Let’s talk about hospitality recruitment – why it needs to change

For decades, hospitality businesses relied on a steady stream of experienced talent. But today’s market is candidate-driven, and top professionals know their worth. They’re not just looking for any job – they want career growth, purpose and the right cultural fit.  

With only 30% of potential candidates actively seeking new roles, traditional, non-exclusive recruitment methods overlook the hidden talent pool that exclusive or retained search services can access. 

Despite this, many businesses still engage multiple recruiters, assuming competition will lead to faster and cheaper hires. In reality, this creates a spray-and-pray mentality, where recruiters prioritise speed over quality, cutting corners to be the first to submit candidates – rather than focusing on finding the best.  

In my nearly 20 years in agency recruitment, I’ve seen firsthand how this model forces recruiters to juggle 15-20+ roles at a time just to make it commercially viable, lucky to fill one in four roles. In doing so, they do a disservice to themselves, their clients, their candidates and the recruitment profession.  

Let me explain. 

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When you give a vacancy to three recruiters…

…you’re effectively giving each recruiter a third of your commitment – or even less if you’re also recruiting for the role yourself. So why would any of them give you their full commitment and best efforts in return? 

Any astute recruiter will quickly realise they’re in competition – because the market talks. Active candidates, registered with multiple agencies, will inevitably be approached for the same role by different recruiters or apply to different job ads for what turns out to be the same position. 

It’s confusing, messy, and discouraging – and no one looks good. 

Recruiters working in competition prioritise speed over quality, focusing only on the low-hanging fruit – the active 30% of the talent pool. They don’t have the time, resources or incentive to dig deeper, nurture passive talent or provide tailored, strategic hiring solutions. 

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Why you should go exclusive or retained

At THE MONDAY GROUP, we’ve been pioneers of exclusive and retained search in the hospitality sector since 2017. By 2024, around 50% of our hospitality recruitment work has transitioned to the retained model – with a 90% success rate. 

Unlike multi-agency recruitment, which is driven by quick wins and minimal investment, exclusive and retained partnerships allow us to: 

• Access passive talent: The 70% of professionals who aren’t actively job-hunting but are open to the right opportunity. 
• Deliver higher-quality hires: Through strategic headhunting, market mapping and personal outreach. 
• Enhance your employer brand: By providing a seamless, professional candidate experience, rather than overwhelming top talent with conflicting messages from multiple recruiters. 

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What you need to know about retained search

Retained search isn’t for everyone. It’s best suited to businesses that: 

1. Prioritise quality over speed. 
2. Understand the importance of employer brand. 
3. Want to secure the best talent – not just the first available. 

One key difference? Retained search typically involves a split fee, usually with one-third payable upon commencement of work, non-refundable. 

This upfront commitment allows recruiters to invest the time, resources and expertise needed to find and engage top candidates, rather than relying on rushed, surface-level searches. 

Without this commitment, you won’t get the level of dedication and service you actually need – or expect. 

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It’s time to raise the bar

Hospitality recruitment in Australia needs to change – for the benefit of employers, candidates and even our competitors. 

It’s time to move away from the transactional, multi-agency model and invest in strategic, high-quality recruitment that delivers better results for everyone. 

For businesses seeking high performers or rare talent, or those competing in a talent-starved market, exclusive and retained recruitment is the way forward. 

If you’re ready to rethink how you hire, let’s talk. 

Because the best talent deserves the best approach. 

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Why work with THE MONDAY GROUP?

At THE MONDAY GROUP, our consultants don’t juggle 20+ roles a day – we take on a select number of searches at a time. 

This allows us to take a strategic, dedicated approach to every search, ensuring your hiring needs get the time, focus and expertise they deserve. 

Want to know more? Get in touch with our team today.