Experts Share Best Practices for Hiring at Coworking Spaces

Coworking operators rethink traditional hiring methods to find the right community-focused talent.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 4:54pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Three experienced coworking owners and operators share their tips and expertise on hiring the right person for a coworking space, explaining why traditional hiring methods don't apply. They prioritize personality over credentials, focus on the interview process over the hiring platform, and caution against defaulting to part-time roles. The article also discusses the need to update job titles and the work FLOC (Future Leaders of Coworking) is doing to provide career development opportunities in the industry.

Why it matters

As the coworking industry matures, operators are rethinking how they hire, onboard, and retain the people who run their spaces. Finding the right community-focused talent is crucial for creating a welcoming and engaging coworking environment, but traditional hiring methods often fall short. This story provides valuable insights from experienced coworking leaders on innovative hiring practices that can benefit the entire industry.

The details

Coworking operators consistently prioritize personality over credentials when hiring, as they believe skills can be taught but warmth and genuine care for people cannot. They use a mix of platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Instagram to source candidates, but the interview process matters more than the hiring platform. Some operators prefer in-person interviews to better understand a candidate's working style. Operators also caution against defaulting to part-time roles, as this can lead to misaligned candidates who can't fully invest in the community. The article also discusses the need to update job titles, as the 'community manager' title often understates the demands of the role. FLOC, a community focused on career development for coworking professionals, is working to provide growth opportunities and visibility in the industry.

  • FLOC was founded eight years ago.
  • The article was published on April 1, 2026.

The players

Alora Daunt

Owner of The Pearl Works coworking space in California.

Matt Irvin

Owner of Cocial coworking space in suburban Chicago.

Karen Tait

Owner of The Residence coworking space in England.

Sam Shea

Founder of FLOC (Future Leaders of Coworking).

Dana

Community operations manager at The Pearl Works, hired by Alora Daunt.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I hire for personality, as the skills can be taught, but sadly I can't teach people how to smile.”

— Karen Tait, Owner, The Residence

“You want people that believe in what you're doing, are sociable, outgoing, people that want to get to know your members — just a bright, happy person that enjoys making people's experiences the best they can be.”

— Matt Irvin, Owner, Cocial

“I feel like you just learn more about a person sitting across the table over a cup of coffee than you would in a Zoom call.”

— Matt Irvin, Owner, Cocial

“I ask candidates: tell me about a working dynamic that worked really well for you — and one that really didn't. Those two questions give me so much information.”

— Alora Daunt, Owner, The Pearl Works

“Through our own ecosystem and community, we found some great people. It's a testament to the community.”

— Matt Irvin, Owner, Cocial

What’s next

FLOC plans to continue offering its quarterly virtual workshops and annual in-person event to provide career development and visibility for early-to-mid career coworking professionals.

The takeaway

Coworking operators are rethinking traditional hiring methods to find the right community-focused talent, prioritizing personality over credentials, focusing on the interview process, and avoiding the part-time shortcut. This innovative approach can help the industry create more welcoming and engaging coworking spaces, while organizations like FLOC work to provide growth opportunities for coworking professionals.