the right reason . No matter what job someone ’ s applying for I always ask ,“ Why do you want to work here ?” The answer sets the tone for me .
I ’ m usually the last interview , so I always like to check in with who they ’ ve chatted with before . My second question is : “ I know you already chatted with — let ’ s say — Melanie . What was that conversation like ? What did you guys talk about ?” I want to just make sure they are comfortable and they listened . You usually hear a hesitation from them quickly and I think it ’ s important that we always go with our guts . If we feel their heart ’ s not in it , making it work will be difficult on them and on the department they are joining .
Pulse : How are you finding job candidates these days ? MM : One of our tactics in the past couple of years has been going to area high schools , massage schools , universities and colleges — getting ahead of recruitment . We go to recruitment fairs . In the past we really didn ’ t have to , but the rules have changed . Not only are we interviewing them , they ’ re interviewing us . If we ’ re going to the
massage schools , we ’ re bringing our massage manager with us . If we are going to the job fairs at a local high school , we ’ ll have a table and bring a nutritionist and somebody from the salon . We ’ re showing off that we ’ re not just a hotel . We also offer massage , Chinese medicine , beauty services , the long list goes on .
Ingredient # 2 : Tools — The Right Culture
Pulse : Colleagues in the industry say they are having trouble retaining employees . Canyon Ranch has typically had a lower-than-average turnover rate . What does your employee turnover and retention look like now ? MM : Luckily for us , we have low turnover in many of our departments , especially in massage , health and performance , outdoor sports and fitness . We still have six-plus colleagues who have been here from the beginning [ 35 years ], which is amazing . Rooms division , food and beverage and housekeeping are always the departments where we see the most turnover . Our turnover fluctuates because we also hire for summer , so it is a little bit skewed with our seasonal positions .
“ Not only are we interviewing them , they ’ re interviewing us .”
— MINDI MORIN
JUNE 2024 n PULSE 41