Taskforce contractors are an important component of the hospitality industry. When full-time staff is overwhelmed due to understaffed departments for various reasons, short-term contractors can help support daily hotel functions until the hotel is fully staffed again. Still, that doesn’t mean just anyone fits the bill. The best contractors come with certain characteristics, including the following:
Experience and Qualifications
Taskforce contractors should know the inner hotel workings of their respective department like the back of their hand. They’re educated in the practices that are applicable to their roles and have enough experience to handle even the most difficult situations. They can jump from task to task with ease and shouldn’t need much in the way of guidance before hitting the ground running.
The Ability to Hit the Ground Running
Stepping into a hotel taskforce role requires someone who has worked in many different circumstances and situations that have enabled them to be resilient, adaptable and flexible. If you’re hiring a contractor, you’re already short-staffed and you need someone who can hit the ground running and do their job with minimal supervision. After all, hiring someone who needs to be trained and micromanaged kind of defeats the purpose of hiring extra help in the first place.
Systems Knowledge
Many hotels and positions come with systems knowledge requirements. This varies by hotel chain and property, role, and department, but it’s important, nonetheless. If your hotel relies on a specific system, it’s important to tell the taskforce company from the start so they can find a contractor who meets your needs. There are times when identifying available contractors with specific system knowledge is limited, so we highly recommend you interview those who have some experience with your system but feel comfortable they will pick it back up quickly. A very adaptable and skilled contractor can prove to be more beneficial than an average one who simply knows your system well.
Dependability
Among the most important qualities in a taskforce contractor is dependability. Hotels often hire outside help during especially hectic times when not only is the hotel busy, but it’s understaffed while searching for full-time employees (which can take anywhere from several weeks to several months to fill). This means a commitment and flexibility for extensions from the contractor is highly important. Having to find temporary help for your temporary help only ends in frustration.
The Right Fit
Be sure to have a phone or video interview with potential contractors to get a feel for their personality and rapport with your team. At the end of the day, there’s a lot to be said for chemistry. Someone can look great on paper and know your system, but may simply not be the best fit for your particular team at that time. Always work with a taskforce company that understands this and will work with you to place the right person (and possibly replace them if needed).
Hiring a taskforce contractor can be a game-changer when your workload increases or your staff burns out. But not all contractors provide the same level of satisfaction. This list is a great foundation to help you find the perfect person for the short-term job.
Hospitality Taskforce provides hotels and hotel management companies with a network of the highest quality, most experienced professionals in the areas of sales, catering, general and culinary management, and operations on a temporary basis. Contact us to learn how we can help your business grow.
