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Thousands of people move to Las Vegas every month, and many of them
find work in the city's core industry, hotel-casinos. But they're not
just handing out jobs at the state line. The market is competitive
and, surprisingly, some of the jobs with the simplest descriptions and
least amount of experience required are the hardest to get.
So what's a newcomer or a career-changer to do? We've asked some of
the city's top hotel-casino executives and hiring managers what it
takes to get a job in Las Vegas. In addition to the job-specific
advice you'll find in these guides, the executives we spoke with also
offered general tips on applying and interviewing, work requirements,
and what to expect from the process that you may not find in other
cities.
Newcomer Tips
1. Start small, start local
If you're just starting out in gaming and hospitality, or you're new
to Las Vegas, off-Strip and locals casinos are your best bet for
breaking in. Most Strip casinos won't even consider applications from
newcomers to the business, and they usually promote from within.
But companies with multiple properties, such as MGM-Mirage, often have
smaller, satellite properties either off-Strip or out of town where
they place inexperienced workers.
While working on the Strip may be the ultimate goal, some managers say
it can be more challenging to work at a locals casino.
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2. Work History
If you don't have any hotel-casino experience, a good work history is
the next best thing. Almost all of the executives we spoke with said
they can train workers to do most jobs - what they can't train is
reliability, initiative and good attitude.
Some properties even prefer to bring in people as "clean slates" on
which to imprint
their own corporate culture and way of doing things.
A good history also has few or no gaps in employment, and shows that
you can hold down a job for some length of time. Many companies prefer
applicants who have held at least one job for at least one year.
If you're applying in person at a hotel-casino's employment center,
it's best to bring a written version of your employment history and
references, to ensure you don't leave anything important off your
application or get it wrong.
3. Interviews & Auditions
Some highlights:
- Be positive and smile - "Often dealers are hired on their
personality"
- Be prepared to take a drug test (if you're taking any medication,
bring the prescription to the test)
- Don't wear expensive or flashy jewelry
- Visit the employment center a few times a week after you have
auditioned to check on openings, but don't telephone
"I tell them that the HR person (who's interviewing them) is not there
to hire them but to get rid of those who don't fit," Flowers said.
Dealer applicants are expected to wear a clean, pressed white shirt
and black pants, or skirts for women. For other positions, executives
stressed the importance of dressing well - something a surprising
number of applicants don't do.
4. Tipping Positions
The most sought-after jobs in town are usually the ones with potential
for big tips - dealer, valet attendant, cocktail waitress, bartender,
bellmen and more. But for those just starting out in these positions,
it's important to realize that the big payoffs don't come right away,
and they can be few and far between.
Most people who work for tips dream of being in the path of a happy
high roller who's eager to share his wealth. But hotel-casino
executives will tell you that employees are largely responsible for
their own luck in landing big tips.
Newcomers start out either on-call or part-time, working the off-peak
hours and territories where it's harder to earn tips. Often people who
are just getting started in tipping jobs will find it necessary to get
a second job to make ends meet.
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