Attitude or Aptitude

Attitude Rules

Maybe we should just give up and recruit for attitude and forget about aptitude.

I have numerous client companies in a variety of fields for which I am currently recruiting new employees and I’m hearing this more and more often.

Yes, you have a college degree and a solid GPA and you may even have some relevant experience, but how do you present yourself in an interview?

A good attitude is often talked about but it’s difficult to pinpoint.  It’s a fine line between showing your enthusiasm and desire for the job and appearing to be totally desperate and willing to take anything.

A good attitude is the ability to convey your skills in a way that matches the needs of the position you are applying for and at the same time addresses how you, personally, can solve their problems, contribute to the solution of their problems or at the very least, not create new ones.

A good attitude is being a team player in real life, not just saying the words and not really understanding what they mean.

How can you help?  How can you make improvements? How can you learn your new job quickly?  Are you the type of person who puts in time after work studying the company, the products or services they offer or researching new technology that’s applicable to your field so you are always learning and always at the leading edge?

Given the choice between two candidates from the same college, with the same GPA in the same field of study…the one with the positive, upbeat, energetic, eager to learn and grow attitude will always get the job.