If you’re running a business then you need to have high quality employees. Period. There’s no getting around it. If you cut corners when hiring then you’re going to cause yourself a lot of trouble down the line. That being said, it’s hard to know what to look for from applicants. You need someone with relevant experience, of course. You’re surely looking for people with the appropriate education. But more important than any of that is selecting people with the right attitude.
This might seem counter-intuitive to you at first. After all, how could attitude ever be more important than the degree a person has, or the years they’ve spent gaining experience in a relative position? But, think about how dangerous an employee with a bad attitude can be.
For starters, those with a negative attitude towards work can spread their negativity to their fellow employees. All it takes is one employee with a sufficiently bad attitude to ruin another employee’s day and give them a similar attitude. This can in turn spread to another employee, and then to another. Pretty soon you’ll have an entire office or workforce full of people who resent each other and the job they’re doing. They might even grow to resent you or whomever else serves as their authority figure.
Now think of the opposite situation: you’ve hired an employee with a fantastic attitude. They have the degree to match your qualification, but they don’t have much relevant experience. And yet they are a constant joy to work with. Their fresh perspective and go-getter attitude keeps even the grumpiest of veteran workers a little peppier than usual. Their positivity spreads as if it were contagious and morale raises. With the increased morale comes increased productivity. In a year or less the employee has acclimated to the office and gained the experience they need to be their best, and in the meanwhile they’ve given everyone else a boost.
Of course, we are not suggesting that you hire based on attitude alone, as that would not produce the best results. You must look for candidates that have both a good attitude and the right credentials. But if it comes down to a choice between two similar candidates then you should always pick the one with the best attitude. Even if that candidate has a slightly less impressive resume, you’re investing in the one who can do the best for your office or work environment as a whole.
Life in any workplace is not something to be navigated with skill alone. Different people will handle it in different ways. Some people will hate their jobs and have a pessimistic attitude. Others will love every second and be grateful for the opportunities you’ve given them. Choosing those of the latter qualities is best. Attitudes can create good waves or they can spread like a destructive wildfire. Do your utmost best not to get burned by bad hires!
Of course, if you personally hate the employee recruitment process, I can take care of it all for you. Just contact me with what you need and I’ll take care of the rest.
