Growth Mindset

By Sandy Prock M.Ed., JCT, Co-Owner of www.ExpertResume.com

“Mindset-The Psychology of Success” By Carol Dweck may be a life-changing book.

Carol Dweck, a Harvard social psychologist discovered in her research that people tend to have one of two kinds of mindsets, “fixed” and “growth”. People with a fixed mindset see intelligence or talent as something innate. People with a growth mindset see intelligence and talent as qualities you work to improve.

With a growth mindset, failure is no big deal.  You learn from your mistakes. You make continual improvements.  You eventually achieve success. The interesting thing is that people with the growth mindset experienced far greater success and sustained it because failure was just something to learn from - not a comment on their talent or intelligence.

People who believe that talent or intelligence is innate end up protecting their delicate egos and eventually sabotage their success.

The research points out that intelligence and talent is not necessarily innate. Intelligence and talent can be learned skills developed with learning, focus and practice.

What does this mean for you in your job search? Adopt the growth mindset, set out to learn from your mistakes. Seek help in your job search. Do not feel you must know how to do this sometimes-difficult task on your own. Job-hunting is a learned skill like any other skill. Check out the latest books on interviewing and job search, learn and go for it.

Job-hunting takes strategy, self-knowledge, interpersonal skills, and strong job search documents.

As you are looking for a new job, many factors contribute to who chooses you for an interview and what employer will choose you for the job. Many things you can control, some you cannot. It is essential to have a growth mindset if you do not get the job. Yes, review the experience and see if there is anything for you to learn. If there is, great, move forward, you are on your way to success. If you find you have nothing to learn, great again, tell yourself this was a situation beyond your control and continue to move forward. Even consider it a blessing, because that was not the best job for you. Continue with your efforts and find the job that is right for you.

A growth mindset can change your life, because it places you in the place of perpetual learning and growing. You build new brain cells, new neural pathways and you expand your skills.

We wish you the best in your job search. Make sure your resume, cover letter and other job search documents are in tiptop shape. If you need help making them shine, reach out and get the help you need.

If you have any questions about a professional resume, cover letter or other job search documents, feel free to call Bob or email him at expertresume@yahoo.com He is an award winning resume writer.

Sandy Prock M.Ed. (Master’s in Education – Vocational Guidance and Counseling), JCTC (Job and Transition Coach), Co-Owner of www. ExpertResume.com