Are You Trainable?

If you have ever hired anyone or being part of a hiring panel, you know that one of the most important elements that determines whether someone is picked over another is trainability.

Beyond the appropriate skills and knowledge for the job at hand someone has at any point in time, trainability is what employers want above anything else. Being flexible, being able to adapt, being able to learn challenging concepts while keeping a positive attitude, are invaluable skills.

More than 10 years ago I attended a resume building workshop and the lead trainer who was an HR Director for a medium sized business said: “We always hire for attitude and fire for inaptitude.” What he was effectively saying was that it is easy to get hired if you have a positive and enthusiastic attitude, but over time, your ability to adapt, learn and grow is what is going to determine whether you stay, and how high you rise.