Hiring Managers Are Looking For This One Personality Trait, And It Might Surprise You
Like a lot of hiring managers, Adriane Schwager likes to ask candidates about times in their career they’ve made a mistake. Usually, it’s to get an idea of how you handle stressful situations and how you learn from previous errors. However, for Schwager, the CEO and co-founder of the hiring platform GrowthAssistant, with 20 years of recruiting experience, the answer can uncover a big red flag: whether the person has low ownership of their work. This crucial personality trait could be the difference between success and failure in any job.
Key Takeaways:
- Ownership is a Crucial Personality Trait: Hiring managers like Schwager are increasingly prioritizing ownership as a key factor in hiring decisions.
- Don’t Shift Blame: The way you talk about mistakes matters. If you blame others, it shows a lack of ownership.
- Focus on Learning & Growth: The most impressive responses emphasize personal learning and improvement from past errors.
How To Spot Low Ownership:
Schwager says she listens carefully to how candidates describe their past mistakes. She analyzes if they take responsibility for their actions or if they tend to shift blame to others. For example, if a candidate says they missed an important deadline because someone else didn’t give them the correct information, it suggests a lack of ownership.
What to Say Instead:
A better response would focus on learning and improvement. A candidate could say, "I missed a deadline once, and it cost the company money. I was devastated, but I learned from it. I now use a task management system and double-check deadlines to ensure this doesn’t happen again." This showcases a strong sense of ownership and a commitment to personal growth.
Ownership in Job Interviews:
Schwager also looks for indicators of ownership in how candidates describe their previous jobs. For example, if someone says they left their last job because their manager was “out to get them,” it might raise concerns. She prefers candidates who can discuss challenges proactively and demonstrate a willingness to take ownership.
What to Do:
When discussing previous jobs, focus on how you handled challenges and learned from them. For example, if you encountered a difficult manager, talk about how you communicated your concerns, tried to resolve the situation, and the lessons you learned from the experience.
The Importance of Ownership Beyond Interviews:
Ownership is not just important for landing a job; it’s crucial for success in any career. Employees with a strong sense of ownership are more likely to be engaged, productive, and invested in their work. They take initiative, embrace challenges, and are committed to the success of the company.
In the words of Adriane Schwager: “"I believe that all situations are co-created, and we all play a part in some of the failure. A company fails, your department fails — even if you aren’t running that department, you still played a part in it. That doesn’t make you good or bad. It just is. So be aware of your participation in that outcome, and be able to talk about the learning you had from it."
The Bottom Line:
Developing a strong sense of ownership is essential for professional success. When you take responsibility for your actions, learn from your mistakes, and actively contribute to your team’s goals, you demonstrate a crucial personality trait that will help you to excel in your career.
