Curiosity Skills
Do you require curiosity skills to function well in your job role? This article provides a guide on how you can develop the skills and include them on your resume.
What is Curiosity?
Curiosity is defined as the desire to know more. This desire for new knowledge flows organically from the individual and is not the result of the hope of some reward. They are simply genuinely interested in the subject at hand.
To better understand what is considered a curiosity and what is not, let’s take the example of a student.
The work they do for scheduled classes is not born out of curiosity, as they do the assignments to get a grade and eventually graduate from college. On the other hand, the extra books they read in their free time on a lecture topic of particular interest to them are considered an act of curiosity.
Curiosity is a knowledge acceptance skill that can be developed to succeed in a career.
Importance of Curiosity Skills
Here are some reasons why curiosity is important:
- It helps you learn better
Curiosity can make you a better student. Curious people often want to know more about a subject and actively work with new information. By analyzing additional details and trying to understand something, intellectually curious people can add depth to their learning. When they engage their curiosity, learners can connect the information in more meaningful ways, forcing their minds to make connections and facilitating understanding.
- It helps you think creatively
Curiosity also helps you develop creative solutions and ideas. By thinking critically about a topic, or evaluating why something happens the way it does, curious people can explore new ideas and develop new theories. This helps them approach old problems in a new way.
They can ask questions about existing approaches and ways of thinking. By asking questions and showing genuine curiosity, they can look at an existing situation or problem from a new perspective. It will help you understand your environment.
- Curiosity can help you understand your environment
Curious people often look for opportunities to learn more about situations and places. In a work environment, this may mean they are looking to learn more about the people they work with, the processes they follow at work, or the value their company provides. Curiosity can help them create a holistic view of their work and better understand the work they do, the purpose of their organization, and the value of the community around them.
- It makes you more interesting
When you ask questions and try to learn as much as possible about your environment, you can share your knowledge with others. Talking about what you know can bring you closer to those with similar interests. Your enthusiasm for learning can also make you a better speaker in other ways. Showing curiosity about others’ interests, work, or goals can help you build relationships.
- Curiosity can expand our empathy
When we take an interest in others and communicate with people outside our usual circle, we gain a better understanding of those whose lives, experiences, and worldviews are different from our own. The next time you have the opportunity to talk to a stranger, especially someone completely different from you, try to start a conversation with them on a personal level (with respect, of course) and show that you are interested in what they have to say.
How to Improve your Curiosity Skills
- Energize your passion
Confucius once said, “Choose a job you love and you will not work a day in your life.” When it comes to learning, we can paraphrase this, “Identify what you are passionate about and it will be a constant source of enjoyable learning.” So, what are you passionate about? Whether it’s reading novels, hiking, studying veterinary medicine, or anything else, immersing yourself in what you love is a great way to sustain your curiosity.
- Ask surprising questions
The right questions can make the difference between a boring conversation and an amazing one. Asking open-ended questions like “tell me about yourself” is a step in the right direction. Asking “why” questions is another good step: “Why do you believe this?” “Why is this important to you?” A serious, warm approach will also help your interviewer feel more comfortable, so they’ll be more willing to open up to you.
- Teach and be taught
Have you ever wondered how many interesting stories, worldviews, or skills each of your friends and family members has? The next time you’re bored, don’t pick up your phone or a video game controller. Instead, ask someone what their deepest memory, greatest passion, favorite hobby, or even what they think is the meaning of life is. Think of interesting skills, opinions you have, or facts you know and offer them in return. Teaching and letting others teach you is a very rewarding activity, the gifts of which will be revealed to you over time.
- Connect the dots
You may be familiar with the idea that it takes 10,000 hours to master something. But have you ever thought about how similar the path to mastery is for completely different things? Try to identify how you’ve trained your best skill and see if you can apply it to other aspects of your life. The best chefs have mastered the most basic elements of cooking, such as the use of salt, acid, and fat; the best basketball players have mastered the basics of the game in the same way. How can you apply what you know to other aspects of your life? The results may surprise you.
- Take a walk
Walking is scientifically proven to benefit your brain and stimulate your creativity. According to recent research, walking is not only good for your muscles or your heart, but it also helps your brain function and improves your well-being. Walking stimulates all your senses, from visual to olfactory (sense of smell). There’s nothing better for developing curiosity and the joy of learning than a happy, functioning brain!
Jobs that Require Curiosity Skills
- Online Reputation Manager
Anyone who has ever researched on the Internet – and let’s be honest, who hasn’t? – will appreciate the work of an online reputation manager.
Whether they’re responding to complaints about a company’s products or scouring Facebook for photos of celebrities inhaling something weird, online reputation managers strive to create a flawless online image for their clients. This means spending a lot of time playing detective online to prevent, minimize or explain away any scandal, slander, or simple misinformation.
