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Pacific Coast Hospitality

interview

FOUR HABITS TO APPLY WHEN IT COMES TO GUEST SERVICE FEEDBACK

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With an increasing number of apps like Yelp, Yellow Pages and other review sites, guest service has lost any context for face to face transactions, and has more and more become a “spectator sport”.

When guests are unsatisfied, it’s no longer a private matter.  Outsiders are now witnesses to what once could have been a private matter, but now posted up across apps and other online mediums for all to see.

The transparency of the increasing online world provides both a challenge and an opportunity for restaurants alike.

To embrace the change implement these four guest service habits:

Habit: Follow up with all complaints.
Good or bad, get to replying on all online review mediums.  Every restaurant must commit to answering diner complaints wherever they appear, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yelp, TripAdvisor other local review sites, discussion boards, and even new chat-based tools like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.
Your guests are selling your brand, so make sure you thank them! Plus, for the reviews that are less than singing your praise, offering an apology and a bonus for giving your place another try… this will speak volumes to all the outsiders reading along.

Habit: Reply to all complaints and feedback quickly.
Did you know, 40 percent of consumers who complain on social media expect a response within one hour, according to Hug Your Haters data.

The guests who keep your business afloat want to hear from you! For many business owners, this may require assigning an online community manager to not only market your business, but to follow up with all comments and reviews left in a timely manner.

Habit: Keep it positive, Polly.
Let’s say, someone just blasted on your world renown menu items via social media… sure it might not seem fair for all onlookers to see such terrible feedback about the menu you’ve worked endlessly to perfect, but it’s their right.

Some will love what you offer and others will be haters. Here’s the bottom line, no matter how ugly, harsh and sometimes downright ridiculous these guest reviews may be, keep positive. Don’t take the criticism personally… acknowledge it and move on.

Habit: Know who complains.
Women complain about restaurants 62 percent more than do men, and women complain about restaurants more than about any other type of business, according to research fom Hug Your Haters.
Whether they are good, bad or crazy, the vast majority-95 percent-unhappy guests will never complain in a way the restaurant can find it. They may say something privately to their friends, but they won’t “raise their hand.” Take it from the facts, this means that the guests who do take the time to complain are doing restaurants an enormous favor by pointing out how the business can improve.
Embrace the feedback, make changes for the better and keep on!

Arriving at a Destination Lifestyle Career

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Did you know??….

Studies by the World Travel & Tourism Council show that the hospitality industry is the world’s largest employer worldwide hiring one in 12 workers, and this number is set to grow.

The chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re one of them, working as part of this vast hospitality industry, serving, managing, cooking, etc. You probably also know exactly why your industry is so popular, and why so many people want to work in it. Yes, the shifts can be long and tiring, but you’ll rarely find someone with a hospitality career who doesn’t have a passion for it.

The hospitality industry offers a surprisingly wide variety of jobs across a broad range of sectors, but what REALLY is the lifestyle of a career in the hospitality industry entail?

Working in a hotel is just one of the many avenues a career in the hospitality industry could host. Offering a variety of careers in positions including tourism boards, online travel companies, destination lodging hotspots, spas, fine cuisine establishments and even vineyards all can fall under the category for employing the hospitality industry.

As an ever-growing field with many opportunities to develop and obtain management positions, the potential for growth does not top out. With a desire to give exemplary customer service, work hard and be a team player, many people can find rewarding management careers in the hospitality industry.

With working for a private owned company to one of the Pacific West’s most desirable outdoor recreation resort communities, the reality of work life balance can be achieved. Living in a city where tourism is popular and the rate of pay for your hard work matches the grade for a quality life, your career won’t leave you wishing for more. Plus, as the industry continues to boom, the competition for top careers in the nations most beloved locations will increase long after you already have been placed ahead of the competition.

Beyond the workplace, the ability to explore your surroundings, meet people from all over, live in a spectacular setting, and discover new passions will only be the beginning of the benefits.

We are seeking a talented and ambitious candidates with excellence in motivating and coaching a talented staff to deliver an outstanding experience to guests while upholding top-notch standards in food and beverage quality.

Whether looking for a career advancement or uproot from your current location, maybe the hospitality lifestyle holds an opportunity for you? Apply today.

Five Big Job Interview Don’ts

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Job hunting can be a long and stressful process. Finally getting the call for an interview should be exciting news, but for many people it brings on a new wave of stress and anxiety. If you want to put your best foot forward, take a deep breath and be sure to steer clear of these big interview don’ts.

 

 

Don’t show up disheveled and sloppy. We’re all taught not to judge a book by it’s cover, but the truth is that in a job interview your appearance will be the thing that interviewers notice first. Appropriate work attire varies greatly between companies, but a little research before hand should let you know if you’re headed into a casual jeans enviroment or something more upscale. Most interviewers will forgive you for being slightly over or underdressed, but rolling straight out of bed- sloppy is a different story. Be sure to plan enough time into your day to arrive with well-groomed hair, trimmed nails, and wrinkle-free clothing. Looking like a slob can communicate to the interviewer that you don’t respect the company or the opportunity enough to take the time to put your best foot forward.

 

Don’t be clueless about the hiring company. If you’ve taken the time to apply for the job, it should me that you’re interested in being a part of their company. Spend a few hours in the days before your interview to do a little research on the business and even the hiring manager, if possible. Chances are that you will be asked if you have any questions about the company, and being able to ask an informed question will show that you take initiative and are serious about the opportunity. Walking into an interview with no knowledge of the company can come across as insulting and will make the hiring manager question if you’re even interested in the job at all.

