Take 3 - TripleTrack Blog

Hiring for Attitude, Not Skill

By Rachael Lowe / May 4, 2012

The most recent numbers for Buffalo, NY unemployment (Jan 2012) put us on the map with a 7.8% unemployment rate, or what is an equivalent of over 44,500 people. Even though that’s .5% lower than the national average, (and much lower than previous years), it still leaves plenty of employers with potentially thousands of resumes to sift through. Not only that, but the more entry-level your job openings, the larger the percentage of resumes that will come shooting into your inbox. Yay!

Of course you have basic requirements to fill a position that shouldn’t be neglected. But when you get those candidates in the door for an interview, might I suggest you try to have more of a conversation with them than ask them solely about the technical skills you already know they have? Of course, you should know what types of personal questions are off limits pre-employment, but ask questions that turn the focus more on their personality and attitude, so you know that the person you’re hiring is a cultural match. Something like “Describe the work environment or culture in which you are most happy” should make a candidate light up because the idea of actually being happy at work allows them to answer the question honestly.

Almost half of new employees with an attitude that isn’t meshing with their company fail within the first 18 months. By hiring for attitude, you can help bring that risk to a minimum. Oh, and if you’re getting the same answers from every candidate you’re interviewing, then you’re probably not asking the right questions.