Take Control of your Hospitality Interview with these 6 Questions
The question-and-answer section of the interview process helps the interviewer to gauge your passion, skill, expertise and knowledge for the job and industry. Take control of your interview by asking these 6 astute questions, the interviewer will usually consider you a more valuable and intelligent candidate if you have a few questions on-hand to ask near the end of the interview. “What would you expect a good candidate to achieve in the first 3-6 months?” This question is useful as it enables you to gauge expectations for this role and compare the expectations of this role to your own personal achievements in previous jobs. You do not want to be misled about the requirements of the job. “What does the future of (this company) look like?” A question related to the future of the company you are applying for shows that you are enthusiastic to stay on with this company. You might want to inquire about their plans for a new product, new menu, new services or market expansion. “Is there room for career progression in this role?” This question is necessary for anyone seeking a role with career progression, many placements within hospitality have scope for promotion. Housekeepers can become housekeeping managers, kitchen assistants can become Chef de Partie, and receptionists can become front of house managers. “How can my role impact the organization positively?” Every single position in the company acts as a part of the whole, provocative questions like these can make the interviewer consider you as a positive force for the company. As well as this, learning about the potential impact of your role can help you to better understand your role and responsibilities. “What other tasks are there outside of the job description?” Traditionally the responsibilities for every position are included on the job advertisement, this question can help you appear as enthusiastic and shows that you are eager to carry out more duties than the basics. “What is the next step of the application process?” This is an astute question to ask for any interview, as it shows that you are considering the whole process. Many roles in the hospitality industry can involve a trial shift to see if you are a good fit for the company, this can occur in Chef or Housekeeping positions.
How to write an Effective Hospitality Cover Letter
Cover letters are an effective way to differentiate yourself from other candidates applying for the same vacancy. It adds a personal touch and allows you to restate your interest and enthusiasm for this position. Read the job description carefully and make sure that your cover letter is succinct and proofread before sending it off to the interviewer. 1. Open with a greeting – Greet the interviewer/recipient by name if possible and note the job role. This is exemplary of the research you have conducted for the position, as well as adding a personal touch to the cover letter, opening a private conversation between you and the recruiter. 2. Enthusiastic opening – In the opening lines introduce yourself and explain why you are applying for this position. Through this opening you should be able to exhibit your enthusiasm for this role and elaborate on why you are the ideal candidate for this position. You must hook the reader’s attention here, for example “I am now ready to take the next step in my career, and I believe my years of experience at (previous employer) and my willingness to learn and adapt make me an excellent candidate for this role.” 3. Touch on your achievements – Highlight your career achievements and elaborate further on those you are most proud of. Use these achievements effectively by linking them back to the job specification requirements and general hospitality skills. Make use of facts and figures to increase your validity, for example a housekeeping manager might say, “I managed a team of 5 employees and supervised 15 different rooms.” Make sure that all of your achievements are relevant to the position that you are applying for. 4. Add a section for skills – Reiterate how your skills align with what is expected of the applicant. Different skills are more applicable for different jobs and working environments. For example, if you are applying for a chef role, make sure that you emphasize that you are “experienced in working in fast-paced environments.” 5. Finish your cover letter with a conclusion – Finally, restate why you are suitable for this role and thank the hiring manager. Ensure that you have left your contact details on the cover letter so that the recruiter is able to get in touch with you in the future. Sign off the cover letter with “sincerely” or “yours faithfully.”
6 Common LinkedIn Mistakes made by Hospitality Professionals
· No profile photo / or a photo not related to your occupation – No photo may be interpreted as lacking confidence and not approachable. · Inadequate introductory ‘headline’ – Answer the question “What do I do?” Answering this may mean that you showcase your current job title as an introductory headline, if you are currently unemployed write “seeking new opportunities” and put your previous experience in the experience section · Sell yourself in the “About” summary – Use first person and describe the impact you have had in previous roles. “I have experience working as part of a team in different environments, my collaborative nature helped to solve problems for clients.” Categorize your impact as either problems solved, time saved, costs saved or people helped. · A bare “Experience” section – For your current or most recent job use bullet points and create a list of 3-5 accomplishments, use facts and figures for the best results. Use the same approach for your past jobs. As well as this, make sure to incorporate keywords relevant to your industry, for example Housekeepers should discuss “rooms division, sheet assembly” etc. · Recommendations are a great way to build credibility – These personalised written descriptions show that you genuinely enthused people you have previously worked with. · Too much or too little activity – If you are online multiple times each day it appears as though you are not that focused on your current occupation.
Why use a Staffing Agency?
