Heard a manager at a coffee shop say 'we hire for attitude, train for skill' to a new kid

I was grabbing a latte in Seattle last week and overheard a manager telling a nervous new hire that exact phrase. It got me thinking about how many times I've focused on checking every skill box on a job post instead of just showing I'm eager to learn. Has anyone actually gotten a job mostly because of their mindset over their exact experience?

4 comments

4 Comments

sullivan.spencer1mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly that tracks. I see it with my mechanic too, he'd rather hire the guy who shows up early than the one with perfect grades.

reese_nelson22d ago

Why is it that real world reliability always beats book smarts in most jobs? I've seen it at my local grocery store too where the cashier who always shows up and helps stock shelves gets the shift lead nod over the kid with perfect attendance but zero hustle. It comes down to trust I think. When someone proves they can be counted on day after day that matters way more than any piece of paper.

sullivan.spencer1mo agoMost Upvoted

Grades show you can learn, but showing up shows you care.

brian32822d ago

Man that phrase gets thrown around a lot but it's actually true in my experience. I've seen people walk into jobs with zero experience but just being super eager and willing to learn, and they end up way better than someone who thinks they already know everything. The whole "show up and give a damn" thing really matters way more than people want to admit. It's like that saying about how you can teach someone the technical stuff but you can't teach them to care. Sucks that so many job postings filter people out before they even get a chance to prove they've got the right mindset. Good for that manager for actually living by that idea instead of just talking about it.