Attitude versus skill: how to find the right balance when recruiting?

Just because somebody has the skill and knowledge to do something, doesn’t mean they will approach it with enthusiasm. We can probably all name tasks we are capable of doing well but don’t enjoy. And if we don’t enjoy a task, we’re more likely to avoid it or apply minimum effort.  

Equally, having a great attitude isn’t always a substitute for natural aptitude – you might be very enthusiastic about singing, but if you’re tone-deaf, you’re unlikely to land a record deal.

In business, you need people with the right competencies, but you also need a team that is working together with a positive attitude.

In an ideal world, you would employ people with all the necessary qualifications and experience, as well as all the desired personal attributes. Unfortunately, finding candidates that possess every skill and trait you are looking for isn’t always straightforward.

Instead, most companies have to find a balance between hiring based on skill and hiring based on personal qualities.

Hiring based on skill

Changing a person’s attitude is much harder than teaching them how to do something. While they may go through the motions and take the required actions, it can be tough to completely change their mindset towards work.

There are things you can do to improve engagement and create a positive company culture, which will help improve attitude. However, it’s much easier to employ people who have the right attitude and work ethic in the first place.

Hiring based on will

New employees are often eager to learn and will be excited about facing a new challenge. In fact, many candidates prioritise clear progression routes and development opportunities over salary, so it can be a good idea to hire someone who requires a bit of training. The savings on their initial salary, compared to employing someone fully qualified, will go some way to covering any external training costs.

If you are investing in your employees, they are more likely to be invested in their work.

How to recruit skill and attitude

The investment of time and money needed to manage poor performance or poor staff retention is far greater than the investment needed to create an effective recruitment strategy. It’s better to spend time attracting the best candidates in the first place than to deal with the consequences of recruiting the wrong people.

Relax the criteria

Having a long list of essential skills, qualifications and attributes might seem like a good way of putting off timewasters, but it can also deter great candidates too.

Reduce the list of essential criteria to just the most vital skills, qualifications or personal qualities.

Make your values clear in the job advert

Don’t make the job advert all about the job description and what skills you are looking for. Show candidates what kind of company you are too and talk about the personal traits you want to see in employees.

Check out our article for top tips on how to create an effective job advert.

Improve your employer branding

Employees these days are more selective about the companies they want to work for. They aren’t simply looking at salary and benefits – they want to go where they will feel valued and happy.

Make sure that your employer branding reflects your values and attracts candidates with the right attitude.

Ask the right questions

A CV will tell you what qualifications and experience a candidate has, but the interview is an opportunity to get to know their personality too.

Ask interviewees about their aspirations and what it is about your company that attracted them. Find out what motivates them.

Be open to compromise

Be flexible in your approach and don’t be quick to disregard someone with the right attitude just because they don’t have all the relevant experience. You might be able to fill their skill gaps with a bit of training, or they might be ideal for an alternative role within your business.

Sometimes the people you take a chance on, turn out to be your highest performing employees. You might never find the perfect candidate, but if you’re flexible, you’re more likely to find someone close.  

Working with Key Appointments

At Key Appointments, we understand how important it is to attract candidates with the right skills and attitude. With over a decade of experience in recruitment, we’re experts at matching the right people to the right companies, based not just on skill, but on shared values and attitude too.

If you have a recruitment need you’d like to discuss, get in touch with one of our experienced consultants.