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Pacific Coast Hospitality

restaurant

3 Reasons It May Just Be Harder Than Ever to Hire

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Staffing and keeping a restaurant staffed is possibly the most difficult task managers and owners constantly face. Turnover is nearly what the hospitality industry is known for. Regardless whether hiring back- or front-of-the-house positions, it may be harder than ever to staff restaurants.

 

Here’s three reasons why some hospitality industry experts believe it’s harder than ever to staff:

  1. More people are looking for jobs because of the status of the economy, but means there’s less people with experience to hire. The ex-sales manager, teacher, lawyer, etc. are looking for any position, even if a complete career changes. Less experience doesn’t always count as a disadvantage, but sure can lead to longer trainings and more direct management needed until they have significant industry experience. Weigh out the pros and cons of hiring and applicant with no hospitality industry experience.

 

  1. Chefs are always looking for good cooks, but with more applicants who have completed culinary school, their demand for higher pay is greater than ever. With a demand for higher pay, their skills should match, but that’s not always fact. Regardless of schooling, experience is the best style of learning. Finding a balance to pay what’s appropriate for keeping each employee happy with what’s possible financially can be a great challenge.

 

  1. Employees formerly accepted one job and kept it for years, even decades – a sense of pride developed over time about the company they worked for and how they advanced. Today, more than ever employees are exercising their rights and embracing their inner adventure spirit and moving from job to job. The average time a candidate spends at one job in the hospitality industry is six months or less.

 

Perhaps that bottom line is, most people don’t want to work. In today’s world less is more – and work ethic seems to follow that directly. Employees can be extremely unreliable and have no sense of drive to accomplish and carry your business forward.

 

Hiring is a beast for most. Finding dedicated job applicants that have experience and work ethic as parallels is no easy task. What do you think, is it harder than ever to hire?

Tips For Hiring

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©istock.com/michaeljung
©istock.com/michaeljung

Restaurants and commercials kitchens often have a high turnover rate of employees and making new employee hires and training is a constant chore for managers.

 

A few tips and basics can help to maximize retention and reduce turnover, which in the end reduces cost and improves productivity for the business as a whole.

 

When you have a job opening, it’s always best to spread wide the notice for hiring. Using a recruitment agency can help to maximize and reach the largest candidate pools and help you find the ideal next hire along with not sucking up all your time searching for top candidates.

 

Once there are candidates for screening, there’s a few key factors we know are best to look for – and here’s why!

 

Relevant Job Experience. The more time a candidate has had a similar experience, the less time they’ll take to train for superior work habits.  However, be sure and catch if their job changes are frequent  and the root as to why all the changes i.e. bad attitude, laziness, etc.

Salary Expectations.  Candidates who have reasonable expectations for compensation show experience and knowledge about the job/ industry. When candidates expect much higher pay and have to take a job that doesn’t meet their needs, the working relationship instantly begins under pressure and frustrations.

 References. There’s nothing more telling about a possible employee than what formers employers or co-workers think. Get in touch and ask questions that matter and will give good insight into the candidates past.

Set a positive example. All else goes wasted if during the hiring and retention process if  you yourself as a manager no not set a positive example.  Create the work environment that you would want to work in – high values, mutual support and respect, and a place that values constructive criticism.   A strong and positive work environment will reduce employee turnover and improve customer service.

Am I a Good Manager – Questions to Ask Yourself

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So you’ve been a manager for a while, maybe weeks maybe decades. Whatever the timeframe, we can all use a little gut check to get back in line with what it takes to be a top hospitality industry manager. We’ve outlined a few interview questions we’ve recycled here for you to do a little asking of yourself.

 

 

-What’s your biggest achievement as a restaurant manager been?

-What big things were you trying to achieve this past year?

-What were your staffing goals for this past year? How’s they turn out?

-What’s an example of a goal you didn’t meet? How come? How did you respond to that?

-What will success look like for your restaurant this year?

-How can you ensure that success to happen?

-What are the biggest obstacles your team will face this year?

-How has your management philosophy evolved as you’ve gained more management experience?

-What does the balance between not micromanaging but still being involved enough to be able to catch problems early on look like?

-When was the last time you fired someone? How many people in the past two years have your fired? Why?

-The best manager generate complaints from employees – so what complaints have you received and how can you change those to positives?

Job: Restaurant Executive Working Chef

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We’re Pacific Coast Hospitality…we recruit the best, most qualified leadership talent for top hospitality organizations across the western U.S. and British Columbia.

photo: Honolulu, HI — Pacific Coast Hospitality. Restaurant Recruitment for Honolulu, HI

Market Honolulu, HI

Job Description 

National Company with local Island roots and outstanding reputation is looking for talented Restaurant Executive Working Chef to help lead busy restaurant with a strong focus on farm to fork, organic, local fare. Help lead dynamic team of engaged team members in overall operations of a high-volume casual dining kitchen. Great scratch food with strong local and visitor guest following. Outstanding, fun environment.

