Four Reasons Hospitality Employees Fail
There’s no getting around the fact that some employees are bound to fail. This is especially true in the hospitality industry, which can be incredibly fast-paced, diversified and downright stressful. However, there are some strategies that can be used in order to maximize the chances for employee success within your company. Provide Proper Training In some cases, hospitality employees fail due to a lack of training. This could be due to an unmotivated or otherwise uninterested employee who doesn’t pay attention or catch on to their training, or it could be due to the trainer’s ineffectiveness when it comes to training and mentoring. If the case is the former, the issue will need to be handled in cooperation with the employee in question. If the problem falls with an internal trainer, however, you may need to shuffle your roster in order to improve the effectiveness of your employee training programs. Disseminate Responsibilities Clearly and Concisely Sometimes, hospitality employees just don’t understand the responsibilities of their specific role in the workplace. This is most likely to happen when a staff member is constantly jumping between departments or when they’re asked to fill multiple positions on a daily basis. Sometimes, however, this is a result of an unclear or poorly written job description. Whatever the case may be, the issues mentioned above can usually be prevented altogether through an efficient interview and onboarding process. Clarifying exact responsibilities and mentioning any possible substitutions during the initial onboarding process ensures that your new employees have the direction and guidance needed to succeed in the hospitality sector. Ensure Employee Commitment and Motivation Hospitality employees might also fail as a result of their own lack of commitment of motivation. While there’s little you can do to motivate a stubborn or uninterested employee, most workers are easily motivated through competitive wages, fair treatment and the possibility of a future promotion inside the company. Preventing General Employee Burnout We’ve covered employee burnout in past posts, and it’s a real issue that can affect even the best employees. Although you can’t completely prevent burnout from happening, there are a number of steps you can take in order to minimize the risk. Giving your staff ample free time and vacation days, offering competitive wages and providing opportunities for career development or advancement are all great strategies when it comes to avoiding employee burnout in the hospitality workplace. Finding Great Employees in the Hospitality Industry While there’s nothing an employer can do to ensure ongoing success for 100 percent of their staff members, the tips described above can go a long way in preventing future career failures. If you need further assistance in the areas of recruitment, turnover or retention, or if you want to find out more information about the host of services we provide, please contact RMG today!
How Have Millennials Impacted the Hospitality Industry
Love them or hate them, there’s simply no denying the effect that millennial workers have had on the general job market. In fact, the hospitality sector itself has experienced a huge growth in business as a result of the spending habits of the millennial generation. While it’s easy to see how this can equate to increased profitability on behalf of companies operating within the hospitality industry, millennials are having a real affect on other aspects of the hospitality industry as well. Technology Usage One of the most obvious effects of the millennial workforce is the increasing reliance and adoption of innovative technology. Moreover, the majority of millennial workers are already highly familiar with computer software and, in some cases, hardware, before they even enter the workforce. This gives companies, including those in the hospitality industry, the opportunity to embrace new technologies without having to worry too much about assimilating their staff to new systems, concepts or applications. In some cases, a millennial employee may even be able to offer their own recommendations when it comes to implementing new technology or software into a company’s day-to-day operations. Such recommendations should always be considered before committing to a solution, but they should never be dismissed outright or ignored as such endorsements typically come from an employee’s personal experience. Real-Time Communications Millennial talent is used to real-time, instantaneous communications. Due largely to their familiarity with social networking, text messaging and even online chat rooms, it can be difficult for a traditional workforce to keep up with these standards and expectations. However, companies that can adapt to the concept of real-time communications may be able to increase customer service, bolster profitability and improve relationships with their entire staff. Health and Wellness in the Workplace Today’s millennial talent also tends to be more mindful of their eating, dieting and exercising habits as opposed to workers of old. With healthier dining options than ever before, as well as greater access to exercise facilities, the majority of millennial workers lead active and healthy lifestyles. As such, it’s in an employer’s best interest to accommodate these trends wherever possible. If you maintain an in-house cafeteria or lunchroom, for example, make sure healthy options, including vegetarian meals, are available. Company-sponsored recreational activities can go a long way in ensuring your staff stays active, including your non-millennial workers, and some companies even go so far as to partner up with local gyms to offer discounted memberships or, in some cases, free services to their employees. RMG and the Millennial Workforce As you can see, the millennial workforce is quite different than their older, more traditional counterparts. With that in mind, it’s important that you are able to accommodate millennials as well as non-millennials in both service and employment. If you need assistance making the proper adjustments to your workforce, or even if you just want to find out more about the type of services we provide, please contact us today!
