Think about when you walk into a hotel. The first person who usually greets you is the front desk representative who checks you into your reservation. Depending on how many stars the hotel has, the concierge will ask to take your bags to your room as you check in at the front desk. Finding talented professionals has become more difficult and contributes to the increasing hospitality recruitment challenges. A well-thought-out recruitment strategy ensures that hospitality businesses can increase employee retention, decrease turnover, and maintain a strong staff through peak seasons.
The Growing Demand for Hospitality Talent
Hospitality recruitment has many challenges that have caused a growing demand for talented industry professionals. Overall, the global hospitality industry is experiencing rapid growth, and it’s increasingly important to ensure that high-quality professionals are staffed in hotels, tourist attractions, restaurants, and other businesses.
The Common Hospitality Recruitment Challenges
Recognizing the common issues within the hospitality industry can pave the way for enhancing hiring tactics.
High Turnover Rates
High employee turnover is common in hospitality because of temporary workers hired for seasonal employment during peak operating months. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the annual rate in the hospitality industry is about 70% to 80%, which is substantially high. Turnover hinders operational efficiency and a quality guest experience.
Talent Shortages
Some hospitality businesses are experiencing difficulty onboarding quality talent with the necessary skills, experience, and long-term commitment to stay with the company. A LinkedIn article revealed that McKinsey & Company’s recent study showed hospitality companies can increase productivity by 15% to 20% by filling talent gaps.
Changing Candidate Expectations
The high-stress, high-demand work environment in the hospitality industry has altered candidate expectations when onboarding with a new company. Candidates prefer a work-life balance where they can ascertain career development opportunities to increase their chances of advancement while also having control over their schedules to lead their personal lives.
Shifting Guest Expectations
Travelers today seek more than just a place to stay or a meal to eat. They desire a unique, memorable experience. This shift has introduced increased demand for highly skilled professionals to work in guest relations, event planning, culinary arts, and luxury hospitality services. Businesses that attract and retain top talent can effectively meet these consumer expectations.
Effective Hospitality Hiring Solutions
Hospitality businesses experiencing constant turnover, excessive callouts, and other staff-related issues should change their recruitment approach to increase candidate quality. Utilize these effective solutions to get started on a new hiring angle.
Streamline the Application Process
Simplifying job applications is essential for keeping candidate drop-off rates low and application submissions high.
- Implement a mobile-friendly application portal.
- Utilize text recruitment solutions to reach out to candidates quicker.
- Use clear and concise language in job posts.
- Mitigate industry-based jargon so entry-level candidates do not feel discouraged from applying.
- Limit the number of steps in the hiring process.
- Utilize automated self-scheduling for candidates to complete interviews.
Leverage Employer Branding
Employer branding in the hospitality industry is essential for standing out from the competition. Here’s how you can enhance your employer brand:
- Discuss company culture on job posts, social media, and the company career page so candidates can learn about what it’s like to work for the brand.
- Offer competitive salaries and benefits.
- Promote internal career growth opportunities.
- Implementing diversity and inclusion efforts within the organization.
Utilize AI-Powered Screening Tools
AI-driven screening tools are revolutionizing the hospitality hiring process by enhancing time-to-hire and refining scalable solutions for company growth.
- Automate candidate screenings with AI-driven application analysis and resume parsing.
- Utilizing predictive analytics to see which candidates will be the best fit culturally and technically.
- Improving diversity and inclusion efforts to reduce unconscious bias and increase objective hiring methods.
Focus on Employee Retention Strategies
Employee retention is an important focus for a high turnover industry like hospitality. Provide continuous training and career development programs so that professionals continue learning and growing within their current organizations. Create a positive work environment with team support and strong leadership.
Mastering Strategies for Hospitality Talent Acquisition
Successful hiring in the hospitality industry means:
- Simplify the hiring process to enhance candidate engagement.
- Investing in employer branding measures.
- Leveraging AI-driven talent acquisition technology to streamline recruitment.
- Having a key focus on employee retention.
Conclusion
Hospitality recruitment challenges are prominent and continue to plague the industry. However, implementing smart hiring solutions by utilizing AI-driven screening tools, building a talent pipeline, and focusing on employee retention can enhance the candidate experience and ensure quality customer service.
