Hiring the wrong person is expensive, disruptive, and demoralizing. Watch for these red flags: badmouthing previous employers, frequent job hopping without good reasons, vague answers about availability, can't explain why they want THIS job specifically, late or unprepared for the interview, defensive when asked about mistakes, only focused on pay.
Trust Your Gut
Experience hiring in hospitality gives you instincts. If something feels off during the interview, it usually is. Don't ignore red flags just because you're desperate to fill a position—bad hires cost more than vacant roles.