5 Tips to Hire Great Hospitality Staff

BySara Renfro
waiter and waitress

Let’s talk about hiring in hospitality – you know, that thing where finding good people feels about as easy as catching smoke with your bare hands.

Whether you’re running a restaurant, hotel, or event space, your staff can make or break your business. No pressure, right?

In this blog, we’ll cover five tips to consider when you hire hospitality staff.

1. Real Experience Counts

First up – let’s talk about what kind of experience actually matters.

Sure, anyone can say they’ve “worked in hospitality,” but here’s what you really need to look for:

Actual hands-on experience with:

  • Guest service
  • Complaint handling
  • High-pressure situations

Pro tip: Someone who’s worked in your specific type of business? That’s gold. They’ll hit the ground running while others are still learning where the break room is.

2. Customer Service Skills

Here’s where things get interesting. You can teach someone how to use your POS system, but you can’t teach them not to be a jerk.

What to Look For:

  • Clear communication (no mumbling!)
  • Active listening skills
  • Problem-solving ability
  • That magical “people person” vibe

Think of it like casting a movie – you need people who can play the part of “helpful human” without looking like they’re dying inside.

3. Culture Fit Check

Your business has a vibe, right? Maybe it’s upscale and polished, or maybe it’s casual and quirky.

Your staff needs to match that vibe like:

  • A suit matches a fancy restaurant
  • Flip-flops match a beach bar
  • Everything matches your brand

Because nothing’s more jarring than a stuffy server at a casual burger joint (or vice versa).

4. Reliability Reality

Let’s be real – someone who shows up late to the interview probably isn’t going to be early for their shifts.

Look for people who:

  • Show up on time
  • Come ready to work
  • Don’t need babysitting
  • Have a track record of dependability

Remember: In hospitality, “fashionably late” isn’t a thing.

5. Schedule Flexibility

Hospitality hours are weird. Like, “what do you mean you want Christmas off?” weird.

You need people who:

  • Can work nights and weekends
  • Don’t freak out about holidays
  • Roll with schedule changes
  • Step up when needed

In summary Finding great hospitality staff is part science, part art, and part luck.

What We Know:

  • Experience matters
  • Attitude is everything
  • Culture fit is crucial
  • Reliability is non-negotiable

My advice? Take your time hiring. A bad hire costs way more than an empty position.

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