Are you the person who keeps everyone smiling when plans change? Do you notice when somebody needs a hand? Maybe you get a real buzz from meeting new people or pulling together as part of a team.
If that sounds familiar, a hospitality career could suit you more than you think.
Experience can help, but it isn’t everything. Hospitality is a people business, which means your attitude, personality and the way you work with others can matter just as much.
At M&B, our PRIDE values are Passion, Respect, Innovation, Drive and Engagement. They shape how we work together and keep striving to be better.
Recognise yourself in any of these five traits? You might already have more of what it takes for a hospitality career than you realise.
1. You love making people feel welcome
Great hospitality starts with people.
You might be the friend who makes sure nobody feels left out or simply somebody who enjoys making other people smile.
Those little things count. A friendly hello, a thoughtful recommendation or noticing that a guest needs a hand can turn an everyday meal or drink into something they remember for all the right reasons.
That people-first attitude sits naturally with Passion, one of our PRIDE values. At M&B, that means caring about what we do while working together and supporting each other as One Team.
So, if you enjoy meeting people and helping them have a good time, you could feel right at home in one of our waiting staff jobs.
2. You treat people with care and respect
Hospitality brings together all kinds of people.
Every guest is different, and so is every teammate. Being able to communicate thoughtfully and treat people with consideration can make a real difference on shift.
That’s what Respect at M&B is about. Treating our guests and each other with consideration.
And you certainly don’t have to be the loudest person in the room to be good at hospitality. Being observant, thoughtful and approachable can be every bit as valuable as being naturally outgoing.
Those qualities can take you anywhere from welcoming guests at the door to becoming the personality behind the pumps in one of our bar jobs.
3. You’re always looking for a better way
Do you like figuring out how things work?
Innovation is one of our PRIDE values because we’re always looking for ways to improve. That doesn’t have to mean coming up with one enormous, game-changing idea. It could be finding a smoother way to prepare for service, taking feedback on board or suggesting something that makes life easier for your team or guests.
Pubs, bars and restaurants move quickly, so being willing to learn and adapt is a real strength.
In one of our chef jobs, for example, you’ll keep building practical skills while learning from the people around you and finding ways to deliver great food even when service gets busy.
You don’t need to know everything. Being curious enough to keep learning is a pretty good place to start.
4. You rise to a challenge
Picture a busy Friday night.
The bar is buzzing, and it suddenly feels like everything is happening at once.
Some people really come into their own in those moments.
That doesn’t mean you have to be completely unflappable. It’s about focusing on what needs doing and getting involved alongside the rest of the team.
It’s also where Drive comes into play. At M&B, we want to exceed the expectations of our guests and teams, and that takes people who care about doing a good job and are willing to step up when it matters.
If you enjoy solving problems and helping other people stay on track, you may also have the makings of a great leader.
As your experience grows, one of our Assistant Manager or Deputy Manager jobs could become your next move.
5. You’re a team player
Very little in hospitality happens alone.
Front of house relies on the kitchen. The kitchen relies on front of house. When the pace picks up, everyone needs to communicate and help each other out.
You could be the chatty teammate who brings plenty of energy to a shift or the calmer one who spots what needs doing and quietly gets on with it.
Both play an equally important role.
There’s no single way to be a great teammate. What counts is getting involved and helping create the kind of environment where everybody can do their best.
That sense of connection is a big part of Engagement, another of our PRIDE values. It applies to guests too, as you’ll be listening to them and helping them enjoy their time with us.
Not sure whether you’d rather be right in the middle of the guest experience or working behind the scenes? Our guide to front-of-house and back-of-house roles can help you work out where you might feel most at home.
What if you don’t have all five hospitality personality traits?
There’s no such thing as one perfect hospitality personality.
The best teams are made up of different people with different strengths.
Communication, confidence, resilience and teamwork can all grow with experience. And you may already have plenty of transferable hospitality skills from school, university, another job, volunteering, sport or everyday life.
For many entry-level hospitality jobs, a positive attitude and a willingness to learn are a great place to begin.
We’ll help you build from there.
Why do personality traits matter in hospitality?
Skills can be taught and menus can be learned.
But hospitality is ultimately about how you make people feel.
Hospitality with Heart is our promise to put people first, with kindness, care and connection at the core of the way we work. That means creating places where guests feel welcome and our people feel supported and able to be themselves.
Whether you’re serving a table, pulling a pint, preparing food or leading a team, you’ll play your part in creating the memorable moments are all about.
Do I need to be outgoing to work in hospitality?
Not at all. Some roles involve lots of guest interaction, but you don’t need to be the biggest personality in the room. Being a good listener and showing that you’re considerate and observant can be just as useful.
Which hospitality role would suit my personality?
If you love meeting guests and creating a welcoming atmosphere, bar or waiting roles could suit you. Prefer practical, hands-on work and the buzz of a busy kitchen? A kitchen role might feel more natural.
And if you discover you enjoy taking responsibility and bringing the best out of others, leadership could eventually be part of your hospitality career too.
Check out our Team Member roles, where you have the opportunity to be trained in both Front of House and Back of House positions.
Could your personality be a perfect fit for M&B?
So, how many of the five sounded like you?
Bring your personality, a willingness to learn and the right attitude, and you could find a role where you can help us host Life’s Memorable Moments.
Explore the latest hospitality jobs at M&B and find a role that plays to your strengths.
