Hospitality Industry Skills List and Examples The hospitality industry is a consistent form of employment in many areas, and a great place for young people to break into the professional world. While many positions are entry-level, others demand much skill and offer both great prestige and excellent compensation. Here is a list of skills that employers seek in candidates for employment in the hospitality industry. You can use this list to identify which relevant skills you already have and which you should feature those in your application materials and job interview. This list is not exclusive. Some businesses may look for additional skills, which is why it is important to read job descriptions carefully. Also, many hotels also hire for positions that are not particularly distinctive of the hospitality industry, such as office staff.
Hospitality Industry Skills Hotel Operations Hotels employ front-desk staff, housekeeping staff, restaurant staff, managers, and sometimes porters, event planners, and a concierge, depending on the type of hotel. Most of these positions require excellent customer service skills, attention to detail, team work, and good personal grooming. Creative problem-solving (because travelers sometimes have unexpected problems) and a thorough knowledge of local resources and attractions are important as well.
Hotel Front Desk / Guest Services Skills Concierge Skills
Food Service Food service includes everything from fast food to working as a server in a high-end restaurant. All of these jobs require excellent customer service skills, careful attention to detail (forgetting a minor detail could give a customer food poisoning or trigger a life-threatening allergy), and a thorough knowledge of the restaurant’s current offerings. The work is fast-paced, and a good memory is crucial.
Fast Food Worker Skills Food Server Skills List Waiter / Waitress Skills Restaurant and Food Service Skills
Food and Beverage Preparation Food and beverage preparation may include customer service (for example, for bar tenders or coffee baristas), or these jobs may be entirely behind the scenes (for example, line cooks). In addition to specific skill using the tools of the trade, such as espresso machines and kitchen equipment, more general abilities are absolutely required. These include, again, attention to
detail, plus a commitment to safety, the ability to work well as part of a team, and the ability to work quickly and calmly in a high-pressure environment.
Barista Skills for Resumes Bartender Skills List Chef Skills List
Maintenance and Cleaning Someone has to keep restaurants, hotels, and clubs clean and sanitary. Other work includes repairing equipment, changing light bulbs, and replacing broken locks on bathroom stall doors, for example. There is substantial overlap between the custodial and maintenance skills sets, and some positions may combine both roles to some extent. These skills include everything from the safe and appropriate use of cleaning chemicals to basic electrical repair and carpentry. Teamwork is often important, as is a strong work ethic.
Maintenance and Janitorial Skills List
Management Hospitality management requires skills some that are specific to the industry and others that are important in any management context. When applying for such a position you will have to demonstrate teamwork, leadership, budgeting, strategic thinking, customer service, and a thorough understanding of your specific business—whether that means being able to speak intelligently about food and wine for a restaurant manager, to understanding when the busy season is for your hotel and why.
Hotel and Resort Management Skills Management Skills List Soft Skills for Managers
Personal Skills Your personal attributes are also known as soft skills. Your technical skills and credentials will get your resume noticed and open the door for an interview, but it is your soft skills that will convince the interviewer that you are the right person for the job. They are called “soft” because they are difficult to clearly define and assess, but they are critical. These include the social skills that allow you to work harmoniously with other employees and the maturity to responsibly manage your workload and to adapt to changing situations.
Interpersonal Skills List Leadership Skills List Top 10 Leadership Skills Organizational Skills List List of Soft Skills Top 7 Soft Skills List of Teamwork Skills Time Management Skills
Top 10 Leadership Skills Whether one is an office manager or a project leader, all good leaders require a number of soft skills to help them positively interact with employees or team members. Employers seek these skills in the candidates they hire for leadership roles. Here are the top 10 skills that make a strong leader in the workplace. Incorporating Skills into Your Job Search You can use the skill words listed below as you search for jobs. For example, apply the terms in your resume, especially in the description of your work history. You can also incorporate them into your cover letter. Mention one or two of the skills mentioned here, and give specific examples of instances when you demonstrated these traits at work. You can also use these words in your interview. Keep the top skills listed here in mind during your interview, and be prepared to give examples of how you've exemplified each. Each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job descriptioncarefully, and focus on the skills listed by the employer. These words will be especially useful when answering questions about leadership. Also review our list of skills listed by job and type of skill. Top 10 Leadership Soft Skills 1. Communication As a leader, you need to be able to clearly and succinctly explain to your employees everything from organizational goals to specific tasks. Leaders must master all forms of communication, including one-on-one, departmental, and full-staff conversations, as well as communication via the phone, email, and social media. A large part of communication involves listening. Therefore, leaders should establish a steady flow of communication between themselves and their staff or team members,
either through an open-door policy or regular conversations with workers. Leaders should make themselves regularly available to discuss issues and concerns with employees. Other skills related to communication include:
Active listening
Articulating
Business storytelling
Clarity
Concision
Correspondence
Editing
Explaining
Expression
