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Writer's pictureMatt Murrie

Hire Curious: Attracting Top Talent with Curiosity

A Curiosity-Based Thinking approach to attracting and retaining talent

A curious worker built out of Legos created using DALL-E
A curious worker built out of Legos created using DALL-E

Creating a culture of curiosity is essential for attracting and retaining top talent. But how do you build a culture that encourages curiosity and innovation?


The first step is to take a Curiosity-Based Thinking approach to the questions you ask during the interview process. By incorporating questions that assess a candidate's ability to think critically, ask questions, and approach problems creatively, you'll be better equipped to identify individuals who are naturally curious and will thrive in a culture that encourages learning and growth.


Take your interview questions from What? to Wow! with these Curiosity-Based Thinking questions to help you identify curious candidates and communicate your commitment to cultivating a culture of curiosity.


What is the biggest misconception about your field, and how do you address it?


Who do you think is the leader in your field, and why?


When was the last time you had to adapt to a new technology or tool?


Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth in your field?


How do you handle uncertainty and ambiguity in your work?


Why do you think you can make a difference in this company?


Huh? Can you tell me more about a time when you faced a significant challenge or fear in your work, and how did you communicate it to your team or manager?


Wow! Can you tell me more about that unique solution you came up with for a problem the team was facing?


Curiosity-Based Thinking "What If...?" Questions Designed to Identify Curious Candidates


What if we were to encounter a major obstacle in our industry, how would you approach solving it?


What if we were to expand into a new market, how would you go about researching and understanding it?


What if you were tasked with leading a project outside of your comfort zone or area of expertise, how would you approach it?


What if a solution you proposed was met with pushback, how would you handle it?


What if a team member came to you with a new idea that seemed far-fetched, how would you respond?


What if you had to think about an existing problem in a completely different way, how would you go about it?


What if you had to work with a team member that you disagree with, how would you handle it?


What if we had limited resources to accomplish a task, how would you prioritize and make the most of what we have?


What if you had to take on a task that you've never done before, how would you prepare yourself to tackle it?


What if you were in a position where you had to make a decision that could significantly impact the company's future, how would you approach it?


What if we were to encounter a major obstacle such as a significant drop in sales, how would you approach solving it?


What if we were to expand into a new market, such as electric vehicles, how would you go about researching and understanding it?


What if you were tasked with leading a project outside of your comfort zone or area of expertise, such as developing a self-driving car, how would you approach it?


What if we were to encounter a major obstacle, such as a decrease in enrollment, how would you approach solving it?


What if we were to expand into a new market, such as education in the metaverse, how would you go about researching and understanding it?


What if you were tasked with leading a project outside of your comfort zone or area of expertise, such as developing a new STEM/STEAM curriculum, how would you approach it?


More Curiosity-Based Thinking Questions Designed to Identify Curious Candidates


What is a personal project or interest outside of your job responsibilities?


How do you stay current with developments and trends in your field?


Can you give an example of a problem or challenge you faced and how you approached it?


Can you tell me about a time when you received feedback and how you used it to improve yourself?


Can you tell me about a time when you had to adapt to a new technology or tool?


Can you give an example of a decision you made that required you to weigh multiple options and perspectives?


Can you tell me about a time when you had to explain a complex idea or concept to someone?


Can you tell me about a time when you had to work with a diverse group of people and how you navigated any differences?


Can you tell me about a time when you had to take a calculated risk?


Can you tell me about a time when you had to challenge the status quo or traditional way of doing things? Why did you do it and what was the outcome?

 

Curious why more curiosity is excellent for whatever you are doing?

Curiosity can be so many things, it is easy to get lost in its power and potential. To simplify things here's a quick list of just some of what we know curiosity can do. Enjoy and stay curious!

Be sure to follow along with What If Curiosity as I will dive deeper with more specific examples and actions for how you can take a Curiosity-Based Thinking approach to learn, get, and enjoy more out of all you do. Let's chat to maximize the power of your curiosity!



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