How to hire a guest service specialist

How to hire a guest service specialist, step by step

Here's a step-by-step guest service specialist hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a guest service specialist job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new guest service specialist
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a guest service specialist do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a guest service specialist, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A guest service specialist's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, guest service specialists from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents guest service specialist salaries for various positions.

   Type of Guest Service Specialist	Description	Hourly rate
   Guest Service Specialist	Customer service representatives interact with customers to handle complaints, process orders, and provide information about an organization’s products and services.	$12-20
   Receptionist/Customer Service	Receptionists or customer service professionals are considered as the first contact point of the clients. They usually greet and welcome guests visiting an office or organization... Show more	$12-17
   Service Agent	A service agent is a professional whose primary function is to provide a friendly service to internal and external customers about the organization's products and services. An agent should be people-oriented, highly motivated with a positive and friendly attitude... Show more	$10-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Front Desk
   • Patients
   • Reservations
   • Team Work
   • Guest Service
   • Customer Service
   • Booking
   • Cleanliness
   • Marriott
   • Excellent Guest
   • Exceptional Guest
   • POS
   • Guest Complaints
   • Guest Satisfaction

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and calculate daily cash deposits and prepare daily payroll ledgers.
   • Answer phones, make appointments, clean the salon, cash handling, operating POS.
   • Process all guest reservations, including guest follow up, obtaining all necessary information and accurately entering it into computer systems.
   • Determine Medicaid requirements and eligibility.

   More guest service specialist duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your guest service specialist job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A guest service specialist salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a guest service specialist in Georgia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level guest service specialist usually earns less than a senior-level guest service specialist. Additionally, a guest service specialist with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average guest service specialist salary

   $15.67hourly

   $32,603 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level guest service specialist salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 31, 2026

   Average guest service specialist salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	District of Columbia	$42,765	$21
   2	New York	$39,231	$19
   3	California	$35,383	$17
   4	Massachusetts	$34,553	$17
   5	Montana	$34,526	$17
   6	Minnesota	$34,504	$17
   7	Utah	$32,942	$16
   8	Washington	$32,796	$16
   9	New Hampshire	$32,245	$16
   10	Virginia	$31,976	$15
   11	Michigan	$30,691	$15
   12	Tennessee	$29,775	$14
   13	Colorado	$29,721	$14
   14	Iowa	$29,719	$14
   15	Florida	$28,728	$14
   16	Illinois	$28,717	$14
   17	Wisconsin	$28,485	$14
   18	North Carolina	$28,222	$14
   19	Missouri	$27,970	$13
   20	Arizona	$27,836	$13

   Average guest service specialist salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Alston & Bird	$41,391	$19.90
   2	City of Austin	$37,486	$18.02
   3	Minnesota State Fair	$37,139	$17.86	2
   4	University of Rochester	$36,469	$17.53	4
   5	Bluewater Waterfront Grill	$36,212	$17.41
   6	EPAM Systems	$36,187	$17.40
   7	Hyatt Hotels	$35,409	$17.02	69
   8	Salt Lake County	$35,367	$17.00	3
   9	Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts	$35,167	$16.91	11
   10	Parkland Hospital	$35,062	$16.86
   11	Asbury Automotive Group	$34,315	$16.50	84
   12	Lexington Medical Center	$34,275	$16.48
   13	Helio Health	$33,959	$16.33
   14	Colonial Williamsburg Foundation	$32,853	$15.79	2
   15	The Escape Game	$32,490	$15.62	52
   16	University of Michigan	$32,378	$15.57	5
   17	Pioneer Bank	$32,343	$15.55	2
   18	HealthTrust	$32,231	$15.50
   19	InvitedHome	$32,220	$15.49
   20	Mammoth Mountain	$32,124	$15.44

4. Writing a guest service specialist job description

   A good guest service specialist job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a guest service specialist job description:

