7 Job Posting Ideas for Attracting Hospitality Talent

Attracting qualified professionals can be a daunting task for many hospitality businesses. With the industry constantly facing labor shortages, hiring managers and employers should strongly consider thinking outside the box when it comes to job posting ideas for hospitality. 

In this guide, we’ll explore some creative strategies (besides the more standard pointers) to help you stand out in the crowded job market and engage with a wider talent pool. 

That way, you can increase your chances of attracting the best applicants to fill those vacant positions — whether you’re hiring for a restaurant, hotel or some other hospitality business.

1. Incorporate Eye-Catching Images and Graphics

In a world where first impressions matter, the visual presentation of your job posting can make a significant difference — especially if it’s on social media. Use high-quality images or graphics to break up text and make your job posting more visually appealing. 

Consider creating custom graphics that showcase your brand identity and company culture. For instance, you can include photos of your establishment/s or employees in their work settings. 

Don’t have an in-house graphic designer or photos readily available? Fret not because here are some online resources you can use either for free or at a minimal cost. 

• Canva: Has pre-made templates ideal for job postings, as well as photos and graphics; also comes with a premium version for those who want to access even more materials or integrate their own brand assets
• Unsplash: Various stock imagery (such as 3D renders, textures, patterns and photos) that are all completely free
• Pixels: Offers paintings, photos, illustrations, digital art and mixed media from independent artists; also has unique pieces available for a fairly low cost 
• Landscape: Free and user-friendly tool for quickly resizing social media images to fit various platform requirements

2. Create Short yet Engaging Video Content

One of the most creative job posting ideas for hospitality would be to produce attention-grabbing videos advertising your job openings. You can post these across multiple channels, from your company’s career page to its social media accounts on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn. 

By sharing these videos online, you can create a strong visual impact and more likely capture the interest of potential applicants. Below are some video concepts worth considering: 

• Employee testimonials: Post a short video featuring current employees discussing what they love about working for your company. This authentic perspective can be incredibly powerful in attracting like-minded individuals.
• “Day in the Life” short series: This one’s a more specific take on the previous point. You can produce a series of videos where current employees provide a glimpse into a typical workday. This gives potential applicants a realistic preview of what it’s like to work in various roles within your organization.
• Spotlight on company culture: Your company’s mission, vision and core values can be a major selling point for job seekers. For instance, your videos can feature footage from team-building events and celebrations. Alternatively, it can include a heartfelt message from leadership combined with scenes of teamwork and guest interactions.
• Showcase of awards and recognition: If your company has received awards for workplace excellence or industry recognition, you might want to highlight these achievements in your job posting videos, too.

3. Utilize Specialized Job Boards

While general job boards have their place, focusing on industry-specific job boards can yield better results for hospitality positions. These platforms often attract candidates who are already passionate about the field and possess relevant skills and experience.

OysterLink is an excellent example as it’s one of the fastest-growing hospitality job boards. Here, you can browse through over 45,000 jobs (and counting!) from various top-tier employers ranging from restaurant brands to hotel and event companies.  

4. Leverage Employee Advocacy

Empower your current staff to become “employer brand ambassadors” by inviting them to share active job postings on their personal social media accounts. This strategy taps into their networks and can help you reach passive job seekers who may not be actively searching for new opportunities.

To incentivize participation, consider implementing a referral program that rewards employees for successful hires. This approach not only expands your reach but also tends to result in higher-quality candidates and improved retention rates.

5. Emphasize Professional Development Opportunities

Here’s another thing worth adding to your list of job posting ideas for hospitality: highlighting the growth opportunities available within your company. After all, many hospitality professionals are looking for careers, not just jobs. 

Career paths

One way to go about this would be to share the success stories of employees who have advanced through the ranks. For example, do you have a Hotel Manager who started out with the company as a Concierge? 

This will give job seekers a better idea of what a potential career progression within your company looks like. At the same time, it demonstrates your company’s commitment to internal promotion and long-term employee development. 

Training programs

If your company offers specialized training or mentorship programs, make sure to feature these in your job postings. This can include a culinary apprenticeship for aspiring Chefs or a certification workshop tailored for front desk staff.

These programs will show job seekers that your company invests in employees’ professional growth. At the same time, it will increase your chances of attracting more ambitious, career-driven applicants. 

6. Launch a Dedicated Careers Podcast

Podcasts have long been a widely popular medium. In fact, a recent survey shows that 67% of U.S. consumers have listened to audio podcasts in 2024. This is up from 64% in the previous year.

That said, a careers podcast is another among the more unique and innovative job posting ideas for hospitality. It allows you to produce content in a more personal and relatable format that job seekers can conveniently consume during commutes or downtime. 

Your company’s careers podcast can include brief segments that promote job openings and provide listeners with information about how to apply. 

Besides this, it can feature segments that cover our previously mentioned recommendations like featuring employees’ stories and career growth opportunities. 

You can also use it as an opportunity to position your company as a thought leader by discussing trends in hospitality, offering advice to professionals and showcasing how your organization stays ahead of the curve.

7. Engage With Professional Associations

A handful of hospitality professionals are members of industry associations. That said, partnering with such organizations can provide valuable opportunities and access to skilled talent. You can use these to boost your job postings’ visibility through their networks, events and publications.

Examples of notable professional associations in the hospitality industry include:

• American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA): AHLA offers a wide range of networking opportunities, events and job boards that cater specifically to U.S.-based hotel professionals. 
• National Restaurant Association (NRA): With a focus on the food service sector, the NRA provides access to a large network of restaurant professionals. Utilize their events, such as conferences and expos, to promote your job postings to a focused audience.
• Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA): If your business is involved in events or convention management, PCMA’s extensive network is a great resource for finding and reaching out to experienced would-be applicants.

Final Tips for Implementing Job Posting Ideas for Hospitality 

Now that you have several strategies to attract top hospitality talent, it’s important to consider the best ways to implement them effectively. 

Below are three important reminders to help you optimize your job postings and ensure they resonate with the right job seekers.

1. Optimize for mobile devices. Most hospitality job postings nowadays are online, with many job seekers browsing and applying for positions directly from their smartphones. That said, ensure job postings are mobile-friendly by using short paragraphs, bullet points and easily scannable sections.
2. Experiment with different formats. Don’t be afraid to break away from traditional job posting formats. Try presenting information in a creative layout, such as a timeline of a typical workday or a visual representation of career progression within your organization.
3. Ensure your employer brand messaging is consistent across all channels, whether you’re posting jobs on social media, your company site or platforms like OysterLink. This is crucial to creating a strong, recognizable identity that resonates with potential applicants. 

Conclusion

By implementing one (or all) of these job posting ideas for hospitality, you can significantly boost your chances of attracting top talent. 

Remember — the key is to stand out from the competition, showcase what makes your organization unique and create a compelling narrative that resonates with potential candidates. 

With creativity, authenticity and a strategic approach, you can build a strong pipeline of qualified applicants and secure the talent needed to drive your hospitality business forward.