10 reasons why you should hire somebody from hospitality

Our beloved industry has taken a hit over the last year. It’s our people that make our industry. Recently labeled as ‘low-skilled’ – which is a load of bullshit by the way. They’re people like no other. People who have the skills to turn a normal day into a great day. And they’re people who have a skill to have make dining memories that’ll you’ll tell your friends and families about for years to come. And they do this for thousands of people every single week.

Yet, we find ourselves in a place where there are so many looking for a new job, and some looking at new industries - which I think is lucky for you. Because you as an employer have the chance to meet a hospitality person with the skills, drive, and intelligence to make your team better than it’s ever been.

Here are ten reasons why I think you should hire people from the hospitality sector: 

1. They’ll always be ready

If you think cooking a bunch of roast potatoes for Christmas is hard, think again. Hospitality workers cook and serve hundreds of customers every day. All with different expectations - business meetings, parties, lunch buddies, dates, drinks, takeaways, lone time. Whatever the situation, they’ll be ready.

2. They have respect

Hospitality teams are mostly multi-national, and they provide a service to people from all over the globe. They understand different types of characters and they respect different cultures. Whatever the situation, they know the impact they’ll have on their team, their manager, and their customers.

3. They have endurance

Hospitality workers are on the go all the time. They know what fast pace means, and they don’t stop. They feed off energy, and they’ll create an environment where getting up to make a coffee for the team is fun. They understand pressured environments, busy kitchens, packed restaurants, and working long hours.

4. They’ll solve problems

Urgh, such a cliché. As a human, mistakes happen which leads to problems. In most places nowadays customer complaints are dealt with online, you’ll get a reply after a few days or if it’s Virgin Media, 28 days (plus). In hospitality, problems & complaints are dealt with on the spot. Till systems fail, delivery doesn’t arrive, cooked the wrong dish, overbooked restaurant. It’s part of our nature to take on problems like a hungry dude does cake.

5. They have a sense of achievement

As a customer, whether you’ve recognised it or not, when you tip your server or chef it makes them feel good. It makes them smile. At the end of the shift, they’ll likely have a fist pump with their mate, or a dance in the toilet. And they’ll congratulate each other for a successful day/night at work.

6. They’ll spread positivity

Hospitality workers create good times. Superhumans of happy environments - they create places where people want to be. If you’re lacking team togetherness, and your team struggles to bond - get a hospitality worker in there with a rubber and ruler, and they’ll set up a game of baseball.

7. They’re safety savvy

Everybody working in hospitality will have completed health and safety and food safety courses. Whatever the level, they’re managing safety all day. And they are aware of the responsibility in their hands.

8. They’re resilient

In hospitality, we are forever changing and forever adapting. Menu changes, location of work changes, shift cover and working unsociable hours. The people in hospitality see each change as an opportunity, they’ll keep their faith and take care of those around them.

9. They understand business

Hospitality workers are responsible for money all day, seven days a week. Managers have their own profit and loss account. They forecast budgets, control stock, and manage labour. Commercially they are targeted, and marketers of their product.

And lastly, number 10. They’re brilliant humans

Life is a team sport. And hospitality workers represent that flawlessly. They’ll be the teammate you want; they’ll adapt when you need them to, they’ll grow because they want to do well. And they might turn out to be one of the best hires you’ve made.

Just like Five Guys would say – they’re made of the right stuff. If there’s one industry where you should expand your talent pool, I think hospitality should be your first stop.