   Guest service specialist job description example

   Guest Engagement Specialists enhance the experience of our visitors at the Audubon Zoo by delivering engaging informal and interpretive programming that inspires and strengthens a connection to our conservation goals. Responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to delivering chats and demonstrations throughout the zoo, presenting live animals for interactive encounters, working collaboratively with animal staff to support contact areas and other formal demonstrations, assisting with supervision and training of volunteers, supporting special events and more. Guest Engagement Specialists may support other programming needs in the Education Department as needed. Specialists are expected to consistently model the Education and Volunteer Resources departmental core values: clear is kind, dare to grow, and engage with curiosity.
   ________________________________________
   To deliver on the Audubon mission, the Guest Engagement Specialist will:
   Provide a guest experience of outstanding quality by… ________________________________________
   • Delivering engaging, hands-on informal and interpretive programs for guests of all ages • Preparing and setting up for all programming • Understanding the significance of their role and how they can make a positive impact on our guests • Providing proactive, friendly communication and striving to anticipate guests' needs and desires • Communicating issues or concerns to the Zoo Education Manager in a timely manner • Working in a cooperative manner with the animal care team and respecting the Ambassador Animal collection spaces, protocols, and equipment • Working collaboratively with front of house departments (Animal Staff, Guest Services, Facilities, etc.) to identify opportunities to improve guest experience
   
   Educate our diverse audience about the natural world by… ________________________________________
   • Delivering informal programming and events throughout the year • Actively collaborating with the education department team to design and implement programs and presentations directly related to our collection and conservation messages • Supporting departmental collaboration with Marketing, Development, Membership and Special Events to support non-routine special events • Actively seeking up-to-date information on informal education methodologies and trends • Actively seeking out and participating in professional development opportunities as approved by supervisor
   The above-listed duties are general statements of required major duties and responsibilities performed on a regular and continuous basis. They do not exclude other duties as assigned. ________________________________________
   To deliver on the Audubon service promise, the Guest Engagement Specialist will:
   Welcome ________________________________________ • Make eye contact with every customer encounter, smile at every person, offer friendly phrases and greetings. • Wear an identification badge. • Walk individuals to their destination instead of pointing; aid people who look confused. • Assume ownership of potential safety hazards (wipe-up spills, pick up trash). Always have a camera-ready look.
   Share ________________________________________ • Maintain a positive attitude, pleasant tone of voice (remember it is not what you say, but how you say it). • Coach coworkers on service expectations. • Utilize the power of teamwork to give excellent service. • Know when to involve management.
   Inspire ________________________________________ • Know the answers to questions or seek out the answers. • Utilize proper phone etiquette (answer phone within three rings, smile before answering call, ask for permission and wait for response before placing caller on hold). • Ensure work area is free of food, drink, socialization, and personal business. • Follow Dress Code Policy on clothing and grooming. • Keep unpleasant concerns behind closed doors (vent backstage).
   ________________________________________ Supervision: This position may assist in the supervision of volunteers and interns as needed. Experience: • 1-3 years working in an informal learning environment and demonstrated experience working in animal presentation and naturalist chats preferred. • Demonstrated experience in effective communications with youth and adults from diverse backgrounds. • Experience handling animals or ability to learn to handle animals including birds, mammals, and invertebrates. • Experience in operant conditioning training and enrichment strongly desired.
   
   Education: • Bachelor’s degree required in Education, Biology, Zoology, Communications, Ecology, Environmental Education or other related field, and/or equivalent work experience.
   Physical Requirements: • Sitting or standing, bending, stooping, and the ability to carry items weighing up to 30 pounds • Ability to pass annual TB tests • Ability to perceive visual, odor, or behavioral changes in animals to determine changes in animals’ stress level or general wellbeing. Must have excellent peripheral vision, depth perception, and quick motor response for animal and audience control during presentations • Must be able to stand or walk for up to 2/3 of the day Environmental/Working Conditions: • Will be exposed to high, medium, and low noise intensity • Will be expected to lead and engage groups of diverse sizes in a variety of situations • Constant contact with co-workers required • Works effectively in a moderately noisy office • Affinity for animals required • Exposure to fluctuations in temperatures is required • Exposure to extreme heat and outdoor conditions is required • Must be able to work holidays, weekend and occasional after hour events
   Other abilities, skills, knowledge:
   • Goal-oriented and self-motivated • Willingness and ability to take initiative • Able to manage multiple priorities and deadlines for a wide range of projects • Exemplary written communications skills • Appropriate and professional responses to stress • Exemplary presentation and oral communication skills • Effective team player • Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to interact with all levels of staff, donors, visitors, and educators

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right guest service specialist for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with guest service specialists they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit guest service specialists who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your guest service specialist job on Zippia to find and recruit guest service specialist candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit guest service specialists, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new guest service specialist

   Once you have selected a candidate for the guest service specialist position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new guest service specialist first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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