Many businesses hire people for a specific role, only to discover weeks later that their new hire’s greatest strengths lie elsewhere. A thoughtful onboarding process that exposes new employees to multiple areas of the business can help employers identify hidden talents while giving new team members a better understanding of how the entire operation works.
Recently, I heard about a restaurant that has taken a refreshing approach to hiring. A candidate applied for a prep cook position and was invited to work a fully paid six-hour training shift. During that time, she experienced nearly every area of the restaurant. She greeted guests, hosted, helped bus tables, served a few customers, assisted with food preparation, worked the fryer, plated meals, and interacted with employees from every department.
At the end of the shift, the managers didn’t simply decide whether to hire her based on a single observation. Instead, each employee she worked alongside provided written feedback. Management reviewed her strengths across every role before offering her a position. Interestingly, although she applied as a prep cook, they noted that she demonstrated exceptional potential behind the bar.
The Advantages
For the employer, it provides a much more complete picture of a candidate’s skills, attitude, adaptability, communication style, and willingness to learn. A person who may appear average in one role could become an outstanding fit elsewhere in the business. For example:
A dishwasher may demonstrate exceptional leadership and organization while coordinating with the kitchen staff.
A host may have outstanding sales instincts and naturally increase dessert or beverage sales when serving guests.
A prep cook may prove to be calm, personable, and highly effective tending bar during busy periods.
The business also gains valuable flexibility. Cross-trained employees can step into different positions during vacations, sick days, or unexpected rushes. Scheduling becomes easier, staffing shortages become less disruptive, and employees develop a greater appreciation for the challenges their co-workers face each day.
Employees Benefit
Many people don’t know which position they will truly enjoy until they experience it. Someone who initially wanted to cook may discover they love interacting with customers. Another may realize they prefer the fast-paced environment of the kitchen over serving tables.
Cross-training also builds confidence and creates more opportunities for career growth. Employees develop new skills, become more valuable to the organization, and often qualify for additional shifts or promotions because they can contribute wherever they’re needed.
Perhaps most importantly, this type of onboarding sends a powerful message: We hired you for more than one job; we’re investing in your future.
When employees feel their strengths are recognized and developed rather than simply filling an immediate vacancy, engagement often increases and turnover declines.
The lesson extends well beyond the restaurant industry. Retail stores, manufacturing companies, healthcare organizations, offices, and service businesses can all benefit by exposing new employees to multiple functions before locking them into a single role. Sometimes the best person for the position is already standing in front of you; they simply haven’t been given the opportunity to discover where they can contribute the most.
Businesses often spend significant time trying to hire the perfect person. Sometimes the better strategy is to hire someone with the right attitude, expose them to the entire business, and allow their strengths to reveal themselves.