Partnership – Agencies are able to partner with workers and companies, providing the candidates with access to hundreds of potential jobs suiting your skill level and experience. Staffing agencies can become subcontractors for other companies, allowing for a constant stream of incoming jobs. Prevent work overload – Temporary employees from staffing agencies can help accomplish tasks to aid your permanent staff, increasing productivity in the workplace. Decrease costs – Hiring temporary employees from staffing agencies may cost less than hiring permanent ones in house. Having vacancies for an extended period of time can cost the hiring company a lot of money, staffing firms provide solutions by locating suitable candidates for the job openings as quickly as possible. Save time – Staffing agencies are able to manage the recruitment process from start to finish, Teamwork H&C operates in hospitality, events and social care, at all times we have a team of trained experts that can quickly pass all of the pre-employment screening and testing. Staffing agencies also handle the technicalities of the onboarding process, saving time for the company. Evaluate the candidate – With staffing firms, you are able to judge their performance before you offer them a full-time position. The hiring agency is able to observe how the potential candidate can respond to different situations. Working with staffing agencies can be the right solution in certain scenarios: – If you have a sudden need to hire multiple employees – If your business is seasonal and you’re looking for temporary employees – If your company lacks the resources for starting a new recruitment process
4 Training Schemes you can complete with Teamwork H&C!
We provide extensive in-house training to those who are currently unskilled but posses a desire to work in a particular field of employment. Whether you wish to switch career paths or crave to upskill yourself in one of our many disciplines. At the end of these courses, you will be given accredited qualification to put on your CV, this qualification will be universally recognised. · Housekeeping – In our 3-month employment scheme for Housekeeping you will develop in-demand skills to kickstart your career. Within this scheme you will learn about general cleanliness, comfort, and privacy, following the 7S’s of good Housekeeping: sort, systematize, sweep, standardize, safety, self-discipline and sustain. · Waiting Staff – Within our Waiting Staff training scheme you will learn the general day-to-day tasks of waiters/waitresses. This can include greeting customers, serving food and drinks, cleaning tables, and dealing with bill payments. · Kitchen Assistant – Kitchen Assistants learn the key responsibilities and skills required of them, including the preparation of food, stocking ingredients, slicing produce, and assisting your chefs. · Commis Chef – Commis Chefs or Chef De Partie aids in the food preparation process, in our training scheme these junior chefs learn their craft working under the supervision of the professional kitchen staff. In this training scheme you will learn the basics of cooking, including knife skills, cooking sauces, and preparing vegetables for your chefs. Each of these courses can help your career progression in the respective field of work, placing one of these universally recognized qualifications on your CV can help you stand out from the crowd. Climb the career ladder today through this vocational education! Enquire today by emailing info@teamworkhc.com.
5 Biggest Challenges facing the Hospitality Industry
1. Skilled worker shortage According to the office of national statistics, 37.4% of businesses in the hospitality industry are experiencing a shortage of skilled staff, thereby making it the industry most significantly impacted by skilled labour shortages. This is due to several different converging factors, low or tipped wages leading hospitality workers to seek employment elsewhere, increasing use of technology for efficiency making some workers obsolete and the forced retirement of older skilled workers in a period of recession. 2. Changes in consumer behaviour Changes in consumer behaviour impacts hotels and restaurants due to increased hesitation regarding travel, and shorter booking windows for guests. These changes in consumer behaviour brought about during the pandemic have been compounded by the ensuing cost of living crisis that we are currently experiencing. 3. Meeting demand in busy periods The hospitality industry is inherently seasonal, with increases in footfall in late spring, summer and during the Christmas period. This increase in demand often entails the onboarding of extra staff throughout these busy periods. 4. Staff Morale Employee morale can be an issue in any industry, as unsatisfied employees do not have the incentive to exceed expectations of the customer. In turn, inferior quality service directly impacts customer satisfaction. This can be combatted by clear cut career progression pathways, as employees always desire to learn and progress within their roles. 5. High Competition Competition in the hospitality industry is a result of two aspects, technological adaptations and changing customer profile. Connectivity and the use of mobile devices in creating a personalised experience challenges the hospitality industry as apps such as Airbnb now provide alternative solutions which appeal to some customers. Customer experience is also the largest brand differentiator, and intensifies competition as millennial customers now desire different food options and services more tailored to their disparate needs.
Highest Paying Part Time Jobs for Students!
