Top tips for recruitment success

M D Warrier explains that there are many ways to increase staff retention and motivate existing employees

Bin Eid Executive Search general manager M D Warrier says that in an age of extreme executive mobility, employing top performers can make the difference between success and failure

In 2011, what trends have you seen when it comes to staffing hotels?
Finding and recruiting staff with quality and proven experience has been a major challenge, particularly from Asia/Far East as the salary levels at very junior levels are not attractive enough in some disciplines.

What are the most challenging departments and positions to recruit for?
The most challenging departments are: kitchen (including speciality chefs); spa; sales and marketing; facility management; and leadership positions.

Story continues below

In fact, to get the right candidate with relevant qualifications, experience, attitude and the cultural fit for an organisation is a great challenge and while meeting the job role and profile, some job seekers hesitate to relocate to some regions.

When it comes to senior levels, we recruit COOs, GMs, F&B directors, sales and marketing professionals, executive housekeepers, financial controllers, chief engineers, HR directors, training managers and executives in all disciplines of hotel operations.

Hiring a manager is not difficult, but hiring a top performer, a visionary and a profit-making business manager, who achieves business goals and shareholder values with optimum customer care, satisfaction and adequately motivated employee morale, is a formidable task.

What countries in the Middle East offer the most recruitment opportunities?
At this point in time, it’s the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

How have source markets for Middle East hotel recruiters changed?
Although the Middle East is a good destination for job seekers, the overwhelming attraction is diminishing due to various reasons, including salary, which is often not competitive enough when it comes to recruiting from source markets for some positions, particularly at junior levels.

Article continues on next page...