ServingSouthernComfort
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- Aug 4, 2011
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Goodness Seashanty =( It's all good. I think you have misunderstood me - I wasn't running any of you down. I think most I have met here are lovely people who are honestly trying to help!! Keep the truth coming. And I will speak the truth in return. I appreciate you for calling me out and giving me the opportunity to clarify for anyone else who took this differently than I intended and might become offended.Awww man! NO WAAY! Now that is just wrong. What B&B community are you making reference to so we can avoid them? That is sad that the other proprietors were in on it.this is soo true had a small hotel they had all people in for interview and had to do a presentation of what they would do with the place to turn it round and bring a printed copy with them they never hired anyone and just used all the ideas. It was a nasty turn and the hotel, B&B community is very close knit and everyone knew about it.You, my dear, are priceless! And I am so glad to be getting to know you!OK, I am your prospective employer. After a nice meet and greet, probably over drinks (how well do they hold their alcohol, do they drink to excess?) we'd talk about the day to day operations (are they taking notes, nodding like they agree, asking pertinent questions, showing they 'get it') and I'd let you know what time I expected to see you in the morning. 6 AM. Ready to rock n roll.
On the first morning I would expect you to watch and ask questions. We would take you thru the day as we handle it and expect more questions and possibly some observations on how you think this might be done better this way, have we tried it that way?
On the second day you would be cooking the breakfast so I would expect you to be asking to see the fridge and taking stock of what you need to buy to make that breakfast and handing off a shopping list to the present cook. I would also expect that by this time you would have already made yourself knowledgeable about what it is we do serve and not prepare something totally out of the ordinary or something that could not be repeated within the budget constraints. (So you should have asked about the budget beforehand.)
I'd be interested in your phone manner, how you handle check-ins, your design abilities if you are in charge of florals and room decorating. I'd have a series of 'how would you handle this?' queries. (I can say breakfast is 'take it or leave it' I would not expect an employee to do the same.)
If your responsibilities include marketing I'd expect to see an example of what you think needs to be done to increase room revenues and how you would do that and why you think that would work in this area.
How will you handle my tempermental cook? Does s/he have carte blanche in the kitchen or will you micro/manage?
Gardener? What plans do you have for the gardener?
On to room cleaning. I will expect to see you clean rooms. I will check to see if you are thorough. If I am not going to be an onsite owner, then you will need to either be doing the work or responsible for training. What kind of budget have you worked out for hiring seasonal employees?
Generally, I expect you to be totally conversant with our website, out guest policies, our blog. You need to know something about the area. (research in advance.)
I would expect you to approach us on what leeway you will have, what leeway you want, what you feel comfortable taking over, what you are not comfortable with. Not that you won't learn those things, but that right now you'd prefer to take our lead.
And. seriously, if you will have a chef for five rooms and a gardener the employers obviously have money that is not coming from the room rentals unless the rooms are going for $300+..
Whether our potential employers have money, like a lot of money, I do not know; but I do know that the rooms DO NOT go for $300. A landscaper who comes on 2-3 times a year does not constitute a "gardener" in my eyes. I will be able to contract a chef if I have large enough group to warrant one.
A lot of what you have suggested here in a round about way answers my question of what to bring. For example: I have wondered if it would be appropriate to bring some marketing suggestions. I have time to create a couple of things specific to this B&B and so I think I'll do that and take it with me. If the right opportunity opens, then I'll have it at my fingertips.
D has a degree in History - he loves it. So he has been actively learning all he can about the rich history that is there.
.That's a great way to NOT get the job. I would never give out marketing tips in an interview. Why do they need you then?ServingSouthernComfort said:A lot of what you have suggested here in a round about way answers my question of what to bring. For example: I have wondered if it would be appropriate to bring some marketing suggestions. I have time to create a couple of things specific to this B&B and so I think I'll do that and take it with me. If the right opportunity opens, then I'll have it at my fingertips.
And if they do hire you, and have already implemented your ideas, they will NOT remember they came from you. They will just look at what has improved since you started. DO NOT DO THIS
They may make a lot of money on functions with the B&B as more of a side line if it appears they have money to spend for a chef and staff.
We are currently a two room inn and make more money on our wine tours than the inn.
An idea (DO NOT GIVE THIS OUT IN YOUR INTERVIEW) if your DH is a history nut you could have him do walking tours. I'd create his own business and have it as an amenitiy add on to help book the rooms, but don't give them the money. Pocket it yourself.
Like others have learned, though, find out if they have been having high turnover. That's a bad sign.
RIki
Riki
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To listen to y'all - B&B people are just about the most untrustworthy, slimy, unfair, penny-pinching bunch of people in the world. I know it isn't so - but if someone was to come in here unaware - I'm just sayin'... It is indeed some of what attracts us to y'all, though.
Just a side note: I am celebrating your "No exploding toilets yet today" day with you!! woohoo!
.What a statement!!ServingSouthernComfort said:To listen to y'all - B&B people are just about the most untrustworthy, slimy, unfair, penny-pinching bunch of people in the world. I know it isn't so - but if someone was to come in here unaware - I'm just sayin'...
'B&B people' are just like all other people you've met in the business world. All kinds. Great and not so good. There are owners and innkeepers and owner/innkeepers. And the B&B people on this forum are the most generous bunch I've met.
They are very wise and are just urging a healthy dose of caution and skepticism. Filling you in on real life experiences and scenarios. What good would it do you to just to say KUDO's to you and congratulations?
Isn't that what you came here for?
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I said:
" .....I know it isn't so - but if someone was to come in here unaware" I said it with a half smile on my face.
It is the truth because INNspiring isn't sugar coating things - because INNspiring isn't making things seem what they are not. And because of this it would be easy for someone to peak in, read the messages, and RUN. I'm not running, Seashanty. I can wade through the BS and identify those who are just ticked off at life in general and therefore see life through the veil of their own darkness, and those who are sharing the truth. Eg had brought a good point, giving a good example of the slimeyness that is out there - fact. There are lots of stories out that like it.
I totally agree with you that, " 'B&B people' are just like all other people you've met in the business world. All kinds. Great and not so good."