Professional online language learning in Mexico is becoming increasingly important as many global companies are either entering the Mexican market or expanding their presences. Working on international teams, communication skills play a bigger role in hiring and career growth. Companies are not only looking at what you can do, but also how you communicate, collaborate, and connect with others at work. But what matters most, technical abilities or good communication skills

Useful Vocabulary in the article: 

Get along (to have good relationships with others)

Tongue-in-cheek (humorous actions or statements not meant to be taken seriously, often ironic and playful)

Soft skills (social skills and emotional intelligence)

Hard skills (expertise and technical skills)

The Office Mood-Booster

Every workplace has THAT person, the one who somehow gets along with everyone. They crack jokes at just the right moment, bring good energy into meetings, and make even the most boring Monday feel a little lighter. They’re the office mood-booster.

But here’s the honest question: do they always get the most work done?

What Is a “Personality Hire”?

In 2023, social media started buzzing with posts about “personality hires,” often in a humorous, tongue-in-cheek way. So, what is a personality hire? It’s someone who’s hired more for their charisma, friendliness, and social skills than for their technical abilities. In other words: great vibes, great conversation, but maybe not always the strongest on the technical side.

On international teams languages and the way we communicate are often the bridge between colleagues, clients, and cultures. It is important to not get lost in translation, or unknowingly come across as rude. 

Hard Skills vs. Soft Skills

This brings us to a classic debate in the working world: hard skills vs. soft skills.

Hard skills are the technical abilities, what you know, what you can do, what you’ve been trained to do. Soft skills are how you work, how you communicate, collaborate, handle conflicts, and manage your time.

In an ideal world, the perfect candidate has both. As professionals we all know that being able to communicate well, present yourself professionally, and work well with others is just as important as being knowledgeable and delivering high-quality work. A brilliant employee who can’t cooperate with a team can slow everything down. On the other hand, a great team player who can’t meet the technical demands of the job can create just as many problems.

So where does that leave the “personality hire”?

How HR Actually Thinks About Hiring

From an HR perspective, hiring is rarely about choosing only skills or only personality. Most recruiters and HR professionals are trying to balance several things at once:

• Can this person do the job? (skills, experience, competence)
  
• Will this person fit the team? (communication style, attitude, values)
  
• Will this person grow with the company? (potential, adaptability, mindset)
  

In many cases, if two candidates have similar technical skills, personality and soft skills become the deciding factor. HR teams know that skills can often be taught, but attitude, communication style, and emotional intelligence are much harder to change. That’s why interviews often focus not just on what you can do, but how you work, how you solve problems, and how you deal with people.

So while “personality hire” is often used jokingly online, in reality, personality has always been part of hiring decisions. The difference today is that we’re talking about it more openly.

This is also why many companies encourage professionals to invest in communication training and language learning online, especially in international markets like Mexico that have close ties to the USA and Canada. 

Are Language Skills a Hard Skill or Soft Skill?

We can think about language skills as two-fold. On the one hand, being able to write, read, and speak in a second language is crucial in today’s global job market. Similarly, learning how to communicate politely, respectfully, and even with humour is equally important and where many bilingual professionals struggle.

Have you ever heard someone say: I don’t feel like myself when speaking English, or perhaps felt that way yourself? That is why we at Sprach.com not only focus on speaking correctly and with fluency, but also on building your confidence.

For professionals in Mexico, language learning online offers a flexible way to build both technical language skills and the soft skills needed to communicate naturally at work.

Getting Back to Our Dilemma

Are personality hires a problem because they might lack strong technical skills?
Or are they a hidden strength because they boost morale, improve teamwork, and make the workplace more enjoyable and collaborative?

The truth is, most teams need a mix. They need strong performers who get things done, and they also need people who connect with others, smooth conflicts, and keep the human side of work alive.

What Do You Think?

In your opinion, what matters more: hard skills or soft skills?
Do personality hires bring real value, or do you think that hard skills should always come first?