“People are hired for their skills/talents and fired for their attitudes/behavior/personalities” is a popular business adage that is of unknown authorship. “People are hired for their technical knowledge, promoted for their innovation, and fired for their behavior” was cited in print in 2001. “CEOs often get hired for their skills—and fired for their personalities” was cited in print in 2005 and “people are hired for their skills and fired for their behaviour” was cited in 2006.
 
“People are hired for their talents and fired for their behavior” was cited as an old adage in Fast Company magazine in 2013.
 
   
Google Books
The Talent Edge:
A Behavioral Approach to Hiring, Developing, and Keeping Top Performers
By David S. Cohen
Etobicoke, ON: John Wiley & Sons Canada Limited
2001
Pg. ?:
No matter what industry, people are hired for their technical knowledge, promoted for their innovation, and fired for their behavior.
 
11 June 2005, Kokomo (IN) Tribune, “Our own worst enemies,” pg. 4, col. 6:
The article continues, “The theory is also gaining more resonance as corporations become ever more cognizant that talented employees quit bosses, not companies, and that CEOs often get hired for their skills—and fired for their personalities.”
 
Google Books
Industrial Psychology
By Roelien Theron, A. Moerdryk, A. Schlechter, P. Nel, A. Crafford and C. O’Neill
Cape Town, South Africa: Pearson Education
2006
Pg. 195:
People are hired for their skills and fired for their behaviour!
   
Twitter
Gary Patton
‏@GaryFPatton
Gary coaches that: “People get hired for their technical skills and fired for their people skills’. gfp ‘42™... http://ff.im/5miCl
1:19 PM - 17 Jul 2009
 
Enrique Camarena Junior High School
Daily Bulletin
May 20, 2010
Thought of the day:
“People get hired for their skills and fired for their attitudes.”
 
Twitter
OrgChart Software
‏@Orgchartpro
People are commonly hired for their capability and fired for character. Read tips on building a great organization. http://alturl.com/fnrxv
11:41 PM - 8 Nov 2010
   
Baird Brightman @ Worklife Strategies
July 15, 2011
Acting BAD at work
After many years of observing, leading and consulting with people at work, I have concluded that the old outplacement adage “People are hired for their talents and fired for their behavior” is true. People most often fail at work by exhibiting particular patterns of behavior that are harmful to the organization which must then defend against the toxic agent.
 
Google Books
Wellness:
The Good the Bad and the Opportunity
By Ronald C. Stoll
Xlibris Corporation (xlibris.com)
2012
Pg. 41:
We notice that people get hired for their skills and fired for their behavior whether the skill need continues to be required or not.
 
Fast Company
December 12, 2013 | 6:36 AM
HOW TO OVERCOME THE 6 MOST TOXIC EMPLOYEE BEHAVIORS
IDENTIFY, PREVENT, AND GET RID OF THE MOST TOXIC OF WORKPLACE BEHAVIORS FOREVER.
BY BAIRD BRIGHTMAN
The old adage that “People are hired for their talents and fired for their behavior” is true. People often fail at work by exhibiting patterns of behavior that are toxic to the organization.