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We have had numerous guests ask how to get on staff and truth be told there’s no single way of doing it. The most important factor will always be availability and volunteers are always coming and going. Some stay for an extended amount of time and others will just stay the minimum which is one month. In my case I simply befriended some of the staff and luck would have it that two of the volunteers were leaving which bode well for me after being asked if I was interested in volunteering. I had a sit down with the managers asking me a bit about my background, interests, and if I’ve ever worked in a hostel or customer service.

Just like that I was on staff and fully immersed into the hostel vibe. An important distinction though is that not all hostels operate the same. We are a party hostel meaning we do pub crawls and other events every day of the week. Some hostels are quiet and calm and want a vibe that’s more relaxed. Not here. We are 100-percent committed to going hard every day, and if that’s not your thing, then this likely isn’t going to be the place for you. Most of the staff drinks a lot and I mean copious amounts. You don’t necessarily have to drink much or at all yourself, but you’re going to have to be comfortable being around people who do.

The hostel will always have music blaring, people coming and going, some type of crazy ass out of the blue situation, and drunks coming in all hours of the night. So, peace and quiet is not in abundance, nor is it a place for families or seniors with all of the fuckery that ensues any given day. Likewise, the guests that come here almost always going to be relatively young and usually come for the same reasons: night life, booze, a fling, or to not remember the next day.

That being said you’re still expected to do your job when you’re on a shift or running a pub crawl. The managers are both super chill but set the expectation clearly that when you’re working you need to be serious about being professional and friendly with our guests. It’s really just about a balance and knowing your limits if you do drink and or decide to go on a pub crawl a day before a work shift. 

Another important factor is good social skills. For example, if you’re on a reception shift you are the guest’s first interaction at the hostel. If you’re glum or seem unapproachable, then that’s going to set a negative impression from the start. You don’t necessarily have to be an extroverted social butterfly but reading the room and being friendly is key. Ironically, I’m more of an introvert, but I still understand the value in making people feel welcome and therein is the important distinction. Our guests come here to have a good time and it’s our job to do everything we can to make sure that they have a memorable experience.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in or curious about volunteering at a hostel you can reach out to us on Instagram: @krakow.animals.crawl or email us at info@krakowanimalscrawl.com