In any business, establishing and maintaining a good reputation is the key to success. In hotels and restaurants, reputation is especially important. New customers come from many sources – travel agents, Internet, social media, word of mouth. Why is it so important to you treat job seekers as potential customers?

1. They May Already Be Customers

Perhaps a candidate applied to your restaurant or hotel because you have impressed them enough on previous visits that they want to join your organization. Mismanage the hiring process and you can lose them as customers. While you can’t hire everyone who applies, you can create a simple application process, keep candidates updated on their status and inform them professionally if they don’t get the job.

In a reputation-based business, the way you treat every person you come in contact with matters. So treat every job seeker as well as you would a customer.

2. Better Treatment Keeps You on Track With Top Candidates

No matter what the state of the economy, there is always competition for the best employees. Truly skilled professionals are always in demand. Treat job seekers well and your reputation will attract a higher caliber of candidate.

3. Today’s Entry Level Applicants are Tomorrow’s Decision Makers

They say that you can judge a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. So be sure to treat every applicant well. Whether you hire them or not, people who are just entering the workforce may have no influence now, but one day they could be responsible for deciding where to hold a conference or reserve a block of rooms for an event. Treating them with professionalism now could be worth it in the long run.

4. They Bring in New Business

With every new employee comes a fresh source of customers. A single hire opens the door to a whole new social circle of friends, family and acquaintances. When people know that a friend has a new job in a restaurant or hotel, they’ll want to come and try it.

If job seekers are treated poorly, that information will spread as well. Not only have you turned off this job seeker, but you may also lose his friends and family as customers as well. Social media takes it even further. A study conducted by CareerBuilder and Inavero revealed that 78% of workers would tell friends and family about a bad experience with an employer. Seventeen percent said that they would talk about it on social media or a blog.

5. They are the Best Source of Quality Candidates.

Recruit the best candidates and give them the same level of respect as you would your best customer. Your top employees may know others with similar skills. If your establishment is a great place to work and you treat them well, they will want to bring their friends on board as well.

The recruiting team at Horizon Hospitality targets job seekers who are ready to make a positive impact on your facility. Whether you’re looking for a hotel or restaurant management job or a top hospitality executive recruiter, contact Horizon Hospitality.

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