Zero.

That’s how many times I’ve decided not to hire a personable and ambitious intern in my business because that individual wasn’t an exceptional technician.

I don’t care much about identifying a world-class technician during the hiring process, as I’ve seen time and again with 300+ interns that those components of the role can be taught.

Here’s a look at a few of the important things I can’t effectively teach during a structured internship or onboarding curriculum:

I can’t create self-awareness
I can’t turn an introvert into an extrovert with a series of thoughtful staff in-services
I can’t firm up a handshake and improve eye contact habits in a way that will carry forward into the client experience if that piece of the puzzle isn’t instinctually reflexive for the employee

If I want to put together an industry-leading team, my best bet is to assemble a collection of unique and inspired personalities, because technical skills and booksmarts alone will never result in a defensible position in my market. A beautifully blended staff of fascinating and cohesive human beings delivering a memorable service, however, is an impossible to replicate competitive weapon.