Hospitality recruitment: how to assemble the best team and retain talent

To help you out, we have put together this list of tips and best practices to help you source and hire the best talent for your hotel.

Establish clear hospitality recruitment objectives

The first thing you need to do when you design your hospitality recruitment strategy is to establish clear objectives. This will help you determine the direction you need to take and what your roadmap to success will look like.

Make sure you consider the following:

• Which positions you’re looking to fill
• The skills and experience that candidates will need to have
• Where you will source candidates (online recruitment platforms, job boards, advertisements, agencies, social media, etc.)
• What information you will include in your job descriptions
• How you will evaluate the candidates that apply for your open positions
• Your hiring timeline and budget

In terms of finding the right candidate, a good place to start is by defining a candidate persona for each position that you are looking to fill. This is a description of what the ideal candidate will be like. The profile you describe should include desired qualifications, the soft and hard skills you need them to possess, and how much experience they should have. The more details you include in your candidate persona, the easier it will be to craft a job description that attracts the right talent.

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Look for candidates with new skills

There are a number of hard and soft skills that you will probably be looking for in a candidate. In terms of the hospitality industry, these usually include customer service skills, time management skills, the ability to multi-task, crisis management skills, attention to detail, and industry awareness, amongst others. If your hotel is based in a tourism hotspot, then you probably also want someone who speaks a few languages so that they can communicate with foreign guests.

However, it’s equally important to look for people with “new skills”. These might include technological skills so that they are able to manage digital systems such as hotel revenue management software, and good analytical skills. This is especially important if you are looking to hire employees who will be dealing with the business and revenue side of your hotel. Make sure the candidates you invite to interviews are interested in data management and have experience in making data-driven strategic decisions.

Another important new skill to look out for is an interest in sustainability and environmental awareness. This area is becoming an increasingly important magnet for guests these days, so it’s a good idea to look for candidates with the right knowledge and experience to help you develop a more sustainable business and appeal to a larger segment of the market.

If you’re not sure how to find candidates with all these skills, candidate sourcing technology can be a great place to start. Also, don’t forget about the assets that you already have in your business. Ask your existing employees to put the word out and refer suitable candidates if they think they might align with your ideal candidate persona.

Offer better working conditions than your competitors

Finally, one of the most effective strategies for attracting and retaining quality staff is offering better working conditions than your competitors. Focus on nurturing a positive culture and working environment in your hotel so that you can build a desirable place to work. This will help you improve your employer brand and reputation and attract more qualified candidates to your open positions.

There are a few strategies you can use to achieve this. For starters, make sure the salaries you offer are in line with industry standards. It’s also important to offer training and development opportunities to all employees and celebrate their successes and achievements. Encourage engagement, be transparent, and promote open communication. And don’t forget to provide your employees with all the tools and resources they need to perform at their best. Above all, make sure you treat your employees as you would want them to treat your guests. Offer them support, show them respect, and make sure they understand that you value them. Ultimately, if your employees are happy and engaged, they will be more likely to stay at your business for the long term. Plus, a satisfied workforce is far more likely to go the extra mile and provide an optimum guest experience at every touchpoint. And that is the key to assembling the best team and retaining talent in your business.

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