Mastering Hospitality Hiring
In a recent episode of The Unique Hospitality podcast, Jacob Halverson joined hosts Nick Purslow and Connor Schwab to discuss effective hiring strategies for the hospitality industry. Jacob shared insights from his extensive experience in managing hiring for hospitality properties, emphasizing the importance of aligning hiring strategies with the specific needs and stages of each business.
Attracting the Right Talent
Jacob and Connor highlighted the significance of clearly communicating your company’s mission and values. Candidates are more engaged when they feel they’re joining something meaningful. Leveraging platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, niche Facebook groups, and university career portals can significantly broaden your reach. Connor emphasized using storytelling to attract candidates who connect deeply with your brand’s purpose.
Interviewing for Success
The conversation underlined the importance of behavioral interviewing—asking candidates to provide real examples from past experiences rather than hypothetical situations.
Key interview questions include:
- “Tell me about the hardest skill you’ve learned on the job and how you mastered it.”
- “Describe a challenging work situation and how you managed it.”
- “If you were to predict which people in a room of 100 would achieve their New Year’s resolutions, what questions would you ask?”
Jacob stressed focusing on attitude, adaptability, and potential, rather than solely on experience or resumes.
Reducing Employee Turnover
High turnover remains a significant challenge in hospitality, especially with seasonal employees. Strategies to improve retention include:
- Clear and honest onboarding to set proper expectations.
- Creating a supportive work environment that emphasizes trust and recognition.
- Offering realistic job previews to minimize surprises.
Hospitality is About People
Ultimately, effective hiring is about finding people whose attitudes, motivations, and adaptability align with your business’s culture and vision. Prioritizing these traits will lead to more engaged employees and reduced turnover.