As a job seeker, you no doubt have a wish list of what you want out of your next role. That could include a certain salary level and specific benefits like health insurance and vacation time and a specific set of responsibilities. But have you defined your “dream company”? 

Knowing what you value in an employer can help in finding a job where you can be successful. But what you consider important in a company should go beyond how much they pay you and the benefits that they offer. 

Size Matters

For example, would you rather work for a small to the mid-size organization where you could have more opportunity to interact directly with company executives? If so, many hotel management companies fit the bill as far as the size of the organization. These businesses may have less formalized paths to promotion and may also offer more learning opportunities. That is, if you’re a self-starter and willing to take the initiative and jump in when a supervisor or another department needs support, management will likely take notice of you quickly.

If you’re more comfortable in a structured environment, you may want to consider a large corporation like a major hotel brand. Career paths are more likely to be prescribed with management training programs in place. Plus, promotional prospects may be greater considering the sheer number of employees that work for these companies.

Keep in mind that many branded hotels are actually operated by third-party hotel management companies. However, the properties are still required to maintain brand standards. So experience working at one of these properties could be valuable if you hope to work directly for the brand in the future. 

Company Culture

This is a term that can seem like corporate jargon. But it’s actually quite important because it’s a big part of how businesses and employees determine if they have shared values. Most hotels and restaurants will tell job candidates that teamwork is one component of their culture. Teamwork is essential to all hospitality businesses. 

Another aspect of company culture worth considering is how formal or informal the company is. Does the staff look relaxed and comfortable when interacting with each other and with guests or do they look stiff and ceremonial? 

Also, what is the company’s communication culture? Are you expected to be available via phone and email when you’re not at work? How often do staff meetings take place? 

Company culture can be hard to determine until you spend some time working for the organization. But if the interviewer offers you a tour of the hotel or the office, look to see how the staff behaves, if the back-of-house areas –especially employee locker rooms and break rooms—are well maintained. Do these spaces feature signs with encouraging messages for the staff or just lists of rules and regulations?

Benefits

Discussing the complete compensation package can be delicate during a job interview. In short, it’s typically advised that candidates not ask in-depth questions about benefits. But increasingly, companies are posting information about the benefits they offer on the “Careers” page of their website. This information will give you a good idea as to how vested the company is in its staff. 

For instance, are hourly workers eligible for insurance coverage and sick time? Does the company offer tuition reimbursement or access to smoking cessation or weight management programs? If employees have access to discounted or complementary wellness programs, how comprehensive are they? Are other resources available such as support in sourcing child or elder care? 

Health, dental and vision insurance as well as vacation and sick time are expected of salaried positions. Employers who make these benefits available to hourly workers are going the extra mile. Additional benefits like smoking cessation programs or support in finding childcare may not be important to you personally. However, they are telling of how competitive a company is and how committed they are to attracting and retaining top talent. 

Volunteer Opportunities & Charitable Causes

If you value a company’s commitment to community, then definitely look for an organization that offers employees the chance to do volunteer work together or dedicated time off when staff can donate their time to their favorite charitable cause. 

You’ll also want to consider the type of volunteer work that the company in which the company is involved and the causes that they support. Do they align with charitable endeavors that are important to you? 

The hospitality industry tends to support causes and make contributions that are in line with its business model. Environmental issues are of growing importance to the industry because guests often travel expressly for nature experiences. The food and beverage side of the business makes soup kitchen donations and volunteer events a natural fit and organizations dedicated to creating housing opportunities for underserved communities may also be an obvious charitable link for some accommodation businesses.

If the company where you hope to work doesn’t offer volunteer opportunities or supports causes that are different from the ones that you value, you can always ask in the interview if it’s possible to grow these initiatives.