Recruit for attitude, train for skills

By Craig Burton – Founder & Managing Director, The Works Recruitment Leeds

Did you know that our personalities are formed by the age of 4? Personality is the combination of thoughts, emotions and behaviors that makes you unique. It’s the way you view, understand and relate to the outside world, as well as how you see yourself. 

The right types of personality and attitude is what will make your employees stand out and can set your company apart from the competition. We’ve all had outstanding customer service at some point in our lives, and what happens when we do? We go back! Whether it’s a sales assistant in a clothing store or a waiter in a restaurant, certain types of personality attract us to want to visit there again. Imagine how your customers would feel if your staff had the same effect.

I have always believed that you should recruit for attitude and train for skills. A shocking 46% of all new hires fail within their first 18 months. But the real shocker is that 89% of them fail for attitudinal reasons and not skills!

This is why it’s crucial that you have the right personalities and attitudes in your business. We’re all looking for something different……no two jobs or two candidates are the same but it’s all about getting the right type of people for your business. Skills can be taught, we all know that, but personality and attitude is hard to change.

Have you considered personality testing when you are recruiting? It can provide valuable insights into candidates’ workplace preferences, behaviour and level of competence, which can help with your recruiting decisions. These are personal attributes that it’s difficult to train employees on – such as being a people-person, having an upbeat personality, or possessing a keen ability to learn new things.

So if you know what types of personality or attitude you want for your business, make sure you recruit for them. Don’t employ a really shy candidate for an outgoing sales role, it just won’t work! If your staff have the right attitude that fits in with your company culture then not only will they be more motivated in their role, but they will also be happier and more productive. Which is a win win situation for you!

As the saying goes, “Success is 99% attitude and 1% aptitude” and I totally agree. Having the right people with the right attitude will most definitely make your business more successful. For me, character really does count for more than credentials. We’ve been successfully hiring for attitude for over 25 years now, and it’s always worked for us.

If you want to find out more, please email us at craig.burton@theworksrec.co.uk and we will be happy to chat you through our experiences and give you some tips for your business.

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