“I know I haven’t done that job before, but I’m a really fast learner”, so the applicant says. Then I read the resume and can see nothing to back up their claim. They have a “C” average in school, worked at a manual labor job and their hobby is woodworking.
I tell them, “Prove to me that you are a fast learner.”
Few have thought of how to prove it. I ask more questions and try to find out if the person is a fast learner. I ask questions like:
What do you learn quickly?
Do others come to you for help with a particular kind of problem?
What do you excel at?
What projects did you lead?
Are you particularly good or renowned at your hobby?
Which were your best school classes or subjects?
Who were you favorite teachers or supervisors and why?
What have you written about?
When have you won a contest?
What do you do that causes you to lose all track of time?
Those questions can lead to a list of proofs of fast learning, or not. If you are a fast learner, prove it on your resume with your accomplishments.
To be honest, being a FAST learner is less important than being a steady learner. If you pick up new skills and apply them regularly, you can get farther than someone who is occasionally brilliant but lazy. Employers respect someone who is a consistent learner and worker.
Show consistent learning and how you picked up new skills every year and that is enough. Prove it with new accomplishments on your resume, and I’ll think you are a fast learner.
Something To Do Today
For some reason many people don’t think what they learned is important. Keep track of new skills you learn so you can brag about them. Prove how fast you can learn.
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Monday: Re-entering the workforce
Later: I don’t want to spend my money on training
Make a game out of it
Before you know it
Who is driving?