Facilitating group conversations
Nonverbal communication
Presentation
Public speaking
Reading body language
Reducing ambiguity
Verbal communication
Written communication
2. Motivation Leaders need to inspire their workers to go the extra mile for their organizations; just paying a fair salary to employees is typically not enough inspiration (although it is important too). There are a number of ways to motivate your workers: you may build employee self-esteem through recognition and rewards, or by giving employees new responsibilities to increase their investment in the company. Leaders must learn what motivators work best for their employees or team members to encourage productivity and passion. Skills related to effective motivation include:
Allowing employee autonomy
Asking for input
Assessing interests of staff
Convincing
Mentoring
Open to employee concerns
Persuasive
Providing productive and challenging work
Providing rewards
Recognizing others
Setting effective goals
Team-building
Thanking staff
Understanding employee differences
3. Delegating Leaders who try to take on too many tasks by themselves will struggle to get anything done. These leaders often fear that delegating tasks is a sign of weakness, when in fact it is a sign of a strong leader. Therefore, you need to identify the skills of each of your employees, and assign duties to each employee based on his or her skill set. By delegating tasks to staff members, you can focus on other important tasks. Some skills that make a good delegator include:
Accepting feedback from employees
Allotting resources for employees
Assessing employee strengths and weaknesses
Defining expectations
Evaluating employee performance
Identifying measurable outcomes
Matching the task to the right employee
Prioritizing tasks
Setting expectations
Teamwork
Time management
Training
Trust in employees
4. Positivity A positive attitude can go a long way in an office. You should be able to laugh at yourself when something doesn't go quite as planned; this helps create a happy and healthy work environment, even during busy, stressful periods. Simple acts like asking employees about their vacation plans will develop a positive atmosphere in the office, and raise morale among staff members. If employees feel that they work in a positive environment, they will be more likely to want to be at work, and will therefore be more willing to put in the long hours when needed. Some skills that help make for a positive atmosphere in the workplace include:
Caring
Conflict management
Developing rapport
Diplomacy
Encouraging
Empathetic
Friendliness
Helping others
Humor
Interpersonal
Positive reinforcement
Respect
Social
5. Trustworthiness Employees need to be able to feel comfortable coming to their manager or leader with questions and concerns. It is important for you to demonstrate your integrity – employees will only trust leaders they respect. By being open and honest, you will encourage the same sort of honesty in your employees. Here are some skills and qualities that will help you convey your trustworthiness as a leader:
Ability to apologize
Accountability
Business ethics
Confidentiality
Conscientious
Consistent in behavior towards employees
Credibility
Emotional intelligence
Empathy
Honesty
Integrity
Moral compass
Reliability
Respectfulness
Standing up for what is right
Thoughtful
6. Creativity As a leader, you have to make a number of decisions that do not have a clear answer; you therefore need to be able to think outside of the box. Learning to try nontraditional solutions, or approaching problems in nontraditional ways, will help you to solve an otherwise unsolvable problem. Most employees will also be
impressed and inspired by a leader who doesn't always choose the safe, conventional path. Here are some skills related to creative thinking:
Analytical
Cognitive flexibility
Conceptualization
Critical thinking
Curiosity
Embracing different cultural perspectives
Foresight
Identifying patterns
Imaginative
Innovative
Listening to others’ ideas
Making abstract connections
Observation
Open-mindedness
Problem solving
Sound judgment
Synthesizing
Visionary
7. Feedback Leaders should constantly look for opportunities to deliver useful information to team members about their performance. However, there is a fine line between offering employees advice and assistance, and micromanaging. By teaching employees how to improve their work and make their own decisions, you will feel more confident delegating tasks to your staff. Employees will also respect a leader who provides feedback in a clear but empathetic way. Some skills for giving clear feedback include:
Being open to receiving feedback
Building confidence in employees
Clarity
Clearly laying out expectations
Coaching
Following up
Frequent feedback
Listening to employees’ responses
Mentoring
Positive reinforcement
Providing specific advice
Respectful
8. Responsibility A leader is responsible for both the successes and failures of his or her team. Therefore, you need to be willing to accept blame when something does not go correctly. If your employees see their leader pointing fingers and blaming others, they will lose respect for you. Accept mistakes and failures, and then devise clear solutions for improvement. Here are some skills and qualities that help leaders convey their responsibility:
Acknowledging mistakes
Being open to customer feedback
Evaluating best solutions
Forecasting
Learning from past mistakes
Listening to feedback from employees and managers
Project planning
Reflectiveness
Resolving problems
Transparency
Trouble shooting
9. Commitment It is important for leaders to follow through with what they agree to do. You should be willing to put in the extra hours to complete an assignment; employees will see this commitment and follow your example. Similarly, when you promise your staff a reward, such as an office party, you should always follow through. A leader cannot expect employees to commit to their jobs and their tasks if he or she cannot do the same. Some skills related to commitment in the workplace include:
Applying feedback
Commitment to company objectives
Determination
Embracing professional development
Following through
Keeping promises
Passion
Perseverance
Prioritization
Professionalism
Team player
Work ethic
10. Flexibility Mishaps and last-minute changes always occur at work. Leaders need to be flexible, accepting whatever changes come their way. Employees will appreciate your ability to accept changes in stride and creatively problem solve.
