How to Hire Hospitality Staff Fast Without Compromising on Quality

In hospitality, you don’t get the flexibility of taking weeks to hire. One staff member calls in sick, and your whole service can spiral. You’re constantly juggling rosters, covering last-minute shifts, and trying to find reliable people who can walk in and just hit the ground running.

But, speed shouldn’t come at the cost of quality. Rushed hiring often leads to the wrong fit, no-shows, or team burnout, all of which cost you more time and money in the long run.

So, how do you hire hospitality staff quickly without lowering the bar?

In this guide, we’ll walk through the tools, strategies, and mindset shifts that help you move fast, stay flexible, and maintain high standards, whether you're hiring casual bar staff for the weekend or building out a dream team for peak season.

Let’s get into it.

Define What “Quality” Means for You

Hiring fast starts with clarity. If you know exactly what kind of person you’re looking for, you can spot them quicker.

Start by asking:

• What experience is essential? (e.g. barista skills, RSA, POS systems)
• What kind of personality fits your team? (friendly and outgoing? calm and focused?)
• What are your deal breakers? (lateness, poor attitude, lack of initiative)

Make a quick checklist. This becomes your filter for screening applications fast, or use platforms like Sidekicker, which does the screening for you.

Tips to spot quality candidates quickly:

• Ask for real examples: “Tell me about a time you handled a difficult customer.”
• Look for signs of reliability: consistent work history, punctuality
• Test their skills briefly, where possible: a quick trial shift or skill test can save headaches
• Check references if time allows, or rely on platform ratings and feedback

Pro tip: If you're hiring temporary hospitality staff, flexibility and reliability are often more valuable than experience.

Build a Bench of Pre-Vetted Talent

Starting from scratch every time you need someone? That’s a recipe for stress.

Instead, create a roster of go-to workers you can call on when things get busy. These might include:

• Previous staff who’ve moved on but are happy to pick up occasional shifts
• High-performers from peak season who you’d gladly rehire
• Temp staff, you’ve had a great experience with

Some platforms, like Sidekicker, allow you to favourite or rebook past workers so you’re not always rolling the dice on someone new.

Don’t Underestimate Temporary Hospitality Staff

Need someone on the floor tomorrow night? That’s where temporary staff shine.

Hiring temporary hospitality staff lets you:

• Cover sudden absences without panic
• Respond to spikes in demand (think events, public holidays, footy finals)
• Test out roles or individuals before committing to a longer-term hire

It’s a flexible way to keep everything running smoothly, especially if your regular team is stretched thin.

Prioritise Reliability and Work Ethic Over Years of Experience

It’s tempting to zero in on candidates with the most years behind the bar, but fast, quality hiring is often about mindset and attitude.

Ask yourself:

• Are they reliable?
• Do they show initiative?
• Will they respect your team culture?

You can train someone to carry three plates, but you can’t teach work ethic. Platforms like Sidekicker include performance ratings and feedback history, so you can spot reliable workers before they even walk through your door.

Review and Rate Your Hires

Every shift is a learning opportunity. After each hire, take a few minutes to:

• Rate the staff member (if your platform allows it)
• Record notes on what worked/didn’t
• Decide whether you’d rebook them

This small habit helps you refine your hiring process over time and build a pool of reliable hospitality staff you can call on again and again.

Don’t Wait Until You’re Desperate

One of the biggest mistakes in hospitality recruitment is waiting until you’re already understaffed to start hiring. That’s a recipe for disaster!

Instead, plan ahead by:

• Looking at past sales data to forecast peak periods
• Booking extra support staff for big weekends or events
• Keeping an “on-call” list of casuals who can step in if needed

Even having two or three pre-screened names in your back pocket can make all the difference when things get hectic.

Communicate Clear Expectations — Early

Fast hires don’t mean vague expectations.

The most common complaints from temporary staff?

• Not knowing what the job actually involved
• Being given poor instructions
• Feeling unsupported during the shift

All of these issues are easily fixed with a quick message or pre-shift briefing. Set your new team members up for success by telling them:

• What they’ll be doing
• What success looks like (e.g. speed, service style, upselling)
• Who can they ask for help

The clearer you are upfront, the better your shift will run.

Speed Up Onboarding and Training

Hiring fast isn’t just about finding candidates; it’s about getting them ready to work ASAP. Here are some simple ways to help them hit the ground running.

• Prepare a simple welcome pack with your venue’s basics
• Use quick induction videos or checklists to cover health & safety, POS systems, and customer service standards
• Assign a buddy or mentor on their first shift
• Provide clear shift goals and give constructive feedback right away

This approach means your new hires feel confident, supported, and can perform at their best, fast.

Lean on Hospitality-Focused Recruitment Platforms

Sure, Seek and Indeed are fine for long-term hiring, but when you need immediate help, you need something faster, smarter, and more specific to hospitality.

Sidekicker is built for hospitality venues that need:

• Skilled front- and back-of-house staff
• Pre-vetted, available workers
• Easy shift posting and worker ratings
• Reliable communication, compliance, and support

Whether you’re managing one café or multiple venues, it takes the stress out of hospitality hiring.

Speed and quality don’t have to be opposing forces. With the right approach, planning, and tools, you can hire hospitality staff fast without compromising on the standards your venue is known for. 

Focus on clear role definitions, build your talent pool, set clear expectations and choose platforms designed for hospitality recruitment, and you’ll be ready for whatever comes your way.

Ready to stop stressing over last-minute hiring and start building a reliable, skilled team fast? Get ahead of the rush, keep your standards high, and keep your venue running smoothly with Sidekicker by your side. Start hiring smarter today.