Sidekick Spotlight: 600 Shifts, 5 Stars, 100% Reliability – How Antonino Mastered Modern Hospitality
What does it take to stand out in the competitive world of hospitality?
For Antonino La Rosa, the answer is simple: love, discipline, and a philosophy of mutual respect.
Originally from Italy, Antonino grew up in a hospitality family before moving to Australia in 2015. Holding a degree in Electronics Engineering and spending five years working in IT, the pull of his roots was too strong. He returned to the industry he loved, and today, he has over 18 years of experience under his belt.
Now, Antonino is hitting a massive milestone: 600 shifts completed on Sidekicker, all while maintaining a flawless 5-star rating and a perfect reliability score.
We sat down with Antonino to talk about his journey, his philosophy on high-quality service, and how on-demand work has unlocked a level of freedom he never thought possible.
From the IT Office Back to the Hospitality Floor
Antonino first discovered Sidekicker during the pandemic while working at a traditional restaurant. He noticed something eye-opening: the casual runners brought in through Sidekicker were earning more for the day than the permanent waiters employed by the company.
Realizing that the traditional industry structures weren't fully recognizing his potential, Antonino decided to go solo.
"I thought that moving around could open up a huge number of opportunities, so I went solo. And I was completely right," Antonino says.
Since making the switch, Antonino has become a go-to Sidekick for Melbourne’s most exclusive venues and high-profile events. His resume reads like an event coordinator's dream: serving drinks inside a converted heritage tram, working private, invitation-only billionaire clubs, and looking after various VIPs, including the Italian National Swimming team during the 2022 FINA World Swimming Championships.
One memory stands out in particular. When a notable exhibition and convention centre needed staff to serve their own CEO, they hand-picked Antonino to carry out the responsibilities.
"Considering the huge amount of internal workforce available to such a big venue, I felt extremely honored," he recalls. "Maybe a little bit special too. "
The Secret to a Perfect 5-Star Profile: The "Mutual Love" Theory
Maintaining a perfect reliability rating over hundreds of shifts isn't an accident. It requires a specific mindset. For Antonino, success comes down to a self-made rule he calls his "mutual love" theory.
"I continuously preach my very own 'mutual love' theory: I’ll have a chance to go back to a workplace only if I deliver at the top level, because the competition is high and every shift might be the last one. At the same time, I will ask to go back to work for a company only if they treat me right. So they have to do their best with me every single time, too."
This mutual respect is exactly why businesses love hiring through Sidekicker. They aren't just getting casual labour; they are accessing dedicated, self-motivated professionals who treat every shift like a premium audition.
Unlocking True Career Flexibility
For job seekers and Working Holiday Visa (WHV) holders, Antonino’s story is a masterclass in how to build a lifestyle around your work, rather than building your life around your work.
The biggest perk for him? True autonomy.
"When I go on holiday, I don’t have to ask for permission," he laughs.
Furthermore, Sidekicker’s nationwide footprint offers a unique advantage for travelers looking to explore Australia.
"Sidekicker can allow you to explore Australia at your own pace. When you relocate, you just update your location on the app and you can still look for shifts in your surroundings without losing all your past work. Absolutely brilliant, especially for Working Holiday Visa holders."
Unlike traditional recruitment agencies that lock workers into rigid minimum hours or spam them with constant messages, Sidekicker allows talent to engage on their own terms.
Antonino’s Advice for the New Sidekicks
For those looking to follow in his 5-star footsteps, Antonino offers some incredibly practical advice:
- Look for the Lightning: "If you can’t get your first shifts, try to look for the lightning icon because in this case, you will get automatically accepted."
- Earn Your Stripes: "Stay on the lookout for shifts that are less appealing like the early morning ones, the very short ones, or the far ones."
- Check Your Attitude: "Hospitality is not for everybody. Thinking 'Oh, I’ll get this shift because I need money even though I don’t like this job' won’t get you far. The floor will quickly reveal it."
Life Beyond the Shift
When he isn’t busy executing flawless event service, Antonino lives a rich, culturally diverse life in Melbourne. Influenced by his European roots, he has a passion for art, architecture, and interior design. He reads the news daily across three different languages, sips tea multiple times a day, and tracks down the city's best international street festivals.
He’s also an avid traveler and collector of international coins. Having recently spent an entire month slow-traveling through Shanghai, Antonino is already mapping out his next grand global adventure for 2027—all made possible by the financial freedom and flexibility of his Sidekicker lifestyle.
Ready to experience the Sidekicker difference?
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