Selecting the best students and hiring the best social workers are important professional responsibilities. Findings from this exploratory study identify personal attributes that are significant in enabling MSW students and social work employees to succeed. Social work educators and agency administrators generally agree that personal attributes such as ethical behavior, honesty, and respectfulness are more important than cognitive traits such as numeric skills and academic record. A discussion addresses implications for MSW admissions and curriculum as well as agency policy and practices. (Contains 4 tables.)