Requirements Ideal candidate must have the following:

  • 3-5 years high volume Chef/KM experience ($5MM or more annual sales volume)
  • Formal culinary training / or culinary degree
  • Strong kitchen organizational skills / ability to set and uphold standards
  • Ability to create innovative local fare, yet also follow corporate specs when needed
  • Able to cook high end food (fresh fish, sushi, steaks etc.) in a fast-paced environment
  • Passion for developing and mentoring a team
  • Track record of achieving financial results
  • Experience in “corporate” environment (high volume “chain” experience a plus)

Salary Range & Benefits

  • Salary – $58k – $62k (starting, based on experience level )
  • Monthly House Account
  • Generous Annual Performance Bonus
  • Employer Paid Health Insurance
  • 401K w/ Company Match
  • PTO (24 days per year)
  • LTD and Life Insurance
  • Medical Savings Plan

Job Category Executive Working Chef

Job Type Full Time

If this position seems like you – please click on this link to submit your resume and cover letter. https://www.pacificcoasthospitality.com/careers-in-hospitality/  We will contact you via telephone or email for an initial interview.

Franchise v. Independent Restaurants

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Which is best for you?

If you are a candidate looking to be hired by a top hospitality organization you can go one of two routes: seek a job that is at an established restaurant chain or seek a job at a one-of-a-kind restaurant.  These two major categories, franchise and independent, offer a potential employee unique benefits.  But also have their flaws.  Check out the pros and cons of each establishment as we look below the surface.

Franchised Restaurant

Known as chain restaurants, these well established facilities have stood the test of time.  Through the ups and downs of the economy, chain restaurants, still draw customers.  Being employed by an established restaurant will give you a sense of job security.  However, these facilities can come with less than desirable working conditions; low wages, few job benefits, to mention a few.  There are exceptions which set these franchises apart from the competition.  It is important to remember, working for a franchise is a job.  It will provide a paycheck, but does not offer opportunities to be creative or seek employees input.  As a culinary graduate, you may be over qualified and often will not find the job satisfaction you seek.  Franchise restaurants are designed for individuals who want to own a restaurant but do not have a lot of experience operating a commercial kitchen.  Those with little food service knowledge are ideal for this system as this allows the franchise to be molded to fit the brand perfectly.  Though management experience is always sought after in this type of restaurant.

Independent Restaurant

Being employed by an independent restaurant has it’s perk.  Working for an entrepreneur can be inspiring.  Rather than buying into a franchise, an independent owner uses their creativity to design, develop, and execute a concept.  Often going against the mold.  These people are hard workers and hire people that desire to see their dream be successful.  They are competitive and usually have a strong personality.  This is an excellent opportunity for an employee to learn and try new menu ideas.  To be successful this type of facility has to go beyond expectations.  The owner will be willing to listen to new ideas and implement suggestions as this is what make their business thrive.  In this type of business work hours are available but be aware that there is a high failure rate for startups.  There is no proven marketing strategy so get used to change.  Products and services will continually be changing, evolving, to learn what works for the specific concept.

 

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If you are looking to be hired by a restaurant, either franchised or independent, take time to do your homework.  Ask around, interview management and food servers, talk to the owner.  Find out what appeals to you and go for it!  Working in the food industry is always interesting, always changing.  Get your foot in the door and check out how you can make connections, know the market, and be successful with Pacific Coast Hospitality.

How to Get a Restaurant Management Job Fast

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The job of a restaurant manager is never dull, but exciting and a great opportunity to advance your career and expand your leadership skills.  Managers must be quick and able to deal with sudden change, handle stress and express excellent customer service skills.

Often times in the beginning of a job search, restaurant managers find themselves frustrated by the lack of response from blindly submitting their resume to online ads or hiring sites hoping to get a call for an interview.  Even when your resume is fully stocked with experience and expertise at the most well sought after positions, your resume likely will sit in a pile of other applicants.

It’s been said; it’s all about whom you know—this couldn’t be any more true to your job search. Building relationships with those hiring is essential to any potential career.

But how to you build relationships with those hiring?? We suggest finding a company like Pacific Coast Hospitality to develop relationships with and continually watch for job openings.  Submit your resume and fill out an online portfolio on recruitment websites that display your expertise and abilities to adequately manage each position.  Gather glowing references from previous employment and study your prospective employer to be fully prepared for an interview.

Preparation is key after building relationships with hiring agencies and heading for an interview- you can out do all other candidates just by your keen attention to details throughout the entire process from applying, to interviewing to negotiating an offer.

Job searching can drain you and leave you frustrated and hopeless- grab a friend to encourage and help you through the process until you find your next great position!

Check out the hiring opportunities with PCH here.