Attitude vs. Experience: Which Matters More in Hospitality Hiring?
In a perfect world, every hospitality job applicant would come with years of experience and a positive, team-first attitude. But let’s be real: that unicorn candidate is rare. So when you’re choosing between someone with deep industry experience and someone with no resume—but tons of enthusiasm—who wins? It’s the classic attitude vs. experience dilemma, and it’s especially relevant in hospitality, where soft skills often make or break guest experiences.
Let’s break down why attitude may deserve more credit—and how to hire smarter because of it.
What Experience Brings to the Table
There’s no denying that experience matters. Someone who’s worked in restaurants or hotels before understands industry lingo, how to manage a rush, and how to juggle tasks without dropping the ball. According to Harvard Business Review, experience can lead to faster onboarding and more immediate contributions.
But experience alone doesn’t guarantee success—especially if it comes with bad habits, ego, or resistance to feedback.
Why Attitude Might Matter More
A great attitude can’t be trained, but skills often can. In hospitality, where team dynamics and guest satisfaction are everything, a positive, proactive mindset is gold. People with the right attitude are open to learning, eager to contribute, and more likely to build long-term loyalty.
According to Psychology Today, employers who prioritize mindset tend to build more collaborative, adaptable teams—especially in customer-facing industries.
So if you’re stuck choosing between attitude vs. experience, remember: it’s often easier to teach someone how to run the POS system than it is to teach them not to snap at a guest.
What to Prioritize in Hospitality Roles
- Front-of-house: Attitude is king. You can teach someone how to carry a tray or run a host stand, but charm and patience are harder to build from scratch.
- Back-of-house: Experience plays a bigger role here, especially in high-volume kitchens. But a teachable, team-oriented attitude still goes a long way.
- Management: Ideally, look for both—but leadership ability often stems from communication style and emotional intelligence, not just tenure.
Final Thought
The attitude vs. experience debate doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer—but leaning too hard on resumes can make you miss out on fantastic future talent. Look for potential, energy, and personality—then support them with great training.
At StaffedUp, we help hospitality employers go beyond resumes and focus on who applicants really are. Our platform makes it easy to spot the standout personalities that fit your team, even if they’re just getting started. Ready to hire people who actually show up, contribute, and care? Check us out.
