The hotel industry is customer-service driven as a whole, meaning face time with guests can be a big part of certain roles (i.e. front desk roles, concierge, etc.). It’s also an industry that depends upon strong teamwork and collaboration among staff to achieve smooth operations and positive customer experiences. For the introverts in the workforce, these might seem like dealbreakers. However, plenty of individuals on the more introverted side of the personality spectrum thrive in hospitality. It takes some effort and intentionality, but keeping the following in mind when considering and/or entering into a new hotel role is a great starting point.
Preparation is Key
Whether it’s preparing for a job interview, beginning a role in a new industry, or simply starting a new shift during the work week, it’s important for those with introverted personalities to adequately prepare themselves for the experience. What that preparation entails depends on the person, but obtaining a comprehensive understanding of what a role entails from a larger perspective as well as success metrics during each shift is a solid start. Unclarity in these areas leads to miscommunication – something from most introverted people’s nightmares.
Preparation heading into important conversations or meetings makes a huge difference as well. These conversations might include team meetings, performance reviews, or professional development experiences. For introverts to be confident heading into these, rehearsing planned speeches, questions, concerns, etc is incredibly valuable.
Focus on Soft Skill Strengths
There is no “better” personality type to have to succeed in hospitality. While extroverts might find social interactions easier, introverts bring a lot of valuable innate soft skills to the table. As an individual contributor on a team, acknowledging these strengths and leaning into them makes you a valuable team member.
Individuals with introverted personalities are often amazing listeners and observers. They listen actively, meaning they are skilled in “reading between the lines” and picking up cues that others might miss. This is great both in interactions with team members and with guests in a hotel setting. Active listening allows individuals to pick up on and store information that might seem insignificant at that moment – but proves to be valuable down the road.
Similarly, introverts often bring strong attention to detail to the workplace. This is an obvious strength in a role in housekeeping – as providing a stellar guest experience depends heavily on the condition and cleanliness of the accommodations. However, it’s a valuable contribution in all hotel roles. For example, through active listening and attention to detail, front desk agents can better identify and anticipate guest needs and provide a better overall experience overall.
Prioritize Solo Time
For those in the hotel industry – especially those with less extroverted personalities – the constant human interaction required during shifts at times can easily surpass the point of becoming overwhelming. Especially during busy seasons (like around the holidays), prioritizing time alone becomes even more important. But, how does one achieve this in a human-centric work environment? It takes intentionality and strong time management skills.
Commute journeys to and from work are a great time for this self-focus and reflection – as are break times and lunch periods. Individuals might prefer bringing a book along for these times. Some might focus on themselves by listening to music or meditating. Others might need a few minutes of outdoor time or a brief walk. No matter how one spends this solo time, it can serve as a much-needed escape from the need to converse with and collaborate with others and allows individuals to recharge for the social interactions to come in the day.
Embrace Learning Experiences
There has been debate around it for ages, but introversion is widely accepted as an innate quality passed down via genetics. Environmental factors can play a role in how introverts adapt as they mature, but it’s not a quality one can simply “grow out of” in its entirety. However, embracing some discomfort and leaning into learning opportunities can make a world of difference in an introvert’s experience in the workplace. Seeking out additional soft skill training from employers (or outside resources) or taking on new responsibilities (ie people management) takes effort and can be intimidating for those with introverted personalities, but entering into that space of discomfort is one of the best ways to grow as a professional.
What Roles Exist for Introverts in the Hotel Industry?
Especially for industry newcomers, seeking out a role in the hotel or extended stay industry can be intimidating. However, it doesn’t have to be. We’ve created a hotel jobs database that houses all opportunities across our over 50 locations in one easily searchable place. There are opportunities for all experience levels – and personality types. Available jobs range from maintenance roles to night attendant and front desk positions to management and sales positions.
The Westmont Hospitality Group understands the importance of supporting individuals contributing to our hotels’ success each day. We also understand that each individual is unique in their motivations as well as the support they need from leadership to succeed in a role. Dedicated to maintaining our status as an employer of choice in the extended stay hotel industry, we provide the training, tools, and ongoing support necessary to thrive in a hotel environment. With the new year upon us, endless opportunities to grow in the workforce await. It takes just minutes to find and apply to roles in your area – what is holding you back?