5 Red Flags to Avoid When Hiring Temporary Staff for High-Touch Roles

We’ve all been there: the restaurant is packed or the cafe is buzzing for Sunday brunch and you’re relying on temporary staff to keep things running smoothly. High-touch, customer facing roles such as servers, brand ambassadors, or front-of-house staff require strong customer connection and a good fit with your team.

Even a small misstep can affect the guest experience, slow down your team, or leave a lasting impression on customers. And when you’re hiring fast, it’s easy to miss warning signs that could signal a poor fit.

To help you hire smarter, here are five red flags to watch for when bringing temporary staff into high-touch roles, and how to catch them early.

Red Flag 1: The “I Can Start Now” Candidate 

One of the first red flags to watch for when hiring temporary staff is a candidate who insists they can start immediately. While it might be tempting to fill a high-touch role quickly, this instant availability can sometimes indicate a recent, sudden departure from their previous role or a pattern of frequent job changes.

For temporary hospitality staff, reliability, consistency, and professionalism are crucial, as these roles involve direct interaction with customers and representing your brand at every touchpoint. Rushing the hiring process without proper vetting can leave you with someone who isn’t fully prepared for the pace, pressure, or emotional demands of customer-facing work. 

When engaging a temporary staff agency or exploring temporary staff recruitment options, it’s essential to request a “soft reference” from a previous manager. Ask targeted questions such as, “Can you describe a time they managed a difficult customer or high-pressure situation? How did they respond?” This approach ensures the temporary staff you bring on board have the right experience, temperament, and skills to maintain the quality of service your team and customers expect. Taking this extra step early on can save headaches later, protect your brand reputation, and make sure your high-touch roles are filled with staff who can perform under pressure from day one.

Red Flag 2: Zero Questions During the Interview 

Another warning sign when hiring temporary staff is a candidate who doesn’t ask a single question during the interview. A lack of curiosity or engagement can signal low investment in the role or your brand. High-touch roles, such as servers, brand ambassadors, or front-of-house staff, require staff who are proactive, attentive, and genuinely interested in understanding your team and customers.

A candidate who doesn’t ask about company culture, peak service times, or team dynamics may be focused purely on the paycheck, rather than on delivering a positive customer experience. When vetting temporary hospitality staff, make it a standard part of the interview process to ask a culture-focused question like, “Which part of our company values or mission resonates most with you?” If they can’t answer or respond vaguely, it’s a strong signal that they might struggle to engage meaningfully with customers and colleagues. Checking for curiosity and investment upfront can save you from bringing on temporary staff who aren’t fully committed to providing the high-touch service your business relies on.

Red Flag 3: The Unexplained (or Vague) Gap in Employment

A CV with unexplained or vague employment gaps can be a major warning sign when hiring temporary staff. Multiple gaps, or brief stints without clear reasoning, can suggest inconsistency or a pattern of short-term roles.

For temporary hospitality staff in high-touch roles, consistency and reliability are non-negotiable. These positions demand staff who can turn up on time, handle customer interactions under pressure, and maintain professional standards regardless of the environment. Instead of simply asking about gaps, focus on behaviour-based questions, such as, “Can you tell me about a time you faced a difficult situation at work and how you handled it?” Their response can reveal accountability, problem-solving skills, and emotional resilience, all critical for roles where customer experience is number one. By digging into how candidates have navigated challenges in previous positions, you can identify temporary staff who are dependable, adaptable, and prepared to maintain your service standards.

Red Flag 4: All About the Logistics, Not the Customers

Another warning sign is when a candidate focuses almost entirely on internal processes, schedules, or operational details, without demonstrating awareness of the people they will serve. While efficiency and organisation are important, high-touch roles are fundamentally about connection and creating positive customer experiences. Someone who treats the role as purely transactional might struggle when a tricky situation comes up, and that can impact both the guest experience and the rest of your team.

If you’re hiring through a temporary staff agency or handling temporary staff recruitment yourself, scenario-based questions are a great way to see how a candidate thinks. For example: “A guest’s order has been delayed, and they’re clearly frustrated—how would you handle it?” You want to see answers that show empathy, problem-solving, and a willingness to go the extra mile. That way, your temporary hospitality staff are actively making sure your guests leave happy. Taking the time to ask these kinds of questions upfront helps you bring on staff who can handle the pace, pressure, and human side of high-touch roles.

Red Flag 5: An Unreliable Agency or Recruitment Partner

Sometimes the concern is not the candidate, but the temporary staff agency itself. If a partner resists standard vetting procedures, such as reference checks, skill assessments, or background screenings, or provides unclear pricing, this may indicate a prioritisation of speed over quality.

Always request written confirmation of the checks a temporary staff agency has completed. If an agency cannot provide this, it may be necessary to consider alternative temporary staff recruitment partners. Ensuring the agency conducts thorough vetting reduces the risk of bringing on staff who are unprepared for customer-facing responsibilities and protects your brand reputation from the outset.

How Sidekicker Can Help

Hiring the right temporary staff for high-touch roles doesn’t have to be stressful. With Sidekicker, you can access a network of pre-vetted, experienced temporary hospitality staff who are ready to hit the ground running from day one. Whether you’re working with a temporary staff agency or managing temporary staff recruitment yourself, Sidekicker makes it easy to find staff who are reliable, skilled, and aligned with your service standards. Our platform streamlines the entire hiring process, helps you avoid common red flags, and ensures your team and your customer, always get the service they expect.

By keeping an eye out for the five red flags, you can avoid costly mistakes and protect your brand reputation. Taking the time to vet properly, ask the right questions, and work with trusted temporary staff agencies or platforms like Sidekicker ensures you bring on people who are reliable, capable, and ready to deliver exceptional service.

References:  

1. https://flexistaff.com.au/hiring-temporary-employees-dos-and-donts/
2. https://innovationuae.com/top-5-mistakes-employers-make-when-hiring-temporary-workers/ 

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