Hiring is about more than talent

Hospitality, like comedy, is a unique type of work. No matter the state of their personal lives, the people in these roles must be on when “on stage” in front of members or an audience of fans. When we watch a comedian roll out one funny story after another, we cannot imagine they might be in distress because of off-stage problems. But we know that everyone has problems. They come as part of the ownership card to adulthood. No matter the role or the work, no matter their title, no matter the size of their paycheck, once people end their day, they deal with issues big and small.

Certainly, as you look to hire you are searching for the best people you can find at that moment. People with talent, who will accept the pay package and the work with enthusiasm and anticipation. Much of the hiring done at a club is in season, due to an immediate need: a termination or a team member deciding to leave without conversation, maybe even without notice. Frantic, you are forced to move quickly, to immediately put together a communication to hire and fill the role. Set in motion, you and your team round up the candidates and decide on the best choice. Satisfied, you go back to those other fires churning up all around the club.

Every manager knows that when you hire a new employee, you accept the whole person onto the team. They bring not only their skills and experience but also their issues. You do all you can to hire the best people, but emergencies can also create missteps. It is important, therefore, to take that extra step to feel sure you are making a solid decision. In this In My Opinion post, I provide three thoughts about people, the team, and the issues faced by managers and their employees.

It may begin with talent and experience but there is more to the story. Hiring people is hard. No manager owns the best of rules book for the hiring process. It seems more to be a roll of the dice. As you seek out that next star, it is good to learn about the person beyond their work. It is also a good idea to have other team members speak with final candidates one-on-one, in addition to a final group interview. We each see something different. We each have different experiences from which to offer our unique points of view. Hiring just might be both art and science. It is important never to leave it in the hands of just one person.

Seek out the list of references. You need to contact both personal and professional references. The more you know, the better the…