You’ve found the perfect next role, applied, and successfully secured the position. Congratulations! Now, what is there to expect on that first day on the job? Most new positions – no matter the industry – involve some initial onboarding and training before taking on the role solo. Onboarding can look completely different between organizations (or teams within an organization). However, there are a few things all new employees within the hospitality industry can expect when they begin their roles.
There is a learning curve with any new position, but a comprehensive onboarding process should cover the basics in terms of learning how to succeed in the role. So, employers must instill in their leaders the necessary skills and tools needed to train effectively and ensure team members are set up for success.
Administrative Requirements
Starting a new position requires submitting information and paperwork to get established within organizational systems like payroll and scheduling. So, there is generally a fair amount of paperwork required during the initial onboarding process. With a greater reliance on digital communication over the years, some of these administrative tasks can be tackled prior to day one on the job.
Many hotel employers now utilize some type of employee platform, be it for scheduling, payroll, training, or a combination of those. Part of the administrative aspect of onboarding in those cases would involve setting up an employee account and setting login credentials for secure use of the platform during the length of their employment. Companies with even more advanced technology in place might have employees download applications on their mobile devices to access their accounts, request time off, etc.
Information & Training Regarding Company Processes & Procedures
Often combined with the administrative paperwork mentioned above, new employees need to get up to speed on company processes during the onboarding period. Such processes include scheduling and how to request time off or adjustments to that schedule. Depending on the establishment, processes for clocking in and out of a shift or recording hours can vary greatly – from very traditional punch cards to sophisticated digital platforms that allow them to do so from their mobile devices. Whatever way a company tracks employee time, they must clearly articulate that process to all new employees during onboarding to avoid confusion or future issues.
Most companies, hotels included, require all employees to follow some form of code of conduct during their employment. That code or set of guidelines is generally provided to new staff during onboarding, along with the opportunity for them to ask questions or gain clarification around the rules they’re expected to follow. This code, in whatever form it’s stored, needs to remain accessible to employees beyond the length of their onboarding period. They must be able to reference it if questions arise or if there is confusion regarding how they are expected to act in the workplace.
Along with that code of conduct, employee handbooks should also outline safety procedures and protocol – with attention given to this during onboarding. Dedicating time to fully understand any relevant safety information is critical for ensuring the health and safety of both employees and guests.
Training on Role Responsibilities
Most of the time, it’s only after administrative paperwork and company expectations and procedures training that job training can happen. While most roles within the hotel industry have similar responsibilities no matter which establishment they support. However, each company has a unique way in which they prefer those duties carried out. Job training often involves an aspect of shadowing, where new employees work alongside experienced team members or supervisors, learning tasks as they observe others doing them.
The most successful teams provide role training through a combination of that shadowing with written information about job tasks and how to perform them. Employees learn differently, so providing multiple ways to absorb the information is the best way to ensure new team members know exactly how to perform their roles (at a high level).
During this training, employees also learn expectations of them in terms of productivity. Employers need to not only train team members on how to perform a job duty. They must also clearly articulate quality and or speed expectations up front so there is no confusion around what is satisfactory performance. For example, within a housekeeping department – there may be expectations regarding the speed it requires to turn over a room. For those in the maintenance department, expectations may include expected time for resolving work orders.
Getting to the Onboarding Stage of the Hiring Process
Onboarding is reserved only for hired employees, which means successfully making it through the application and interview process is a prerequisite. Most employers utilize very similar hiring procedures. It often includes submitting an application or resume and participating in either one or multiple job interviews with the hiring manager.
Finding and applying for the opportunities you’d like to pursue is the easy part of the process. Our database of hotel job opportunities is full of positions (part-time and full-time) across the United States and all hotel departments and functions. The application process is as simple as uploading a resume and our team will contact you regarding potential next steps. If you’ve been thinking about a career change to the hotel industry or are thinking about ways to grow an existing career within the industry, there are sure to be opportunities that fit the bill!