 

Don’t freeze up. Interviews are stressful for everyone, but even more so for shy personalities and people with anxiety. It can be a natural tendency to feel nervous and want to stay quiet and get the process over as quickly as possible. But this is your one chance to show the hiring manager that you can be an asset to their company, and that’s virtually impossible when you freeze up. If your nerves tend to take over in an interview, spend a little time practicing in the days leading up to it. Go over common questions and think of how you might answer them. On the day of the interview remember to breath, look the interviewer in the eye, and try to avoid one word answers.

 

Don’t dominate the conversation. This is the polar opposite of freezing up, but it is usually a result of the same nerves and anxiety. You’re told to spend time practicing what you might say and to research the company before hand, but how do you apply those things once in the interview? You wait for the questions to be asked! You don’t want to walk into the room and begin talking as if it is a one-sided monologue rather than an interview. Even if you’re saying all the right things, dominating the conversation can feel exhausting for the hiring manager and be a major turn off. If nerves tend to make you talk more, try to focus on remembering to let the interviewer lead the conversation and maybe even ask him or her questions pertaining to the position to help engage in conversation.

 

Don’t stretch the truth. Everyone wants to put their best foot forward and deliver the best resume, but in the age of mass information it’s easier than ever to fact check anything you tell an interviewer. If there is anything less than impressive in your work history, it is best to take the high road and offer a simple, yet non-defensive explanation. Your trustworthiness is of the most importance and is a quality that any interviewer will want to see.

 

Job hunting is hard enough, don’t make it any more difficult than it has to be. If you keep these five things in mind as you prepare for your interview, then you’ll have a great shot at landing the job that you really want!

10 ESSENTIAL STEPS TO LANDING AND ACING A RESTAURANT JOB INTERVIEW

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In today’s extremely competitive job market, we need all the help we can get to land a job anywhere, and that includes the restaurant industry. You can apply to hundreds of different restaurants, bars, and burger joints without so much as cursory call back for an interview. What you need is a plan of action that will separate you from the pack. The following path from pre-application to post-interview will give you a step-by-step guide on how to maximize your efforts while looking for a position in a restaurant you’d love to work in and give you a major leg up on your competition.

 

Landing the Interview

Step 1: Do some research! What kind of establishment is this restaurant? What is it they serve? What is their theme or niche? What image are they trying to present to their customers? What kind of value do they try to bring to their patrons outside of just giving them food? Do you think you could fit in with their image? These are all important questions that need to be answered in order to maximize the effects of your efforts in applying.

Step 2: Scout out the look of those who are in the position you’re applying for. What is their level of dress? What attitudes are they bringing to the table? How do the groom themselves? How do they fit with the rest of the restaurant? If you want their position, you need to know how to act the part.

Step 3: Once you have applied, follow up! Keep on Calling and dropping by to speak to the supervisor-don’t let them forget your face or how interested you are in the position. The number one mistake people make when job hunting is not following up and just expecting the managers to do all the work in hunting them down.

Keep up these efforts and landing an interview is all but inevitable!

 

The Interview

Step 4: Remember the level of dress the people in your position were wearing? Rule of thumb is to go one level of formality in dress above them. Are they wearing business casual? Dress business formal. Are they wearing khakis and polo shirts? Wear a nice dress shirt and pants. Remember, you’re presenting your best self in this interview process. Under dressing is the worst error you can make right off the bat.

Step 5: BE HONEST. Lying during an interview will ALWAYS come back to haunt you. You WILL slip up in the lie, or forget a detail, and somebody will invariably notice. Once caught in a lie, you will never regain that credibility even if you don’t lose your job.

Step 6: Be confident and proactive! No interviewer likes asking questions and getting a flat sentence or two in reply. Relay anecdotes and stories from previous job or life experiences that pain you in a positive light. Ask them questions, build rapport so it’s easier for them to remember you when sifting through applicants later on.

Step 7: If the job provided a description of the positive traits they’re looking for in a candidate, include those words verbatim as you present yourself to your prospective employer.

Step 8: Mind your body language! Present a confident, open self with your body language by uncrossing your legs or arms, laying your hands flat on a surface (if applicable) and relaxing your shoulders. Interviewers canfeel the tension you create by presenting closed off body language and it gives them a more negative impression when they’re looking back on your file.

 

After the Interview

Step 9: Last verse same as the first! Be active, don’t force them to do all the work in remembering you. Call them and drop by to speak to the person who interviewed you. Keep your face and name on their mind as they go through more applicants

Step 10: Always be cordial, even if they decide to go with another applicant. Who knows, maybe that person won’t work out or another spot will open up and your name is next on the hiring list!

Dressing For An Interview

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No matter the industry you are interviewing for, dressing professional tops any list of important interview tips.  If you are interviewing for a restaurant manager or chef position, it’s important to remember that these positions hold the primary day-to-day responsibilities of a business.  Interview candidates who look the part will be treated as such, as a professional.  It is important that you look the part.  Show that you have experience, education, and knowledge through your dress.  You must remember, looks are important.  An employer will be more likely to believe that you are ready and capable to execute excellent work if you appear in professional attire.

Here’s a few of our Do’s and Don’ts for interview dressing:

DO dress for success!

DO wear dark pants/skirt.

DO wear a tie (red is an excellent choice).

DON’T wear a short skirt.

DO shave facial hair.

DO pull back long hair.

DON’T over apply make up.

DON’T wear heavy perfume/cologne.

DO limit jewelry.

DON’T drink or smoke before the interview.

DO dress to cover your tattoos.

DON’T wear cooking attire.

 

You only have one chance to make a first impression.  Make it the best you can!