It seems everybody is talking attitude these days. Well, not everybody. It seems most auto body shops still value skill in an employee the most.

But check out 19-store Carubba Collision’s mantra for recruiting new employees: “Hire based on attitude and teach skills needed to do the job.” Some of Carubba Collision’s best employees had zero collision experience when they were hired, says Carubba Collision President and CEO Joe Carubba.

The interview process and hiring into Abra’s SpringBoard Apprentice Program is based on what potential hires bring in as far as work ethic and enthusiasm.

“We hire people who want a career, not just a job,” says Mitch Becker. “This makes a huge difference in attitude toward learning.”

Paul Struhar, owner of Centerline CARSTAR Collision, recently told me, “With the right attitude, I can teach a person anything they want to know.”

What made me think about attitude was a recent email I received from a young woman named Melissa Howard who has been having trouble finding a job in the automotive industry despite having a true passion for cars. Check out her story and let me know if you think she has what it takes to succeed.