Hiring In Hospitality: What To Expect As An Entry-Level Applicant Or Job-Seeker (Guest Post)
This is a guest post, written by Maria Malaniia of Savvy Hotelier.
There’s no denying, it’s a tough time for everyone in the hospitality industry right now. It’s easy to feel at a loss in the current environment, especially those of you just starting out on your professional path.
The truth is harsh: there are fewer jobs, more applicants, higher competition and more uncertainty in the future.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no hope. The rules of the game have changed. Both you and the hospitality companies looking to hire have different expectations.
What can you do to secure a job at an entry-level in the hospitality industry right now? What can you do to stand out as a desirable applicant?
In this article, we’ll take a look at a couple of things:
The most in-demand skills right now
How to be a more attractive applicant
The number-one interview question on every hiring manager’s list (and how to answer it)
What are the most in-demand skills in the hospitality industry right now?
1. Flexibility & Adaptability
When hired for the position of a hotel marketing coordinator, expect to also contribute across the business in other ways. Whether it is doing show rounds, office admin, or even restaurant set up for dinner service.
2. Well-rounded operational knowledge
We need well-rounded industry professionals in 2020 and beyond. Specializing in one operational vertical will no longer be as valuable as generalist knowledge.
The next generation of hospitality professionals must understand how several areas of the business work—and be able to step into other functions when needed.
3. Proactivity
This has been a buzzword for a long time when it comes to hiring junior talent. Everyone claims they want to hire employees who take initiative and have fresh ideas—though, in reality, many office cultures don’t allow much room for either.
For the first time in a long time, “proactivity” may not just be a buzzword.
In today’s highly competitive hospitality hiring environment, showing that you are proactive and think independently is likely going to get your foot in the door. The industry’s challenging “new normal” also means work culture will truly value this skill and allow you to shine.
4. Technology
It’s been met with resistance for a long time, but the hospitality industry is finally welcoming technology with open arms.
For potential hires, being able to quickly learn new systems and use them in your day-to-day will be critical.
New technologies are being implemented all across the hospitality and travel sectors. That includes new guest communication mobile apps, track-and-trace systems, and everything else in between.
Just being familiar with Opera is no longer enough if you are looking to switch companies in the future. Brands and owners use different management systems and tools that you’ll need to learn.
5. Working with data
Building on what we’ve already listed here, you need to understand how to read reports and work with data, regardless of what department you work in.
At a minimum, reports on occupancy, ADR, competitive positioning, and department P&L statements should all be familiar to you.
All of the hard and soft skills above are valuable in multiple industries. But in today’s changing hospitality environment, competition is fierce and expectations are high. It’s no longer enough to “just” do the job you’re hired to do.
Ok, so how do you beat the competition? How do you stand out from hundreds of applicants?
Two ways: Your resume and your online brand.
Your hospitality job search: How to stand out from the competition
Getting an interview is your first big hurdle—and to even get your foot in the door, you need to have a resume that stands out.
Your resume is your sales pitch. It needs to speak for itself and sell you as a valuable investment for the company.
There’s a lot that goes into the making of a standout resume or CV. This step-by-step guide will help you review and improve your hospitality resume with a few simple questions.
Always Customize your resume
It’s essential that you tailor your resume to each company you send it to—and to each job you apply for. Even if it’s the same job in different companies!
That’s because hiring managers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to pre-screen resumes, looking for certain keywords that also appear in the published job description.
But there’s another reason to tailor every resume. Doing this shows that you’ve spent time on the application and you’re not just spamming the job boards. Would you want to hire someone if they don’t seem interested in the actual position or company?
In 2020 and beyond, a good resume alone won’t get you the gig.
make sure your online brand is on point, too
Standout resumes float to the top of the pile, but we’re not done yet.
Just like you spend time researching a company, that company will also research you. Every new hire is an investment, and companies just want to make sure there’s potential for return. Are you going to deliver?
When it comes to your online brand, we have to talk about LinkedIn, the professional networking platform.
Using LinkedIn the right way can give you an advantage over other applicants and position you as a valuable investment for the company.
First, update your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords.
