Hire for attitude, because while skills can be taught, a positive attitude is gold
If you’ve ever worked in a marketing team or agency, you know that teamwork, adaptability, and a positive outlook are important. While technical skills do matter, when you hire for attitude, it’s a game changer. It’s not just about finding people who know their way around a campaign or have years of industry experience – it’s about building a team that’s curious, resilient, and eager to support each other.
Teaching skills vs teaching attitude
Learning how to use the latest analytics tools or master a new social platform isn’t rocket science – a lot of the digital platforms marketers use today are very user-friendly. And the more advanced marketing skills that come with years of experience are often transferrable between systems and roles.
Attitude, on the other hand, is much harder to instil. It’s shaped by a person’s mindset, values, and willingness to grow. Trying to change someone’s outlook or work ethic is far more challenging than guiding them through a new process.
The top attributes of great marketers
- Curiosity tops the list of valuable traits in marketing professionals. Curious people ask questions, seek out solutions, and aren’t afraid to try something new. The best marketers are always curious about how to improve their campaigns, using analytics to tweak as they go.
- Teamwork is another essential attribute. Marketing is a creative role, and collaboration leads to better ideas and stronger results. It’s not a coincidence that great marketers are also excellent stakeholder managers and relationship builders – it strengthens the results of their work.
- Resilience and hard work are also essential. Marketing, like sales, takes determination and persistence. Some campaigns achieve amazing results, others need constant adjustments to hit the mark. Marketers need a can-do, won’t-give-up attitude to be successful in the role.
Current hiring trends and missed opportunities
Many marketing roles currently advertised ask for very specific industry experience. Some ads get quite granular, wanting niche knowledge of specific organisation types within an industry. And the list of skills requirements is akin to seeking a unicorn.
This narrow focus can lead to missed opportunities for businesses, overlooking talented individuals who bring fresh perspectives and energy.
By concentrating solely on technical know-how and industry knowledge, companies risk building teams that lack diversity and innovation. Yes, they might have poached a marketer from their direct competitor who thinks and operates much like everyone else in their marketing team, and this might feel safe and comfortable, but how is it going to drive new ideas and growth?
DEI and expanding talent pools
Hire for attitude to open the door to a broader range of candidates. It’s a powerful way to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within marketing teams and agencies.
Another way to support DEI is to relax requirements around formal education. Asking for a degree when relevant work experience demonstrates the same aptitude excludes candidates who couldn’t secure a university education for financial or other reasons. An experienced candidate from a disadvantaged background, with the right attitude, has already overcome the barriers of a lack of education – it shouldn’t follow them for their whole career.
When attributes like curiosity and team spirit are valued, people from varied backgrounds and experiences strengthen an organisation. And a stronger, more diverse team also connects with a wider audience and develops more creative campaigns.
Attitude’s impact on career longevity
A positive attitude isn’t just good for today – it sets employees up for long-term success. People who are eager to learn and adapt tend to thrive, even as the industry changes.
When treated well, people with a good attitude are more likely to stick around, grow with the company, and contribute to a supportive workplace culture. If you hire for attitude, you’re investing in building a team that will stand the test of time, and a talent pipeline for future leadership roles.
Building a marketing industry that creates opportunity
As marketers, in a challenging employment landscape, supporting diversity and job opportunities helps futureproof the industry. Professionals who uplift one another, share knowledge, and encourage growth build stronger teams.
Giving chances to candidates with great attitudes builds a community where everyone can excel, and invites fresh talent into future marketing pools. This benefits individuals and raises the standard for the whole industry.
Skills matter – but attitude should matter more
Hire for attitude to nurture a team that’s adaptable, diverse, and genuinely invested in each other’s success. Skills can be taught, but a positive outlook and willingness to learn will carry a team forward for years to come.
Next time you’re recruiting, look beyond the resume and ask yourself: does this person bring the attitude that will make my team shine?
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