Every business is chasing the same goals:  happier customers and stronger revenue. But if you’re serious about moving the needle on growth, there’s one place you need to start – talent acquisition. Specifically, hiring people with the right job skills.

It’s easy to get caught up in resumes, education, past experience, or even a candidate’s demeanor and attitude. But none of those matter as much as whether the person can actually do the job. Skills, not just intentions or promises, are what drive performance, and ultimately, revenue.

Growth Starts with the Right Talent

When companies talk about growth strategies, they often focus on launching new products, tweaking pricing models, boosting marketing efforts, or restructuring operations. What’s often missing from the conversation?

Hiring the right people with the right skills.

Talent acquisition isn’t just a support function – it’s a growth engine. Your growth initiatives will only go as far as the talent executing them. When hiring is done with a sharp focus on job-relevant skills, everything else becomes easier.

CEOs often talk about how “people are our greatest asset” or how “hiring is the most important thing we do.” These are good sentiments, but they must be backed by action. Customers can tell the difference between companies that invest in skilled talent and those that don’t.

Why “Hire for Attitude, Train for Skills” Falls Short

You’ve probably heard the phrase: “Hire for attitude, train for skills.” It sounds reasonable, but it doesn’t hold up in practice. While a positive attitude is valuable, it’s no substitute for competence. You can’t train someone into expertise overnight – and sometimes, not at all.

Take customer service, for example. Many of us have had the frustrating experience of calling a contact center for help, only to be met with rigid scripts, language barriers, or ineffective problem-solving. It’s so common that NBC’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) did a comedy sketch about it. While agents may have the right attitude and extensive training, without strong communication and problem-solving skills, the customer experience suffers. That’s why so many companies are now re-evaluating their support strategies. They’ve realized that training alone can’t make up for missing skills.

The Three Pillars of Business Value

I recently previewed an upcoming book on sales strategy. The book outlines three pillars of business value that apply directly to talent acquisition.

1. Make More Money

Hiring employees with the right job skills leads to higher productivity and smarter decision-making. These individuals aren’t just doing the job, they’re improving it. They find efficiencies, offer innovative solutions, and contribute directly to customer satisfaction and revenue growth.

2. Save Money

Bad hires are expensive. When you hire someone without the necessary skills and try to train them up, you’re likely to face slow ramp-up times, costly mistakes, and higher turnover. Skilled employees hit the ground running, reducing onboarding time and long-term costs.

3. Reduce Risk

Employees with the right skills are better equipped to manage complexity, anticipate problems, and ensure compliance to company standards. They help prevent costly errors and keep operations running smoothly. In a risk-conscious business environment, that’s a major advantage.

If you truly want to grow your business, invest in your talent acquisition strategies. Not just by filling seats, but by making sure every hire brings the skills your business needs to succeed.

The right people, with the right skills, are the foundation for lasting growth.

HOW WE CAN HELP

Ready to stop guessing and start growing? At Employment Technologies, we specialize in skills-based hiring and talent development tailored to your unique business needs. Our scalable solutions deliver proven, bottom-line results.

Start building a smarter, stronger team today. Contact us here for a free consultation or call 888.332.0648.