When you work at a large hotel, it’s easy to blend in or lose a little visibility. There are likely many other people who perform the same functions you do, and your managers see a lot of faces every day. You’re just one person in a crowd of employees, and it may be challenging to get noticed or have your achievements, thoughts, and daily performance recognized. But in order to advance in your career, you have to make a name for yourself and earn managers’ recognition and respect.
Here are some things you can do to make a good impression at work and stand out against a sea of other staff members:
1. Excel at your job
As you might expect, you have to be good at your job in order to get noticed. While that’s typical advice for any position, the bar may be set a little higher at a large hotel because you’ll be compared against several other people who can fulfill the same role. Also, a large property generally doesn’t have slow times the way a smaller, less busy hotel might, so there’s less leeway for any team member to drop the ball. Make sure you perform all your duties promptly and with attention to detail. If your work is consistently excellent, your managers will come to recognize you as someone they can count on.
2. Be helpful to guests
If you work in a guest-facing role, helping guests is already part of your standard job description, but the importance of providing great service can’t be overemphasized. Satisfied guests will sometimes let your manager know that you made their stay a success. Even if guests don’t leave feedback, managers pick up on which employees reliably keep guests happy.
3. Volunteer for optional assignments
If your manager’s looking for people to stay late and help with a banquet, be the first person to volunteer. If there’s extra work needed for a marketing plan, offer to start on it. Don’t wait for other people to step up and claim assignments. If you don’t express any interest in extra work, managers may assume you aren’t willing to expand your role. But if you frequently offer to help before anyone asks, your managers will notice your enthusiasm and will probably consider you for opportunities to advance and take on more responsibilities.
4. Know everyone’s name
If you greet other team members by name, they are likely to reciprocate and learn your name as well. Try to learn the names of most people you see at work, including those who work in different departments and say hi to them when possible. You’ll become known as a friendly person who cares about your coworkers. With time, you may even stand out as the team member who always knows who to contact in each department and who can introduce new employees to other people.
5. Get good at small talk
Suppose you and a manager end up standing next to each other in an elevator or walking down a hallway with nothing, in particular, to talk about. Do you make a brief comment about the weather and then turn silent? Or do you use this opportunity to chat about an upcoming event in the hotel or other happenings in your city? Employees who are skilled at small talk stand out because supervisors feel like they get to know them. Small talk can also help you establish a rapport with someone who could become a mentor or who could recommend you for a new position. If you’re not sure what to discuss, try to think of some non-controversial, accessible topics such as a local sports team or big news stories happening in your industry (the latter will also show that you know what’s going on in the hotel world and keep up with news and trends).
6. Ask for feedback
Most employees are happy to receive a compliment on their job performance; fewer ask for constructive criticism. Sincerely asking your manager about ways you can improve, and then, most importantly, acting on that feedback, shows that you’re serious about learning and growing.