As Herb Kelleher famously said, “You don’t hire for…
““As Herb Kelleher famously said, “You don’t hire for skills, you hire for attitude. You can always teach skills.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Hiring should prioritize attitude over skill because skills can be taught, but attitude is innate.
In simple terms: Attitude matters more than skill when hiring.
Recruit for mindset, then train abilities.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- interview process
- team building
- onboarding
- performance reviews
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you assess attitude in interviews?
- What training supports skill gaps?
Skills may still be critical for specialized roles.