How to Find and Retain the Best Hospitality Staff

It’s notoriously tricky to find and keep quality hospitality candidates. With fast turnover and seasonal fluctuations, you may lose your best candidates far too soon. Yet it doesn’t have to be this way.

Good workers will often stick around given the right motivations. Here are some proven ways to help you identify and retain top employees.    

DISCOVER THE BEST

First up, you need the right candidates to fill your hospitality jobs. Staff shortages in the fiercely competitive hospitality industry, however, make this task harder. Consider the rewards you are offering new staff. Good candidates will be attracted by a fair wage, extra financial incentives and solid benefits like flexible working conditions. Candidates seek companies which help them further their careers. Offering extra training, clear career pathways and coaching or mentoring options will help win – and keep – staff who are ambitious and aspirational.

USE A SPECIALIST HIRING AGENCY

Outsourcing your recruitment to a specialist agency is a sure way to hone in on suitable candidates. An agency with in-depth industry knowledge is well placed to source and identify candidates who are a perfect fit for your hospitality company. This takes the guesswork out of the hiring process. Using behavioural hiring techniques and tools, the agency can focus on the specific attributes your establishment needs.

HANG ON TO YOUR STARS

So, you’ve managed to find some great workers. What can you do to ensure they stay around and don’t migrate to one of your rivals? Make sure the culture of your company is up to scratch. This means creating a workplace where staff can communicate freely and give honest feedback on a range of work issues. As an employer, it’s also important to give fair, constructive feedback to staff on an ongoing basis. Dealing with problems in an open, positive manner can not only overcome challenges, but help your workers develop and grow. If hospitality staff enjoy coming to work, it will show in their performance. Your teams and customers will both be happier. Concentrate on building a workplace which is supportive and inclusive as well as celebrating diversity.

WORK ON TEAM BUILDING

Happy teams stay together and perform to optimum capacity. Look for small, daily things which bring staff together and improve employee bonding. Encourage staff to take proper breaks. Get to know individual workers so you understand what makes them tick – some will need lots of engagement while others appreciate time out to reflect and recharge. Get staff involved in developing an appealing social media profile for your company. This can involve staff videos, individual profiles or employee feedback in their own words. This serves the dual purpose of strengthening both your in-house team and your hospitality company brand. It’s worth time spent on improving recruitment and staff retention. Your customers will thank you for it!