I did a workshop recently for a company that is expanding and getting ready for business after the pandemic. They’re hiring an extra 100 people and asked for my insights from having done mass hiring in the past. Not surprisingly, I stressed the importance of hiring for attitude rather than strictly for skills. It was a pretty healthy discussion: many of the hiring managers have been so used to looking for skills that they often overlook the importance of hiring someone with a positive and can-do attitude. They admitted it was easier to note skills than attitude, so we talked about how you discover an applicant’s attitude. Things like whether they make and keep eye contact, smile easily and often, and use gestures while they speak are indicative of passion and engagement; or when answering probing question with focus and enthusiasm indicates general optimism and a willingness to be flexible. Not surprisingly, after the normal comparisons are made, personality can and should be a determining factor. We want to surround ourselves and customers with unique, memorable, confident and interesting people. If you want to be proud of the people you hire and work with, hire for personality and attitude today.
Shannon L. Alder: Author
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