All of LinkedIn is searchable, so your profile can be optimized the same way a website would be for Google. One of the most important places on your profile is your headline—use this spot to demonstrate your specific expertise, don’t simply say, “Available for work.”
It’s also a good idea to use LinkedIn to follow the latest hotel industry news, either by following company pages or specific hashtags.
LinkedIn is great for connecting with people and building your network. Make the effort to connect with people you don’t know personally, but have engaged with on the platform. It expands your reach as you can only see content as far as your 3rd-degree connections.
Engaging on LinkedIn is essential to building your network, developing your online brand, and showcasing your knowledge and expertise.
Remember that your personal activity is visible to all your connections, so be mindful about what you say and share.
If you want potential employers to see you as a proactive and well-rounded professional—show that you are! LinkedIn is an excellent tool to do that.
OK, let’s say your resume stood out and your online brand has made you even more attractive. You’ve got an interview! Now, it’s time to prepare…
Hospitality interview prep: This is the number-one question hiring managers will ask in 2021
Congratulations, you’ve got your foot in the door! Or these days, you might have a Zoom conversation first.
Whether it’s virtual or in-person, always make sure you’re prepared for the interview.
Spend some time researching the company. What are their values? What sets them apart? Who’s who, leadership-wise? It’s also a good idea to read up on latest relevant industry news, and learn more about the local market and competition.
Keep up that solid online brand, too. In the days leading up to your interview (and after!), curate your online activity to show that you’re engaged with the company and industry.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The question that every hiring manager will be asking job applicants right now:
“WHAT DID YOU DO WHILE YOU WERE UNEMPLOYED FOR THE LAST 3-6 MONTHS?”
(Or some version of that.)
As with most interview questions, it’s best to prepare your response in advance rather than simply winging it. Employers do care about this answer—and a careful response could land you the job offer.
But what do you say?
More importantly, what do you say if you haven’t done much?
First things first, know that it’s OK if you haven’t been productive.
You don’t need to have completed several online courses, learned a new language or lost weight. No decent employer would expect this of you—we’re in the middle of a global pandemic.
If you have done at least one of those things, kudos to you! But generally speaking, people understand that 2020 has been emotional and stressful.
This question is less about how quickly you’ve rebounded after a layoff or setback, and more about how you’ve chosen to fill your time.
Are you paying attention to what’s going on in the industry? Are you prepared to work in a new, more challenging environment? Answer the question by sharing your views on the industry impact, what you’ve learned and how you see it all continuing to evolve in the future.
Use the company you are interviewing with as a practical example of how you see the recent news and upcoming trends impacting the business. Companies are often keen to hear an outsider's perspective.
Approaching a difficult question this way leaves the interviewer with a positive perception—you’re proactive, you’re informed and you understand where the business is headed.
Oh, and it’s perfectly OK to highlight ways in which you HAVE been productive, too. If you’ve done something interesting, like taken an online course, make sure to mention why you chose it and what you learned from it.
Don’t be afraid of this question—it’s not some kind of trap.
In 2020 and well into 2021, this is just something hospitality hiring managers will inevitably ask. Hospitality companies want to get to know you and what you can bring to the team.
Don’t forget that you’re interviewing them as well, so do ask some tricky questions of your own!
Final Thoughts
In an industry which has been deeply impacted by COVID-19, hiring and recruitment will be one of our next big challenges. Job searches are always stressful, and the “new normal” will make it even tougher.
If you’re passionate about hospitality and our industry, don’t give up!
Stand out as the best candidate for the job by:
Showing that you’re flexible, well-rounded, and quick to learn the most in-demand hospitality technologies
Tailoring each resume or CV to the specific job description and company
Utilizing platforms like LinkedIn to build a positive online brand and engage with potential employers
Preparing thoroughly for interviews, including tough questions about how you’ve spent your time while unemployed or laid off
About the Author: Maria Malaniia
By day, Maria Malaniia is a Hospitality Experience Design professional, specializing in luxury brands and transformational project management. By night, she runs Savvy Hotelier, where hospitality students and graduates connect and access resources to build successful careers in the hospitality industry.