When searching online for the best time to apply for a job in the hospitality sector, many will suggest that the ideal time is during the peak tourist season. These claims often convince you that hotels are bustling with tourists, and there is a rise in job openings due to the high demand for hospitality services—following the simple law of supply and demand, right?
Actualy, this belief is a misconception and represents an outsider's perspective of the industry. The only time this might be true is when hotels are specifically looking for seasonal workers. This could be the case if the hotel has a seasonal outdoor pool or hosts events such as weddings etc, where there is a surge in demand during certain times of the year. In these cases, hotels often hire university students seeking summer jobs, trainees, or turn to recruitment agencies that can quickly provide the necessary workforce on such a short notice.
However, from the perspective of someone with over five years of experience in the hospitality industry with multiple companies through multiple regions, hotels with long-term vision tend to open job positions and fill them, up to three months before the peak season or even earlier.
In this article, I will share 5 reasons that might change your perspective on this issue. I will also explain why in my opinion you should avoid working with hotel companies that open positions during the peak tourist season.
1. Adequate Time to Select Talent
During the recruitment period, the hiring team aim to collect many resumes, select the ones that allign with the job description, conduct multiple interviews, and compare applicants to select the best talent. Taking the necessary time to achieve that, is essential for enhancing the chances of hiring highly skilled individuals who can excel in the role.
2. Sufficient Time for Training
Introducing new employees to the internal policies, regulations, and developing their Hospitality focused emotional intelligence and technical abilities requires time. This training is vital for boosting productivity and efficiency during the high season. A well-trained employee is far more likely to contribute to smooth operation during busy times.
3. Familiarity with Hotel Facilities
A hotel is a complex building with many facilities and departements that operate on different schedules. Learning the details of these facilities, such as their locations and hours of operation by heart is crucial. A hotel employee especially in guest facing roles that knows these details demonstrates high levels of expertise. as guests frequently ask about facilities and their hours, and if you can't answer, it reflects poorly on your professionalism and the hotel's image, which can ultimately impact customer service quality and guest experience.
4. Understanding the Hotel's Work Style
Even if you have prior experience, the way a hotel operates depends on the type of guests it attracts. For example, a hotel catering to tourists and leisure travelers will focus on entertainment activities, tours, tourist attractions, swimming pools, and restaurants. Meanwhile, a hotel that hosts business travelers will emphasize its business center, corporate packages, Loyalty programs, special company rates, and proper review of invoices before submitting them to the company. Understanding these different needs and aligning your service style with them is crucial for success.
5. Integrating into the Team
Taking the time to adapt and integrate into a new work environment and with a new team is important. Before the busy season, team members can dedicate the time necessary for training you, help you settle in, and show you how to correct and avoid mistakes. This allows for a smooth transfer of knowledge and experience, ensuring that you're fully prepared for the busy season.
In Summary
A hotel with a proactive management team will carefully select the best talent, plans ahead to hire and train them, and allow ample time for adaptation. This preparation ensures the employees are ready and capable of delivering top-notch service. Such hotels focus on guest satisfaction and strive to provide the best possible service, which guarantees guest loyalty and the continued success of the business. Thefore you need to do some research on the peak season in the region you want to apply for, this could be winter and Eids season in the Middle East, or Summer in southern Europe, and start applying 3 months before the season especially if you plan on relocation, because part of your selection by a proactive management, is by being a proactive team member who also have the same culture and mindset of planning ahead.
Why You Should Avoid Hotel Companies That Open Positions During the peak Season
Typically, these hotels lacks foresight and reacts only to changes rather than planning ahead, and this is a strategic error.
Even if the hotel has prepared for the season, as example unexpected resignations can cause further disruptions due to competitor's proactive talent attraction methods (higher wages, Hybrid type of job, better hours, promotins etc...), or high turnover rate due to work conditions, (Massive workload, micro-management, low salaries, lack of growth opportunities etc...)
All this suggests that the hotel may have an unstable work environment or unhealthy working conditions. The owning company or management team in this case may lack the necessary expertise and experience to properly run the hotel, which could hinder your professional growth, leaving you with zero contribution to your professional development.
Although you could be in dire need for a job, these are crucial signs to consider before accepting a job with any company. A negative experience could harm your career long-term. For example, if you have a short tenure in such a role, it might reflect poorly on your resume, potentially affecting your future career opportunities. Therfore take your time, plan ahead, and take your career into consideration before taking a job.
Comentários