Likeable may be too strong, but not an asshole is definitely a plus. My team has NOT hired contractors before because we didn't like working with them. They cou

Likeable may be too strong, but not an asshole is definitely a plus. My team has NOT hired contractors before because we didn't like working with them. They could get the job done, were very skilled, but negative attitudes, constant bitching, or too high of a level of surliness just made it not desirable to work with them every day. You will likely spend more time during the week with these people than you do your own family- why then would you, given the ability to choose, choose someone you don't like to be around? I am definitely more productive when I am happy, I'm sure it's not possible to measure adequately but someone enough of an asshole that lowers everyone else's morale enough could likely lower the team productivity to a point where it is a net negative to have them on the team. I don't care about culture fit, being cool, being super into whatever I'm into. Getting the job done in a manner that doesn't make me or the people on my team hate your guts is priority number one.