Similarly, leaders must be open to suggestions and feedback. If your staff is dissatisfied with an aspect of the office environment, listen to their concern and be open to making necessary changes. Employees will appreciate a leader's ability to accept appropriate feedback. Skills related to flexibility include:
Ability to learn new skills
Ability to respond to new problems or issues
Adaptability
Improvising
Negotiating
Open to feedback
Recognizing individuals’ strengths and skills
Treating employees as individuals
What are the types of leadership?
Soft Skills List and Examples Soft skills are the personal attributes you need to succeed in the workplace. These are often related to how you work with others – in other words, these are people skills. Soft skills are different from hard skills, which are directly relevant to the job you are applying for. These are often more quantifiable, and easier to learn. A hard skill for a carpenter, for example, might be the ability to operate a power saw or use framing squares. Regardless of the job you're applying for, you need at least some soft skills. Employers want employees who are able to effectively interact with others. These skills are also very hard to teach, so employers want to know that job candidates already have these skills. Below is a list of six important soft skills that most employers look for in employees. It includes lists of related soft skills that employers also tend to seek in job applicants. Develop these skills and emphasize them in job applications, resumes, cover letters, and interviews. The closer a match your credentials are to what the employer is looking for, the better your chances of getting hired.
How to Use Skills Lists You can use the skill words listed below as you search for jobs. For example, include the terms in your resume, especially in the description of your work history. You can also incorporate them into your cover letter.
Mention one or two of the skills mentioned here, and give specific examples of instances when you demonstrated these traits at work. You can also use these words in your interview. Keep the top skills listed here in mind during your interview, and be prepared to give examples of how you've exemplified each. Each job will require different skills and experiences, so make sure you read the job descriptioncarefully, and focus on the skills listed by the employer. Also review our lists of skills listed by job and type of skill.
Top Soft Skills Communication Skills Communication skills are important in almost every job. You will likely need to communicate with people, whether they are clients, customers, colleagues, employers, or vendors. You will need to be able to clearly and politely speak with people in person, over the phone, and in writing. You will also likely need to be a good listener. Employers want employees who can not only communicate their own ideas, but also listen empathetically to others. Listening is a particularly important skill in customer service jobs.
Able to listen Listening Negotiation Nonverbal communication Persuasion Presentation Public speaking Read body language Storytelling Verbal communication Visual communication Writing reports and proposals Writing skills
Critical Thinking No matter what the job, employers want candidates who can analyze a situation and make an informed decision. Whether you are working with data, teaching students, or fixing a home heating system, you need to be able to understand problems, think critically, and come up with solutions. Skills related to critical thinking include creativity, flexibility, and curiosity.
Adaptable Artistic sense Creativity Critical observer Critical thinking Design sense
Desire to learn Flexible Innovator Logical thinking Problem solving Research Resourceful Think outside the box Tolerant of change and uncertainty Troubleshooting Value education Willing to learn
Leadership While not every job opening is a leadership role, most employers will want to know that you have the ability to make decisions when push comes to shove, and manage situations and people. If it is a job that has the potential for advancement, the employer will want to know that you have what it takes to become a leader in the future. Other skills related to leadership include the ability to resolve problems and conflicts between people, and to make executive decisions.
Conflict management Conflict resolution Deal making Decision making Delegation Dispute resolution Facilitating Give clear feedback Inspiring Leadership Management Managing difficult conversations Managing remote teams Managing virtual teams Meeting management Mentoring Motivating Project management Resolving issues Successful coach Supervising Talent management
Positive Attitude Employers are always looking for someone who will bring a positive attitude to the office. They want employees who will be friendly to others, eager to work, and generally a pleasure to be around.
Confident Cooperative Courteous Energetic Enthusiastic Friendly High energy Honest Patient Respectable Respectful Sense of humor Work-life balance
Teamwork Hiring managers look for job candidates who can work well with others. Whether you will be doing a lot of team projects, or simply attending a few department meetings, you need to be able to work effectively with the people around you. You need to be able to work with others even if you do not always see eye to eye. Some skills related to teamwork include the ability to negotiate with others, and to recognize and appreciate diversity and difference in a team. Another related skill is the ability to accept and apply feedback from others.
Accept feedback Collaborative Customer service Deal with difficult situations Deal with office politics Disability awareness Diversity awareness Emotional intelligence Empathetic Establish interpersonal relationships Experience dealing with difficult personalities Intercultural competence Interpersonal skills Influential Networking Persuasive Self-awareness Selling skills Social skills Team building Team player
Work Ethic Employers want job candidates with a strong work ethic. People with a strong work ethic complete tasks on time, stay focused, and stay organized. They are able to budget their time
and complete their work thoroughly. While they can work independently, people with a strong work ethic can also follow instructions. A strong work ethic is difficult to teach, so employers will be impressed if you can demonstrate your strong work ethic in your job application.
Attentive Business ethics Competitive Dedicated Dependable
Follow direction Highly organized Independent Make deadlines Motivated Multitasking Organization Perseverant Persistent Planning Proper business etiquette Punctual Reliable Resilient Results oriented Scheduling Self-directed Self-monitoring Self-supervising Stay on task Strategic planning Time management Trainable Work well under pressure