Cleaner – average Hourly pay: £9.50 – £11.20 Finding a cleaning placement through Teamwork H&C is quick and easy due to the constant demand for cleaners in office spaces, homes, hotels, or events. These roles are available even for those with little experience in cleaning. There are always temporary, flexible cleaning roles available through Teamwork H&C, even if you’re only looking to work a few hours each week. Event staff – average Hourly pay: £10.40 – £11.00 Another position that is always available through Teamwork H&C is event staff placements, we staff numerous venues across the UK, including the London Stadium, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Ascot Racecourse and even Wembley Stadium. From Premier League football week in week out, to seasonal events such as the Royal Ascot and athletic events. These positions are desirable for students as they require no training. Support Worker – average Hourly pay: £9.55 – £12.26 Being a support worker in social care requires compassion, patience, sensitivity, and a true desire to help those in need. It is one of the highest paying part time jobs available in the UK and requires no specific qualifications, though experience in the care sector is helpful. Security – average Hourly pay: £10 – £12.50 There are a few necessary skills needed in a security role, including customer service skills for negotiation, patience in stressful situations, knowledge of public safety and the ability to work as a part of a team. Placements are available at Teamwork H&C for workers who aspire to work in security at a variety of events. This role requires a couple necessary qualifications including an SIA security badge and NVQ Level 2 Spectator Safety.
How to Improve your Hospitality CV to get noticed more
Begin with a punchy personal statement – a summary of your experience or titles you have previously held, include the number of years you have spent in the relevant sectors. In addition, briefly describe the opportunities you are looking for and the skills you possess. Put your experience in the next section – the experience section should be in chronological order with your most recent position being described in detail. To avoid being caught out in interviews explain gaps in your experience on your CV. Include any relevant qualifications as well as your education Add a section with your core skills – these may range from “customer service” to “attention to detail.” However, instead of just describing your skills, use examples to elaborate upon the impact of these skills. For example, as an alternative to “assisted customers,” write “I helped to foster a hospitable environment by always making myself available to customer.” Think of your skills in terms of time saved, people helped, revenue increased, work produced, or problems solved. Include facts and figures – For example, “led a team of 6 staff,” “worked across 4 different locations,” “managed 20 different rooms.” Make your CV concise and try not to add too many unnecessary personal details. Tailor your CV for different jobs with different requirements.
The Importance of LinkedIn in finding a job.
When finding a job, either temporary or full-time social media channels are your best friend. As a job seeker you can scour its wide-ranging job board, there are often vacancies in various sectors. Creating a LinkedIn profile and fleshing it out with content helps to build your own brand image in the eyes of the employer, here at Teamwork H&C we value an employee who consistently posts their achievements. Chefs should post their dishes; Housekeepers should share examples of their service and Event workers should post updates within their industry. The most important facet of LinkedIn is its use for networking, you can maintain a rolodex of different contacts who you can reconnect with when the time is right. It also enables you to conduct research on companies and its employees, companies will also share news and insights which you as a customer or aspiring employee can interact with. Through LinkedIn you can build relationships with your mutual connections, companies and keep up to date with important job listings and information. For individuals in hospitality, event work or health and social care, LinkedIn can be extremely useful. Whether you desire to build your network to share valuable insights or for new opportunities, LinkedIn is valuable. We value LinkedIn as we have recently begun to captivate the Teamwork H&C audience by posting quality content and insights about the staffing industry. It helps us to find viable candidates and allows us to interact with the community. Get started today and connect with us on LinkedIn! https://www.linkedin.com/company/teamwork-h-c/
How to Impress in a Housekeeping Interview
If you are a housekeeper seeking a new job in the same career line and you have been selected for a trial, congratulations! You must have impressed your potential employers with your experience and knowledge; however, it is likely that you must now demonstrate your adeptness in a trial shift. For the interviewee, the trial shift is a good way to find out whether the housekeeping job would be the right fit for you. · Come prepared for your housekeeping trial – Getting a trial does not mean that you have the job, therefore, you must consider the trial period as an extended job interview. Some things to consider are never show up late, be alert and responsive and try to use this opportunity to impress with your organisational skills. Look the part – Ensure that you are dressed formally and make sure that you are not wearing too much jewellery. Go the extra mile – Show your aptitude by creating a schedule of the household tasks for the days you are on trial. This will exhibit your keenness for the position as well as showing your skillset. The best housekeepers use detailed checklists for all the points that need to be cleaned or checked and maintain a list of the items that need replacing. See the trial as an opportunity to impress and as a way of finding out whether this is the right job for you. Teamwork H&C offers a 3-month employment program for aspiring Housekeepers after a successful screening call (https://www.teamworkhc.com/post/how-to-nail-your-phone-interview) Connect with us on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/teamwork-h-c/