What Do Online Reviews Mean for the Hospitality Industry?
Traditionally, brick-and-mortar establishments in the hospitality industry have relied on word-of-mouth and community-based advertising to build their brand and reputation. Given the prevalence of the Internet as well as the recent boom in online review sites, companies are now seeing more exposure than ever before. While there are some highly trusted review sites out there, there are some sites that simply aren’t reputable by any stretch of the imagination. Despite this fact, there is great potential for misuse and abuse of such online review sites. There are also a number of shady practices, shortcuts and other tricks that can result in an inaccurate reputation. Generating Reviews The first step to managing your online reputation is to generate reviews which can be done through a variety of different techniques. Some of the most popular strategies include interacting with patrons and increasing customer services standards. Others opt for the more direct approach of targeting and soliciting individual guests to post reviews online. While this practice is fine in theory, it should be done tactfully, professionally and without compensation. In other words, offering free products, services or cash for an online review is definitely frowned upon in the hospitality industry. If you are a startup company that is trying to make a name for yourself in the hospitality industry, you have no choice but to offer compensation for an online review. When doing so, make sure the customer posts a standardized disclosure stating they have been compensated for their review. By using this strategy sparingly, you’ll have a better chance of avoiding the negative stigma surrounding paid online reviews. Monitoring and Responding to Reviews Monitoring and responding to online reviews is a highly useful strategy that is used by many employers today. Not only is this a great way of keeping track of your reputation, it also gives you the opportunity to address any negative reviews you may find online. You can respond to positive reviews, either as a means of expressing thanks, answering a question or interacting with the community at large. In fact, a recent survey states that 79 percent of travelers are reassured by a company’s response to a bad review while 78 percent of those surveyed stated that managerial responses to good online reviews cause them to think more positively about the company in question. As you can see, it’s good idea to respond to the good reviews as well as the bad ones. Online review sites aren’t the only place you’ll find consumer criticism. Social media sites also provide your customers with an accessible forum to post their questions, comments, complaints or praise. As such, it’s important to keep an eye on these sites, too. Some companies, particular larger organizations, recruit full-time social media managers in order to keep track of customer reviews, field online questions and respond to complaints. Filling Your Roster Whether the majority of your recruitment strategies are online or off, it can be tricky to find top talent within the hospitality industry. If you’re having difficulty with the process, or if you just want to free up some of your resources for use in other areas, contact RMG Staffing right away!
