Creativity has always been a top priority for employers, as creative thinkers are often the workers who come up with innovative ideas that can develop and improve a company over time.
A new study, commissioned by Solopress, has found that two thirds of employers in the UK believe a creative workforce is key to generating strong business results. The survey also found that creativity was a top priority when recruiting new talent, with 64% saying there are likely to hire an employee based on their creative abilities.
You may not think that the particular role you are applying for requires much imagination and creativity, however that does not mean that it is not necessary. A graduate’s career often involves being introduced into a company in order to inspire change and bring a fresh perspective.
Showcasing your creativity
Employers will be looking to assess your creativity in different ways at a variety of stages throughout the recruitment process. For example, in the initial application, employers will be looking to see how you answer questions and put your cover letter together – if it is simply reworked from a website then it does not really show a great deal of creativity.
However, that does not mean that you have to veer off in the other direction and format you CV with vibrant colours to make it stand out. Employers prefer to be able to process applications quickly and simply, so it is important to show your creativity in the right areas.
For example, in an assessment centre or even in an interview, you will often be faced with problem-solving exercises, this is the perfect opportunity to come up with a creative idea and put it forward in an articulate and well thought-out way.
Putting it into words
What employers really want to hear about is when you used your creativity to produce a positive result, otherwise it is of no use to them if it cannot be applied to an everyday situation in the office.
Think about a time when you were faced with a problem, and came up with an idea that allowed you to solve it – do not forget to mention the process between thinking of the idea and putting it into action. Did you put it into a proposal, ask your manager for a meeting, or talk to your teacher, for example.
If you’re a graduate looking to kick-start your career, have a chat with Discovery Graduates and see how they can help get you started.
