

Demonstrating your growth mindset in a job interview at a glance

As employers are eager to foster a growth mindset within their teams, it’s essential that you can demonstrate in an interview how you fit into that.

A key to a successful interview is thorough preparation, so make sure you plan how to weave in indications of your growth mindset. Strong problem-solving abilities, dedication to continuous improvement and motivation to achieve your goals are all signs of a growth mindset. Ensure that you’ve prepared answers to cover all of those aspects. You should also be prepared to discuss any past errors and what you’ve learnt from them.

Keep reading to find out all eight ways of demonstrating your growth mindset in a job interview.

For bespoke expert advice on your next career move, contact your local consultant.

Why adopting a growth mindset at work is more important than ever before

Our CEO, Alistair Cox explained in his LinkedIn Influencer blog that according to Carol Dweck many people have a mostly fixed mindset. A fixed mindset means that a person believes their skills and abilities are relatively unchangeable. On the other hand, people with a growth mindset believe that they can develop their existing skills and abilities with practice and effort.

So, if you have a growth mindset, you believe that there’s always something new you can learn and become better at. Or, to quote a slightly different analyst of human behaviour, Muhammed Ali “The man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life”.

I think we’d all agree that the one thing that’s constant in today’s rapidly evolving world of work is change. Working with this backdrop of constant change means that in order to be successful, we must try and approach every task with a mindset of growth. All this change means that we’re ultimately going to need to be operating out of our comfort zones more often.

Eight ways to prove to your interviewer that your default mindset is one of growth

Employers are also recognising that if their employees have fixed mindsets, then there is an innate risk that their organisations will be fixed too. It’s a scary thought to be fixed in a stitch in time, without the necessary ingredients to innovate and drive forward.

So, how can you prove to your interviewer that more often than not your default mindset is one of growth? I’ve plotted out eight key ways you can achieve 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 the industry it operates in. They’ll see it as a challenge that they need to overcome in a proactive and positive way, instead of something to feel daunted or intimidated by.

One way you can really show your interviewer that you have the growth-oriented mindset they’re looking for 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, engaged, and have embraced the challenge of preparing for the interview wholeheartedly.

2. Demonstrate your strong problem-solving skills

Those with a growth mindset try to approach any problems they face head-on;

• They aren’t afraid to make mistakes as part of that process and tend to see problems as an opportunity to learn and develop.
• They don’t let the negative voices in their head take over and knock their confidence or approach to solving a given problem.
• They have an unwavering belief in their ability to solve them, even if, admittedly, the problem might be in an area they aren’t an expert in.
• They see problems and the process of solving them as an opportunity to learn, develop and get better.

So, prior to your next interview, try to think back to when you’ve had to solve a problem, ideally one 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. You should explain how you proactively handled any hurdles along the way and importantly, 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, and tackle them head on.

3. Highlight your commitment to continuous upskilling and lifelong learning

Those with a growth mindset love learning in a broad range of topics. Their learning process isn’t limited to just those areas in which they feel the most comfortable or are even the most naturally interested. They have a zest for self-improvement including reading, listening to podcasts, working towards qualifications or attending industry events. These forms of self-improvement are all habits, or even rituals for them and the people with a growth mindset don’t even think twice about doing them.

A part of having a growth mindset is understanding that the mind is a muscle. It needs challenges to grow, but learning a new skill isn’t just going to happen overnight. They know that mastering a new skill takes practice, effort and time. Lastly, they try to see those who they may find intimidating as people they can learn from.

Essentially, those with a growth mindset have an unwavering commitment to their own learning. They try to see everything and everyone they come into contact with 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. It’s also a good idea to 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, don’t shy away when your interviewer asks you to tell them about a time you’ve failed.

So, plan out which failure you can talk about and make it genuine, perhaps it’s an oversight or error that caused a slight ripple in the ocean. You shouldn’t make excuses or blame others for the mistake. Explain how the error happened, what you learnt from it and what you would do differently next time.

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

People with a growth mindset are well-versed in taking a proactive approach to any task, no matter how challenging or difficult they may perceive it to be. A common tactic is setting SMART goals or targets. Break down each project into manageable and realistic tasks or goals, with the completion of each of these acting as an innate boost or a motivator.

So, in your next interview, explain how you like to set yourself personal SMART goals in order to motivate yourself. Explaining that you set goals will demonstrate how you get even the most difficult or challenging project done on time and to a high quality.

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

As the world of work continues to change and evolve at an unprecedented rate, it’s likely that we’re all going to be working outside of our comfort zones more often. So, you need to prove that you are able to step beyond the boundaries of your normal day-to-day routine and explore new territory with zeal, confidence and proactivity.

An example of stepping outside your comfort zone could be learning to use a new piece of technology or tool and going on to train other members of your team on its use. Essentially, you need to prove to the interviewer that you believe in your ability to operate outside of your comfort zone, whilst driving the business forward and delivering results.

7. Ask well-prepared questions to prove your inquisitiveness

Being perceived as a curious and interested candidate in the mind of the interviewer will help them see you as somebody who has an innate mindset of growth. So, ask positive questions of them and the company which you have prepared beforehand. These types of questions will demonstrate that you see others as invaluable sources for learning and growth.

For instance, you could ask about the interviewer’s career to date and what they’ve learned. You could also enquire about their experience of the workplace culture or ask any other questions that prove your interest in learning from others.

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 interview door. So, be proactive in sending up a follow-up email via your recruiter to the interviewer, thanking them for their time and reiterating your interest in the role. This will serve as another example of proactivity and tendency to go above and beyond.

If you’re faced with rejection, use your growth mindset to help you see this as an opportunity to learn and improve your performance for next time. Above all, don’t give up or feel defeated. The rejection is just another learning experience that can help you develop and grow.

On the flip side, if you’re offered the role, continue to showcase your mindset of growth in the way that you prepare for your first day. Let the mindset shine through during those first few weeks, months and years.

What you need to remember about demonstrating a growth mindset in a job interview

There’s no doubt about it, to succeed in today and tomorrow’s world of work, we all need to adopt a growth mindset more often in order to ensure our success. Utilising the above tips in your next job interview will help you position yourself as someone who can help take the business forward and innovate change.

Explore our career advice page for additional helpful content aimed at candidates and employees.