Using Situational Answers During an Interview
While many job seekers spend the majority of their time preparing for questions that involve their past employers, academic history or day-to-day responsibilities, employers within the hospitality industry tend to look for specific examples of problem solving, conflict resolution and customer service from your career. As such, they’re bound to ask situational or even hypothetical questions during the interview process, as a means of identifying and targeting top talent. Requirements of a Situational Answer Apart from concrete achievements and hard facts or figures, a situational answer requires several qualities from the interviewee. First and foremost, it requires a high level of problem-solving expertise on your behalf. By asking a hypothetical or situational question, your interviewer is really trying to gauge your ability to think on your feet and react on the fly. Next, situational answers also require a great deal of analytical prowess on your part. The ability to quickly analyze the question, review your past achievements and deliver a cohesive answer is an art that can only be mastered through practice. As such, you may want to rehearse the interview process with a friend, co-worker or even in front of a mirror. While this won’t prepare you for every possible situational question, it can help you prepare by reviewing your most recent and relevant accomplishments in the field. Learning Experiences One of the most effective strategies you can use when providing a situational answer, especially if it could be conceived as a shortcoming or potential downfall, is to describe how you’ve been able to learn from your past experiences. Employers of today realize that nobody is perfect, so it’s crucial that you are able to illustrate how you’ve been able to rectify any prior mistakes or inefficiencies. If this was achieved through extracurricular training or development, make sure to mention that during the interview. Not only does this show motivation and initiative on your behalf, it is something that can usually be verified by a potential employer or hiring manager. Difficult Situations Describing how you’ve been able to overcome a complicated situation in a prior job, whether this pertains to a troublesome co-worker, a difficult task or an unfair manager, can also go a long way in demonstrating your self-motivation, commitment and persistence. While you should take care to maintain professionalism when describing such situations, especially if it involves a former manager or supervisor, the ability to overcome adversity, complexity and difficulty in the workplace is a highly desirable trait in the hospitality industry today. A Lack of Career Experience Situational questions can be even more difficult when you have little or no experience in the field. If this is the case, mention it to the interviewer. You might still be able to answer their questions, however, by relying on your past experiences in school or life in general. If so, don’t hesitate to do so. This can go a long way when trying to make up for experience in the hospitality industry or trying to fill in gaps or periods of unemployment throughout your career. Turn That Interview Into Your Next Job There’s no denying the stress and worry of a job interview. However, the process doesn’t need to be so stressful. If you need help refining and developing your interview skills, or even if you need help securing an interview in the first place, contact the staffing professionals at RMG Staffing today!
How Long Should My Hospitality Resume Be?
The topic of resume length is a highly contested debate in the hospitality industry. While you may be excited to submit your four-page resume that highlights every single job you’ve had and every menial task you’ve accomplished, this approach usually isn’t conducive to today’s fast-paced job market. Remember, the purpose of the resume is to highlight your skills that are most relevant to the type of job you are applying for. With that in mind, there are a number of factors to consider when trying to decide on the right length for your hospitality resume. Keep It to No More Than Two Pages Although some of the most successful resumes only consist of one page, this isn’t a requirement. In fact, condensing your career history into one page may not even be possible, especially when you consider the heading of your resume, formatting quirks and bullet points. However, a two-page resume is generally considered the maximum length for resumes in the hospitality industry. If you are having difficulty summarizing your experience in two pages, there are a number of tricks you can use in order to trim some of the excess content. Trimming the Content For starters, try to focus your bullet points on concrete achievements, statistics and facts instead of detailing vague accomplishments, menial duties or general tasks. Such achievements will carry even more weight if they are verifiable, though this isn’t required by any means. Moreover, keep these bullet points brief and concise. Sticking to the facts will let you avoid excess verbiage and give you more space to list your past accomplishments and skills. Next, try to eliminate redundancies wherever possible. While you may have multiple jobs where you served patrons, greeted guests or provided general customer service, it’s not necessary to list such points under every single job description in your resume. Instead of repeating yourself, try to utilize the space to highlight new and different aspects of your career. Alternatively, the strategic use of keywords can go a long way in eliminating redundancies such as this. Simply indicating that you have expertise in customer service, either in the resume’s opening paragraph, in a section devoted to skills or even in your cover letter, can be used to indicate your prior experience in serving customers, greeting patrons and working with the general public. Separate keywords can be used to group other related jobs, concepts or tasks. Finding Opportunities in Hospitality If you need assistance in developing your resume, writing a cover letter or even finding that next big opportunity in the hospitality industry, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at RMG Staffing today!
