Fifty is the new Thirty?
Many of my compatriots in the hotel industry are getting, let’s say, rather long in the tooth. “If you remember the 1960’s you weren’t there man” they whisper. But, a quick look at one’s birth certificate and a peek in the mirror reminds us that we were most certainly there.
Ten Reasons why you didn’t get the job
Ten Reasons why you didn’t get the job – Stephen Hickmore. Originally published in Chef! Magazine
Ten Reasons why you didn’t get the job
By Stephen Hickmore – I hear the disappointment in a candidate’s voice when I tell them they did not get the job. The down side of being a recruiter is delivering this bad news. It’s understandable that negative news hurts and natural to feel rejected, but the important thing is to learn from the disappointment and become a better job applicant.
No Tolerance for Food Allergies
By Stephen Hickmore
When I started working in hotels, somewhere after the Boer war but before the advent of the fax machine, I had only heard of people being allergic to nuts and shellfish.
Facebook Fun or Employment Suicide
Employers can be pretty sneaky these days. A click of a mouse turns the Boss into Magnum Pi from the comfort of his mock leather swivel chair. Before Kojak has finished his lollipop or a New York Cop his Donut, an employer will have your personal life displayed on his PC in all its glory.
Negotium Interuptus
By Stephen Hickmore HR Magazine – We are under cyber-attack and in a constant state of distraction! Whilst writing this article I have been interrupted by phone calls, e mails, SMS, Facebook messenger and requests to play scrabble on-line. Once the cycle of disruption starts it is hard to return to the original task at hand. So, along with my usual “writers block” this article has taken me hours and a number of sittings to complete.
Stuff My Sifu says……………..
Or “Kung Fu Leadership for Hospitality Managers” by Stephen Hickmore
I confess, I spent 6 years as a student of Shaolin Kung Fu. When you stop wondering about this somewhat unlikely Bruce Lee, let me explain? I took it up late in life to help me handle stress and to defend myself against intruders, hijackers and my wife and two kids. I cannot boast about becoming a Kung fu master but I learnt a lot.
Chefs and other Drama Queens
By Stephen Hickmore – They live amongst us, red faces contorted in anger contrasting against the white of a chefs uniform. Bad tempers and short fuses seem to be part of the territory, almost an acceptable quirk for a chef.
Why do we tolerate swearing and histrionic shouting in the kitchen? Is it that the industry attracts people with delicate Egos? Or does the environment and the influence of others create the monster? I am not saying that all chefs are this offensive. Though there are enough “pot throwers” around to make bad behaviour appear like an epidemic.
Professional vs Amateurs Waiters
By Stephen Hickmore – Four plates arched through the stuffy lunchtime air, landing with a glorious thud on top of the sprawling, pimplefaced waiter. A cheese omelette, covered his crisp white jacket. “Damn” he uttered as he lifted himself from the carpet. Looking up sheepishly he noticed the stares of a red faced man and the smirks of three teenage girls.
Ten things “off duty” Chefs do
By Stephen Hickmore – We all know that Chefs live for their job and it’s hard to switch off. Here is a bit of fun for a Wednesday. The Top Ten things that Chefs do or say when not at work
Say ” Yes, Chef” when your wife asks you to hang a picture
