6 years in, and much has changed.
Six years ago, I launched mum, and in that time the hospitality and recruitment industry has experienced almost constant change.
Change is inevitable and should be faced and embraced (almost always!). But when there’s a long period of constant change, it can cause fatigue, and then it’s easy to lose sight of your values or your ‘why’. It’s easy to fall into whatever feels comfortable or within reach. But these approaches never result in the outstanding, and the same is so in hospitality hiring.
This is why I’m even more focused now on what is changing around us and on what must remain a priority, for me and my business and for hospitality hiring as a whole.
For me, there are four significant areas that employers need to accept and own for the successful future of hospitality hiring:
recruitment is a long-term investment. Hiring is not only about filling vacancies, it’s about attracting the right people who will stay with you, evolve and benefit your business over time. Every hire is an investment for both parties, so choosing well and planning for the long term is crucial. Less haste, more speed, as the saying goes. A little thought goes a long way and will pay you back in retention, engagement and productivity.
employer reputation is a dealbreaker. Candidates want to work for brands that stand for something that makes sense to them. Your values, purpose, culture and ethics will be assessed, often before they even apply. Make these clear and visible in your external communications, and throughout the hiring process. And if you can’t, then it’s time to start the hard work, so that you can. Attracting candidates who align with your values and culture is a huge win, so don’t skimp on it.
candidates have questions. answer them well. This goes way beyond salary and work patterns. Candidates want to understand your culture, progression approaches, inclusion, wellbeing structures and more. Expectations have matured and rightly so. These questions are the sign of an engaged candidate who wants to find a workplace they can grow with. Welcome them and answer them, even before they are asked.
technology and process. Everyone’s talking about AI, and we haven’t seen the half of it yet. Yes, the right technology will make hiring faster and more scalable, which should be good for everyone. But ‘speed and efficiency’ should never come at the cost of human contact. You are hiring humans into arguably the most people-centric industry on earth. Choose your tech carefully and prioritise people over process, every time.
These four focus areas aren’t trends. They are basics that have deepened over recent years into the core behaviours of outstanding employers.
Change is part of everyday life for all of us, and some of the most exciting changes in the future of the workplace and hiring are still to come. But some things must remain constant, especially perhaps in hospitality.
Human-centric hiring is my commitment to an industry that stands on the dedication, hard work and skill of its people, and I work with employers who see things the same way.
If you would like to learn more or chat, please do get in touch