In trades, having a growth mindset opens doors. It helps you face challenges and gain new skills. And, the more skills and insight you develop, the more valuable you become to employers and your team. Embracing a growth mindset sets you up for employment, and success.

Growth Mindset vs Fixed Mindset

Growth MindsetFixed Mindset
Sees challenges as opportunities to learnAvoids challenges out of fear of failure
Learns from feedbackFeels criticised by feedback
Believes effort leads to improvementThinks effort is pointless if you’re not “naturally good”
Celebrates others’ success as inspirationFeels threatened by others’ achievements

A growth mindset is about believing you can improve your skills with effort and learning. In contrast, a fixed mindset assumes your abilities are set and can’t change. Here’s how they differ:

For example, someone with a fixed mindset might think, “I’m only good at carpentry, so I won’t bother trying concreting.” A growth mindset would say, “I’ve got carpentry skills – maybe I could learn concreting too!”

Have a growth mindset in your job search

Here’s how to apply a growth mindset when planning your career or looking for work:

Applying for roles: If you don’t get a role, reflect on what you can improve. Ask for feedback on your CV or interview.

Exploring roles: Be open to trying for roles that complement your training. For instance, if you trained as an electrician, consider roles in solar panel installation.

Learning new skills: look out for short courses or ask kaimahi on-site to teach you something new.

Take action to grow your mind

Here are some practical ideas to reframe your mindset.

  • Set a 30-Day Challenge: Pick one skill to improve, such as reading technical plans, and practise it daily.
  • Ask for feedback: Speak with mentors or kaimahi about what you could do better and act on their advice.
  • Research career paths: Look into other roles in your industry and ask contracts about their journey. For example, learn about scaffolding or site safety roles.
  • Reflect weekly: Spend 10 minutes each week thinking about what went well and what you learned.
  • Try something new: Volunteer for tasks outside your comfort zone on-site, like operating new tools or leading a small project.

Final whakaaro

Your mahi journey is like building a whare – it takes time and effort, but each skill is another brick in the foundation. Embrace challenges and keep learning. A growth mindset doesn’t just help you succeed; it makes the journey more rewarding.

Keep striving, keep learning, and remember – the only limit is the one you set for yourself.

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