Want A Top Hospitalities Job? An Excellent Resume Helps
Finding the right job in hospitalities often means networking in specific key ways. Whether you are working with staffing services or employment companies, or making the rounds solo, some practical tips will help you land a good job in the industry. One of these principles that has helped many job seekers is the creation of a compelling, well presented resume that showcases a job applicant’s skills and previous experience. So how do you create a good resume? It’s not just “putting in the right stuff” – although listing the most relevant experiences and qualifications is important, there’s also the issue of presentation and how your resume makes its way through an HR department. The “Topography” of a Prize-Winning Resume Many of the best resumes achieve a kind of “white space convention” that makes them more readable, and more likely to get noticed. Some points that are useful here include: Putting the contact information up front (usually center aligned) – and making sure it’s accurate! Separating key parts of a resume with lines or borders Keeping education and background slim and diving into key past experiences On this last point, resume makers can often benefit from putting their last few jobs “above the fold” (less than 2/3 of the way down the first page) in order to make sure that they are accessible. Including neatly highlighted or bolded job descriptions or job titles helps. Showing a Path HR managers are going to want to see that the applicant is making progress in going toward a desired role. For instance, if you are applying for a GM position, having a clearly charted chain of jobs on the resume (i.e. from shift manager to sales manager or financial handler) can help. Generally, the most prominent jobs should be relevant. Putting a large amound of unrelated work experience in the top portion of a resume can be a career killer. It can throw off the reader and send a resume from the “to-do” pile to the trash can. Use Appropriate Keywords Another way that job applicants in hospitalities hedge their bets is by including certain relevant key words related to skills or industry standards. For instance, in hospitalities, you may want to make sure that items like the following get “salted in” somewhere: Money Handling Front Desk Administration Shift or Workforce Management Guest Services In addition, adding certifications or referring to industry trade standards can also generate some good resume keywords. Keywords are universally effective on a resume; that is, they stand out to both human and computer readers. Simply put, they convey a lot of information quickly, orienting a reader in staffing services, or at a hiring department, toward what really matters about an applicant’s past experience. For more about the best ways to network for hospitalities, contact the professionals at RMG Staffing. We are more than happy to discuss any questions you may have during your job search.
A Look at Miami Hospitalities Growth Potential
Everyone knows that the Miami area is a big hub for luxury markets in general, and high-priced real estate and lodging in particular. But how big is the hospitality industry in Miami, and how much is it expected to grow? A HospitalityNet article from last spring is providing some staggering numbers on the hospitalities market in Miami, showing the potential for explosive growth that will likely lead to a lot of competition and high-volume hiring among the area’s hotels and hospitalities businesses. The Numbers on 2013 Recent reporting shows that some experts are expecting Miami’s hospitalities trade volume to reach over $750 million this year. This would be a more than 10% increase over last year, which is supported by numbers from the first half of 2013. The HospitalityNet article cites William D. Talbert III, President and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau, claiming that “The Miami brand is stronger than ever” and that the city and surrounding area has become a “World-class sophisticated cosmopolitan destination.” These kinds of optimism are growing as locals and others realize the power of the Miami hospitalities and tourism industries to attract growth. Attractions and Factors in Miami Hospitalities Growth Locals are able to cite quite a few factors in the rapid expansion of the Miami hospitalities industry. One is the upgrades to Miami’s infrastructure, where the city has invested in direct rail service, airport access and other types of transportation building. Another is a thriving annual calendar with many sports events, national and international contests and industry events attracting millions of visitors to Miami each year. Not to be outdone, promoters of Miami’s outdoor environment present the allure of the coastal city’s beaches and waterways through multi-channel visual advertising. The International City Some also call Miami the “Gateway to the Americas.” With its proximity to Latin American communities, and its prominence within international shipping routes, the city of Miami has become central to many large and multi-national businesses, and a transportation hub for goods as well as people. This has also created a lot of diversity in Miami, which is attractive to many firms and many who visit the city on business or personal trips. Hospitalities Staffing and Management With all of this growth in the city of Miami, hotels and other hospitalities businesses will be hard-pressed to compete directly and to retain top talent to manage all of their business operations. By turning to experienced staffing services, hospitalities businesses can build more comprehensive plans to attract job candidates, fill open positions and build excellent teams who can enhance brand reputation in this very important local area. Talk to RMG for more on best practices for hospitalities staffing, and information on the options that are available to hospitalities managers. Serving Miami’s hospitality industry for the past 5 years, let us put our knowledge and expertise to work for you! Contact us Today!