If you’re looking to hire employees for your hospitality business, you need to be aware of the different sectors and the basics of how to hire employees in each. In this blog post, we will discuss the 5 most common sectors in the hospitality industry and provide tips on how to find and hire qualified employees for your business!
The hospitality industry is one of the largest and most diverse industries in the world. It is made up of many different sectors, each with its own unique set of skills and qualifications. When you’re looking to hire employees for your hospitality business, it’s important to know which sector you need to target and what qualifications are required. Here are the five most common sectors in the hospitality industry and some tips on how to find and hire qualified employees for each.
Food and Beverage Sector
The food and beverage sector is responsible for preparing, cooking, and serving food and drinks. To work in this sector, employees need to have experience in the kitchen or bar area. They also need to be able to communicate effectively with customers and have excellent customer service skills. The best potential employees will have a positive outgoing personality and thrive in a fast-paced environment. The interview process should be short and sweet for these types of positions. Competition is fierce for the same employees, so you do not want to lose them with a slow hiring process.
Housekeeping Sector
The housekeeping sector is responsible for cleaning and maintaining the appearance of the property. To work in this sector, employees need to be physically fit and have experience with cleaning tasks. They also need to be able to communicate effectively with guests on occasion and be organized. Many of the best hires for this sector have an eye for detail and are very picky about the quality of their work. As with the food and beverage sector, the interview process should be short and sweet to maximize the opportunity to hire the best talent.
Front Desk Sector
The front desk sector is responsible for handling guest check-ins and check-outs, as well as answering any questions guests may have about the property. To work in this sector, employees need to be organized and efficient. They also need to be able to communicate effectively with customers and have excellent customer service skills. The best potential hires in this sector will be very outgoing and thrive in environments where customer service is key. The interview process for this sector should be slower and more involved. These employees are very important as they interact with guests more often than almost every other sector. In addition, many of them become great candidates for management later in their employment.
Maintenance Sector
The maintenance sector is responsible for repairing and maintaining the property. To work in this sector, employees need to have experience with repairs and be familiar with the property’s systems. They need to be able to effectively resolve management and guest concerns about the property’s esthetics and operational issues. The best hires in this sector will be very mechanically inclined hands-on people. They thrive in an environment where they have direction on what needs to be done but are allowed to exercise their expertise on how to accomplish it. The interview process for these candidates should be short and sweet as well. They have many options for employment with the skillset they have so competition will be tough here as well.
Management Sector
Last but not least the management sector is responsible for overseeing all operations of the hospitality business. To work in this sector, employees need to have experience in management and leadership roles. They also need to be able to communicate effectively with customers and have excellent customer service skills. They are at the top of the customer service pyramid and need to be able to effectively handle customer concerns that reach their level.
They thrive in environments in which they have a steady flow of diverse tasks to complete. Everything from operational decisions down to handling guest concerns. The best candidates for this sector will have the ability to do many of the tasks that the other sectors handle to help when needed. They will be excellent delegators and be someone that the rest of the staff looks up to be an expert problem solver.
If you’re looking to hire employees for your hospitality business, start by considering which sector you need to target. Once you’ve determined which sector you need to fill, consider what qualifications are required and use that information to find qualified candidates! It’s important to partner with a hospitality headhunter or recruiter to help determine the best approach to hiring in each sector. Hospitality headhunters and recruiters are experts in the industry and can help you find qualified candidates that fit your specific needs. If you’re not sure where to start, contact us today and we’ll be happy to help you find the perfect employees for your business!
Kelly Kuhlmann is Founder and Chief Recruiting Partner of Hospitality Headhunter. Kelly has over 30 years in the Restaurant and Hospitality Industry at all levels, and has been one of the Largest Restaurant Franchisees in the United States.