Screening: it’s a vital part of the vetting process, especially when it comes to hiring staff in the hospitality industry. Whether you’re looking to fill a position in food and beverage, operations, or reception, you must look beyond what their credentials say on paper. Some of the worst employees have looked good on paper, but in reality, their work ethic falls far short of expectations.

If you can find candidates with a strong work ethic, you’re well ahead of the game. Work ethic is what sets top performers above the rest, ensuring they will be reliable and productive additions to the workplace. More importantly than that, you want to make sure they can contribute to the success of your company.

Work Ethic: Defined

First off, what exactly is work ethic? It’s basically a set of moral values, principles, and attitudes focused on how an individual should behave at work. It goes beyond the job description though, and encompasses an internal commitment to doing hard work with a positive mindset. That positive mindset spills over into how they perform their duties and how they treat others around them.

To say someone has a strong work ethic means they maintain productivity to benefit the whole company, viewing their contribution as their part in an overall team effort. To say someone has a weak work ethic means they are not carrying their weight, have made a negative impact on the efficiency of your organization, and pose a risk to the brand.

Candidates with strong work ethics will possess such traits as integrity, reliability, respect, and dedication. Co-workers who are dependable can be trusted by their coworkers to get the job done, upholding the values of the whole team. Integrity shows a strong moral code, while respect in the workplace helps to form a healthy relationship with all parties at all levels.

Measuring Work Ethic: Why Bother?

You may wonder if it’s even possible to measure something as intangible as work ethic, especially at the beginning when you have no idea what a particular candidate is all about. How do you really know that person will uphold your core values and beliefs, and carry those through all their daily interactions and duties? Seems like a tall order, but it can be done.

Considering work ethic in the hiring process can spell the difference between your company’s success and failure. Sure, you can’t ignore experience and credentials. These are important. After all, an employee has to possess the knowledge to perform the job.

However, more and more employers are prioritizing a strong work ethic when hiring because they recognize that hard work and a good work ethic go hand in hand. Without those qualities, your company could suffer.

To that end, hiring motivated and reliable individuals helps to build a stable foundation for success. If your employees are giving you their best work, you can actually reduce turnover rates while boosting productivity and morale. When you measure work ethic, you’re also doing your part to mitigate risks, especially in positions that deal with security, personal safety, finances, and sensitive data. Respect for the workplace is at the heart of work ethic. Without that, your employees won’t support that stable foundation and it can start to crumble.

How to Recognize a Strong Work Ethic

Even the best candidates with the most extensive relevant experience will not be an asset for your organization unless they pair those skills with a strong work ethic.

Studies show that strong work ethics of employees are usually very high in reference to these main components:

  • Attitude toward the work itself
  • Moral attitude toward the work
  • Intrinsic motivation
  • Work performance
  • Task and contextual performance

It’s not easy to identify work ethic in a resume or even in an interview. You can only identify information that indicates a particular candidate is a top performer.

Keep an eye out for rewards and recognition, as well as promotion (a good sign of consistent, dedicated work). In an interview, be sure to ask open-ended behavioral questions that require them to draw on their experience. For instance, how did they react to and resolve a particular past situation? Ask them to support their answer with detailed, real-life examples.

Contact Tumi Hospitality For Staffing Solutions That Work

Work ethic is one of those intangibles that can be tough to screen for. However, Tumi Hospitality knows exactly what to look for and what questions to ask to ensure a successful addition to your team. To get started, call us at (512) 722-6000 or fill out our online form.