Hiring for grit

Discover the high-potential talent your business can’t afford to overlook

Talent is harder to find than ever. But while businesses compete for candidates, they’re overlooking a proven source of potential: system-impacted individuals. Shaped by adversity, this group has tenacity, resilience, and a hunger to succeed. And yet, hiring processes often shut them out. It’s time to rethink what makes a great candidate and start hiring for the trait that matters most: grit.

Our research report draws on quantitative insights and qualitative stories from care leavers, justice-impacted individuals, and neurodivergent job seekers to reveal the real barriers they face — and the practical steps employers can take to unlock this extraordinary talent pool.

We surveyed 226 system-impacted individuals, and here’s what we found:

82%
believe their background has cost them a job
87%
say a supportive team matters most when choosing a job
60%
who disclosed their background received a negative response

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Hiring for Grit: The Podcast

A three-part series exploring what grit really means, and how employers can start hiring for it.

Hear from the people leading the charge to change how employers think about talent. We explore the research behind grit as a predictor of career success, hear real stories of resilience and lived experience, and get into the practical steps businesses can take to open their doors to candidates they’ve been missing.

Listen or Watch

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Meet the Speakers

Ben Read
Ben Read
Managing Partner, MSL UK
Host