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Debate Info

3
6
Skill Personality
Debate Score:9
Arguments:8
Total Votes:9
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 Skill (3)
 
 Personality (5)

Debate Creator

pirateelfdog(2655) pic



Do you hire because of skill or personality?

READ DESCRIPTION PLEASE


With extremes in either of theses cases, the answer is obvious, so I'm going to set up a hypothetical here. 


You are hiring a new employee. You already have a bunch of employees working in this space, and people collaborate or work in small teams often. 

Person A: Is great at what they do. They always produce acceptable work, and usually the work is truly stellar. However, they have a history of not being liked, and they clash easily with others. They aren't particularly nice, and no one really wants to be around them.

 

Person B: Is a truly lovely human being. They raise the morale of the palces they are in; everyone likes them; and they make the space a nicer place to be in. However, they simply don't have the skill and experience that Person A has, and, while they try their hardest, they will have a few more mistakes or slightly less quality of work than person A. 

Who do you hire, A, or B? 

Skill

Side Score: 3
VS.

Personality

Side Score: 6
1 point

Normally I would have employed those people with what I called attitudinal qualities, providing everything else was ''fairly'' equal, i.e, the skills necessary to complete their function competently and safely. By attitudinal I mean such personal attributes as honesty, a willingness to learn, able to get along with work colleagues, good time keeping, conscientiousness, diligence and so on. However, the apparent lack of skills of the ''amicable applicant'' whom you describe, appears to fringe on representing a danger to himself and his colleagues. In this context if there is any doubt whatsoever that employment of this amenable candidate would pose a safety threat to his/her workmates, no matter how small, or whose employment could be a violation of the health & safety laws then I'm afraid ''Mr. Nice Guy'' would receive a ''Dear John'' letter;- We would thank you for your application for the above position and for the interest which you have shown in the Company. However, on this particular occasion your application has been unsuccessful. We would take this opportunity to advise you that we were very impressed with your application and have taken the liberty of placing your details on file and should a similar post become available we will contact you. Yours etc. Every unsuccessful job applicant received one of these, ''let down gently'' letters. Also, if the more qualified applicant was not offered the position and he/she discovered that the post was filled by a less able person then the employer would be open to prosecution under the 'fair employment' regulations and in the event of an accident be charged with professional negligence in the case of a minor injury or ''CORPORATE MANSLAUGHTER'' in the case of a fatality resulting from the irresponsible and willful engagement of an inadequately qualified or trained employee.

Side: Skill
2 points

Even in your hypothetical, the answer is still obvious. Skills can be learned, while attitude and personality are much harder to change. If change is accomplished, it is usually very slow compared to training a new skill.

Side: Personality
1 point

Ok, fair enough. But is there a line? What if the person is truly inept? Or what if it is a temporary job and the person won't have time to grow a significant amount over the process?

Side: Personality
Nomoturtle(857) Disputed
1 point

you statement is correct, but overused and misrepresented. if this argument were that valid, there would be less widespread education and much less emphasis on exams. people are crapping themselves as a test with chance questions determines their future... but it's ok, they will get a job because they are nice, because a full house of U's is a label, and labels are judging.

Side: Skill
1 point

Would you rather have a smart person that slacks or a dumb (I don't really mean it) person that is nice and works hard. Besides the person that is dumb will learn throughout the years how to improve

Side: Personality
1 point

What if part of the unlikable person's skill is a good work ethic? They are smart, produce good work, and have a good work ethic, they just simply are not nice or likeable, or they're rude or cocky etc.

Side: Skill
1 point

Personality but a little bit of skill as well. But the thing is, skill can be taught. I would rather have hired a person with a great heart who is ready to learn something to improve his/her skills in the working field than hire skilled scums who will ruin people's day with their shit personality.

Side: Personality
1 point

Skill gets you the interview.

Personality gets you the job.

Side: Personality