You don’t have to be a genius to have intellectual curiosity
It could feel daunting to learn that employers rate intellectual curiosity as one of the top characteristics they look for in young employees. But do your kids have to be geniuses to have intellectual curiosity? Well, it turns out the answer is a resounding No!
In the 4th blog in our series on the key skills employers look for in young employees, we dig into why intellectual curiosity isn’t as lofty as it sounds and offer simple tips for parents wanting to help their kids develop this employee super power.
As Hamish Wilson, Human Capital Partner at Deloitte puts it, intellectual curiosity is all about asking questions. At an interview for an entry level role it can be as simple as asking the pay rate, or hours of work, or what happens on the job day to day, or who you might be working with.
And, yes, interviews are a nerve wracking experience, even for the most confident of candidates. The dreaded experience of drawing a ‘question blank’ at the crucial moment is a real possibility for most. This is where advice from one of my first bosses is absolute gold. Mr Don Bayliss told me, “Sharon, a blunt pencil beats a long memory any day!”
That is to say, heading to the interview armed with a few questions noted down is a winning strategy. Having conducted countless interviews, I can confidently say that there is no judgement on seeing someone refer to their notes! Parents can be an asset here, helping to brainstorm some questions to ask.
And why is intellectual curiosity so important at work? Aside from the obvious reason of demonstrating keenness to learn and explore at work, it is also great for relationship building with co-workers - curious questions start conversations!
In customer facing roles it is an invaluable skill to help build rapport. Clients appreciate people who are genuinely curious about their businesses and love to meet someone who has done a bit of research about them!
Employees with intellectual curiosity will stand out in these times of constant change in so many workplaces. They are most likely to seek out new information that will help them stay in touch with the changing trends and be prepared for what comes next.
Trying out these skills for the first time at work would be tough, but kids can get practice at home. What are your expectations when you arrive at Aunty’s house or into a social situation? Do the kids scramble to hang with their cousins and friends, or do they stop and chat with the grown-ups for a bit? Do they shake hands with adults and ask the odd question themselves?
Both Hamish and Justine Lamont, from Good to Great Parenting agree it’s never too soon to foster intellectual curiosity. It could start at the dinner table with simple questions about what everyone learned today (and not just the students at the table - parents too!), and move on to discussing topical news items, social and environmental issues. What do the kids think about it all? What would they do if they were Prime Minister, or were in charge?
Justine’s other great suggestion was to look for ways to learn from your kids. Ask about the things they are interested in (that you don’t already know about). It encourages their further exploration into the topic and demonstrates your curiosity and willingness to learn new things.
A point made in an article I read on this topic today made me squirm a bit. Their No.1 tip for fostering intellectual curiosity in kids was to Answer their Questions! My squirm was about remembering those occasions I gave glib or generalised answers when I was ‘too busy’ to take the time to really think about the question and the answer to give. Ouch! It’s hard to be a perfect parent!
Watch out for our next blog in this series on accountability.
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