Katie Prats, vice president of human resources at Kokua Hospitality, details what employers need to keep in mind when hiring new employees.
Hire for skill. “As an industry, we tend to hire someone with experience rather than the person who has the ability to do to the job but maybe doesn’t have the training. By doing this, we pigeonhole ourselves. We should look for people who are able, willing, and ready to learn, not necessarily someone who’s done the job before.”
Pay attention to the basics. “Is the employee on time? Does she have communication skills? Is she appropriate with her coworkers and the guests? If she’s able to perform the job duties but unable to meet these basic requirements, she isn’t a good fit.”
Make sure there’s a desire to serve. “It has to make an employee happy to see a guest leave with a smile on his face. If it doesn’t and the job doesn’t give the employee satisfaction, it creates challenges for the employer.”
Go with your gut. “If something feels weird, it probably is. Don’t discount that little voice in your head that says something feels off, even if you didn’t turn up anything suspicious while doing your due diligence.”
