Finding Star Students to Work at Your Hotel in a Recessionary Period

Years of research have shown that during times of economic turmoil, more people go to state and community colleges. Conversely, when the economy is better, people go to four-year universities more often.

Trends aside, you should be thinking about how you’re going to find those star students that you will need for entry-level jobs regardless of how the economy looks in six months to a year.

Pay attention to enrollment trends, and don’t forget about career fairs

It may be that the typical student body at your local college or university changes over time, and that will obviously impact the quality of students that you get if and when they apply.

Higher education enrollment has rebounded somewhat, but fewer students are choosing to go to college than in decades past because of birth rates and a myriad of other factors, including the ballooning cost.

Regardless of the state of the economy, there will be students who are going to college in pursuit of the jobs they are interested in. If you’re not going to career fairs, you can and should still do so wherever the economy happens to be.

You may hear about these from the universities themselves or from other places like a local chamber of commerce. Universities are economic engines for their community in many cases, and a state’s economy depends on the jobs that college graduates find once they cross the stage.

Ask for student employees at your local institution

April is National Student Employment Week and there are hundreds of institutions in the United States that depend on them for myriad tasks in departments large and small alike.

Higher education staff would be happy to connect you with star student employees, and you should look for them because many will jump at the chance to speak with an employer who may hire them once they graduate.

They may also appreciate a chance to have an internship to continue their employment. Many students work not because they just need to pass the time but because they and their families have bills to pay. You can’t control their situation, but you can control how you approach them regarding a job opportunity.

Look at the community college level

Community colleges nationwide are seeing an increase in enrollment. According to Community College Daily, experts saw similar growth in 2024.

You will undoubtedly be able to find star students at the community college level, but doing so is a bit different than you might expect since, many times, a two-year institution serves a very different population than its four-year counterparts.

What that means from a recruiting lens is that you’ll need to be more creative about where you place your branding and why. You’re often dealing with older students or students who are already working, and the specter of having a job in the hospitality industry with some room to grow might intrigue them.

Look for graduate students

These folks are older, and the difference between them and most undergraduates will be clear. Given the circumstances, many of them might have already worked and would welcome a career change.

Others would like to move up or better position themselves for future jobs. For many years, businesses in the private sector have made a point of finding and hiring students with an MBA to fill certain roles at their companies.

The lesser-known MPA program that many schools have could be a good fit. The classes and work are tied to public facing jobs in the public sector, and you might find people who are interested in public service that might scratch that itch working with guests at a hotel.