The Grimaldi Forum hosted the government’s fourth edition of Monaco pour L’Emploi on Friday, drawing thousands of candidates looking for employment in Monaco.

Monaco Life’s Kyriaki Topalidou talked to recruiters behind the polished stands from sectors as diverse as yachting, hospitality and private equity, and they shared a surprising consensus: the perfect candidate isn’t necessarily the one with the most impressive CV.

“For us, what is most important is the attitude,” said Aurélie Arent, co-founder of Athos Partners, a private equity firm attending the forum for the first time. “We believe anyone can always learn, but attitude is something that is more difficult to change.”

Her firm seeks analysts with top business school backgrounds and at least two years in strategic consulting or investment banking, yet she highlighted what matters most: “We love to see people who take ownership, who act as if they are working in their own company, and are proactive and thriving in what they do.”

The preparation problem

Multiple recruiters also identified the same critical mistake: candidates arriving without basic knowledge of the company they’re approaching.

Hugo Debast, recruiting for Hill Robinson’s yacht and villa operations in Antibes, was blunt about the issue. “A lot of candidates come here without a clear idea what they’re looking for,” he said. “I think it’s better to see less companies and approach them with a clear idea of what they are doing. Everybody has a phone in their pocket. They can Google what the company is before coming and asking, ‘What are you doing, and what is your job?'”

Isabelle Walker from the Société des Bains de Mer, which operates Monaco’s luxury hotels and restaurants, shared the same view. “I think it’s important to know a little bit about our establishments, since we have many – and in many different sectors. So, the moment you show that you know the company, it’s already a very good sign.”

Transferrable skills trump narrow experience

For luxury sector employers, adaptability matters as much as expertise. Debast outlined what Hill Robinson seeks: transferable skills like IT capabilities, people skills, hospitality experience and languages, combined with the right mindset. “People must be passionate and ready to learn different things,” he said. “There is never a one-job-fits-all.”

The SBM is currently seeking cooks and kitchen staff for the seasonal period, but Walker stressed personality over credentials. “We’re looking for people who have personality and interpersonal skills. It’s important in our professions since we’re in excellence. So, someone who combines these two skills would be very welcome to join our team.”

Arent added that she values candidates who demonstrate high energy and think proactively. “I like people who already think as if they would be here and what they can do.”

Lastly, Walker’s advice was simple but important. “Above all, talk about yourself and make people want to work with you, because for us, the goal is to get to know people and to be able to work with them if the feeling is right.”

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life