- Forensic Accountant
Have you always been interested in business finances? As a forensic accountant, your job is to review other people’s money records.
Whether it’s investigating claims, tax fraud, or money laundering, you’re constantly sticking your nose into other people’s businesses. Your espionage even contributes to a noble cause: the acquittal of an innocent man and the capture of a criminal.
- Private Investigator
The grandmother of all curious professions, private investigators are paid to spy on others. Professional bliss awaits the inquisitive worker: you’ll follow spouses accused of cheating, dig up confidential memos, track down missing persons, and look into the past of your friend in human resources.
How to Include Curiosity Skills in your Resume
- Add “curiosity” in your “skills” section. You can also demonstrate curiosity by using other terms such as “curious,” “adaptive,” and “agile,” or phrases such as “always looking to improve” or “eager to learn.”
- You can also demonstrate this quality by including certifications on your resume. Additional certifications beyond the minimum required for the position highlight that you are an enthusiastic learner.
- Another option is to include a brief section on interests and hobbies. While not generally recommended, interests can demonstrate curiosity. Make sure the hobbies you list are relevant and culturally appropriate to the company.
Examples of How to Include Curiosity Skills in your Resume
The points below illustrate how to include curiosity in your resume as a Marketing Associate:
- Developed social media and email marketing strategies for campaign use.
- Improved client website traffic by an average of 32% through a combination of innovative digital content strategies.
- Brainstormed marketing campaign ideas on a team of 20 junior marketers.
How to Demonstrate your Curiosity Skills in an Interview
- Ask Thoughtful Questions
Examiners are not only interested in your answers. They also want to assess the questions you ask. Asking too many questions can derail the interview and irritate you, and asking none will make you appear uninterested or unprepared.
Of course, the best questions depend on the context – the type of organization and the role you’re applying for – but there are also some general rules to follow.
To start, choose open-ended questions, such as “Why do you think X is important?” or “How do you think Y will change in the future?” You should also pay close attention to the interests and priorities your interviewer seems to express. This way, you can ask questions about things that will interest him/her more (yes, this means touching his/her curiosity).
Finally, you should extend your questioning beyond the role itself and ask about the organization’s values, goals, and strategy.
- Talk About Your Interests And Hobbies.
Some people are more curious than others, but everyone is interested in something. Psychology research shows that our interests and hobbies are powerful indicators of our curiosity. We are also more likely to develop useful skills and abilities when we are curious about something. It makes intuitive sense.
But it’s less clear how, when, and whether to talk about hobbies, which can seem like unrelated side activities. The best approach here (and you really should) is one that invites the hiring manager or recruiter to assess your curiosity in action. Whether it’s cooking, sports, music, science, or travel, talking about what you enjoy can help you connect those activities to aspects of the position that the interviewer might not have considered.
In addition, it will simply help them get to know you better and feel “related” to you, which is an important benefit. (Think twice before sharing personal information that could unnecessarily expose you to bias in a job interview; learn the ground rules and act on your judgment.)
- Explicitly Explain How Much You Enjoy Learning.
The average interviewer is not a good judge of character, so don’t expect them to read between the lines or draw specific conclusions about your personality from subtle traits. This means there are reasons to be direct in presenting yourself if you read the basic social cues. What doesn’t cross the line? Say outright that you’re an avid learner who likes to expand your skills and knowledge base. Or mention that you are looking for a job that will allow you to develop your potential more than you could in your current position.
It may seem overly blatant, but it’s a surprisingly effective tactic for convincing an interviewer of your curiosity. And remember, no one is punished for being curious, so telling them you’re incredibly smart, friendly, or modest may backfire.
Examples of Interview Questions to Test Curiosity Skills
- What do you consider your greatest weakness?
This question is often asked in job interviews. Employers ask it to find out more about your self-awareness and honesty. When answering this question, try to choose something you are actively working on or something that is not as important to the position you are applying for.
- If you were a Star Wars character, who would you be and why?
This question is a fun way to test your creativity. It also shows the hiring manager your sense of humor and your ability to work as a team.
- How much money is there in the Monopoly economy?
This question tests your knowledge of the game “Monopoly”. It also tests your knowledge of economics and finance. To answer this question, find the current value of each property in the game. You can find this information on the Internet or ask someone who has played the game.
- Who was the first man on the moon?
This question tests your knowledge of history and your ability to think critically. You can answer this question by giving a brief description of Neil Armstrong, who was the first man on the moon in 1969.
- What is the best aspect of the work here?
This question is a great way to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the company and its culture. It also allows you to learn more about what it’s like to work here. Before the interview, research the company’s website and social media accounts to see if there is any recent news or announcements. If so, read them and find something that interests you.
