The changing world of recruiting: why Irish hotels need to be creative?

Many things have changed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has exacerbated many existing trends. The Irish hospitality industry needs to change its recruiting strategies if it is to attract and retain the right talent. This is essential if hotels in Ireland are to find the skilled and talented workers they need for their business.  No longer can they assume that there is a pool of people available for work in hospitality. Because of changes in the economy and society, younger people have more options when it comes to their careers than ever before.

However, Irish hotels can be creative when it comes to recruiting people and incentivising people to work in what can be a dynamic sector. While pay rates are important, hoteliers in Ireland can provide other incentives to people, to join their staff. Money is not everything for many people and they want to work with an employer who can provide them with social, health and other benefits. Those employers who offer prospective employees an attractive package of financial and non-financial incentives will be more likely to secure the talent they need for their business.

Here are some ideas that can help Irish hotels to develop new and effective recruitment strategies.

  • People are more concerned with wellness these days. An Irish hotel can offer a range of supports to new and existing staff. They can provide programs that support employees’ wellbeing such as access to mental health apps. The Irish hospitality sector can show that it takes its employees physical and mental wellbeing seriously.
  • People want more flexibility in their work. This can be tricky for Irish hotels because they cannot offer remote working, because of the nature of their business. However, employers can provide more flexible schedules.
  • Too often in the past, the Irish hospitality sector has concentrated on younger people. Hoteliers need to concentrate on hiring older workers. They can offer older workers who are out of the labour force an opportunity to return. Many older people may like an opportunity for a part-time job. As Ireland ages, the country’s hospitality sector will increasingly have to recruit older staff.
  • Employees want to work with people who have the same values as they have. Irish hotels need to show that they are caring organisations that are committed to sustainability. This can persuade, especially younger people to enter the Irish hospitality sector.
  • People are attracted to sectors where they believe that they will have a high level of job satisfaction. Irish hotels can show people that roles with them are very interesting and exciting. One way of doing this is to make sure that people are trained to work in a variety of roles. This means that they will not get bored and can learn new things. This can help Irish hotels to attract those who want an enjoyable career. Having a flexible workforce, allows hotels to better respond to the needs of the customers.

Hoteliers need to sell themselves to potential employees and need to differentiate themselves from other sectors such as retail. An increased use of non-financial incentives is critical especially given the low margins in the sector.