You’ve probably heard the saying: “a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” Well, the same is true for your hotel staff. From food and beverage specialists to kitchen workers, staffing your hotel restaurant with only the strongest players will position you at the forefront of your industry. It’s not just about hiring qualified workers, either.
It’s about making sure each one works in synergy with the other. Like a well-oiled machine, your hotel staff must work in harmony for everything to come together. And just like a recipe that pleases the palate every time, you need a secret sauce to build a winning team for your hotel’s restaurant.
Be Upfront and Specific About Position Descriptions
Not every candidate you hear from can cut it in the hotel industry. It’s a competitive industry that doesn’t have room for the weak or less-qualified. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t people out there who think they can hack it. You’re sure to receive applications from candidates who just don’t boast the qualifications and soft skills you need for the position in question.
To prevent miscommunications and low retention rates, approach your job listings strategically and make sure you’re advertising them in the right way to snag only the candidates you know could be a good fit. Be up front and specific about what the job requires. Don’t sugar coat the responsibilities, skills, or hours involved.
Being straightforward about what you need will make the whole hiring process much easier on you and your hotel restaurant as a whole.
Look For Experience
Seasoned professionals who have spent time in the trenches of a hotel restaurant know the demands of this type of environment and will be able to fare much better than a newbie. While it may be hard to find someone who checks all your boxes, it’s best if you can find someone who comes as close as possible.
Hiring someone that doesn’t quite match up with your requirements, thinking you’ll just train them on the job, doesn’t always work out the way you’d hoped. The nature of this business requires new hires to hit the ground running and there’s often not a lot of wiggle room as they learn the ropes.
Hiring someone with experience right out of the gate is the key to success. Using hotel staffing agencies can help take the guesswork out of this process and ensure you’re only matched with candidates who are uniquely positioned to fit the job.
Create a Strong Onboarding System
As we said above, being able to acclimate quickly is a requirement in this business. So the more supported and comfortable your new hires feel, the more likely they will perform well – and fast. Don’t throw them into the deep end without a life vest; give them the resources and support they need to succeed. That’s where a strong onboarding and training system comes into play.
Hire Passionate People
While it happens in every industry, the possibility of hiring someone with no spark is always a concern. Some people just want a paycheck and their heart’s not in it. The hotel restaurant environment demands a certain passion – a passion for people, the job itself, and the overall vision of your company.
Without passion, new hires will surely not survive in this environment for long. Put this “passion” piece into your job descriptions so people understand this is a requirement for the role and not just a “nice to have.”
Fill All Essential Roles
A hotel restaurant team can only function smoothly if every role within that team is filled by the utmost qualified people. You want your guests to be wined and dined when they visit you, as your restaurant is a reflection on the entire hotel. Matching the right employees with the right roles will help to instill this feeling in your guests.
Different hotel restaurant workers require different skill sets, so be sure to vet them appropriately. From managers and front of house staff to head chefs and kitchen staff, everyone has a role to play.
Foster a Positive Work Culture
Your job description may look good on paper, but if you can’t back it up with a positive work culture, you’ll lose those new hires more quickly when they realize they don’t feel comfortable and supported. Be upfront about the work culture in your job descriptions, and back it up with a positive atmosphere that indeed welcomes and supports all workers. Anything less on your part will only lead to poor job performance and low retention rates. A healthy work culture increases morale, motivation, and productivity levels.
Contact Tumi Hospitality Today
Tumi Hospitality has the recipe for the secret sauce you’ve been craving for building a winning team. Let us staff your hotel restaurant with all the kitchen workers, managers, and waiters you need to keep things running smoothly. To learn more, call us at (512) 722-6000 or request staff online.