Opinion Series Part 7: Attitude vs. Experience — Which Matters More When Hiring?

Happy Sunday Hivers!

Every company has its own beliefs, values, and way of doing things. That is why employees tend to stay longer in organizations that share their principles and mindset. When your values align with those of the company, it becomes easier to feel connected, motivated, and committed. On the other hand, even a good job can be difficult to sustain in the long run if your beliefs and the company's culture are fundamentally different.

Way back in my first job, I worked for a Japanese company. As many people know, Japanese organizations often place a strong emphasis on attitude and work ethic. I remember that the company was quite large, with around 20 people in the HR department alone. What surprised me was that not everyone in HR was a Psychology graduate, and some were not even college graduates. The company had transferred several employees from other departments into HR because management saw their excellent attitude, dedication, and willingness to learn. They simply provided the necessary training and allowed them to grow into their roles.

When I applied to that company, I was a fresh graduate. My knowledge of Human Resources came only from my college classes and internship experience. Looking back, I was amazed that such a large and established company was willing to hire someone like me despite having no experience. That company became my first employer and gave me the opportunity to start my career, proving to me that attitude and potential can sometimes matter just as much as experience.

However, the last company I worked for was the complete opposite. Unlike my first employer, it was owned by a Filipino businessman. One time, one of my HR colleagues resigned, so we needed to hire a replacement. There was an employee from the Accounting Department whom I believed would be a perfect fit for HR because of her personality, attitude, and way of dealing with people. Since she came from Accounting, I thought she could be assigned to Compensation and Benefits while learning the other HR functions.

I recommended her to our CEO, and he immediately approved the idea. However, he instructed me to route the proposal through the Vice President first. When I presented the proposal, I was strongly criticized. The main reason was that the employee had no prior HR experience. No matter how much I explained that I was willing to train and mentor her, the proposal was ultimately rejected.

From my years of experience working in Human Resources, I have always preferred hiring for attitude rather than experience, provided that the person is willing to learn. Experience is valuable, but it is not everything. A person can learn technical skills, procedures, and job responsibilities through proper training and guidance. However, if someone has a poor attitude, especially if they are arrogant, difficult to work with, or unwilling to learn, it becomes much harder to develop them into a successful employee.

Skills can be taught, knowledge can be acquired, and experience can be gained over time. Attitude, on the other hand, is deeply rooted in a person's character and values. It is often shaped over many years and is far more difficult to change. That is why, whenever I have the opportunity to hire someone, I will almost always choose a person with the right attitude over a person with extensive experience but the wrong mindset.

In the end, companies may have different hiring philosophies, and there is no single approach that guarantees success. Some organizations prioritize experience, while others focus on potential and character. As for me, I firmly believe that skills can be developed, but attitude is what determines whether a person will continue to grow, work well with others, and contribute positively to the organization. Given the choice, I would rather invest my time in teaching someone who is eager to learn than struggle to manage someone whose attitude holds them back from reaching their full potential.

Thank you for reading and see you on my next blog. Cheers!

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