Best way to hire restaurant employees – 6 Proven tips

The restaurant industry is one of the most competitive and challenging industries in the world. It can be quite difficult to make your restaurant stand out from the rest. There are so many different things that can make your customers turn their heads and look for a different place to eat, such as service, price, location, and of course food. It can be quite difficult to make your restaurant stands out from the rest. But if you have the best staff possible, you’re well on your way to success.

Not sure how to find the best candidates for your restaurant? Use our guide to help you hire the best employees for your business.

The Challenges in Hiring Restaurant Staff 

1. Attracting quality candidates: With such low wages and demanding hours, it can be tough to convince good potential hires to come work for your restaurant. You need to sell the perks of the job in order to get them interested. Highlight the fun atmosphere, the chances to learn new things, and the potential to work with a great team.
2. Training and retaining employees: Once you’ve got some good candidates, you need to put effort into keeping them by investing in their training. This can be both official training (like food safety certifications) and more casual instruction (like showing them how to make your specialty dishes). Additionally, you must cultivate a workplace that encourages people to stay with you rather than quit.
3. Maintaining a positive work-life balance: The restaurant industry is notorious for long hours and high stress, and that can take a toll on your employees. Make sure to give them scheduled breaks, and enough support. Make sure your employees feel supported, recognized, and comfortable with their managers so they don’t feel overworked. When you show your employees that you care, it will show in how they work for you.

6 Tips for Restaurant Recruiting

1. Define the ideal candidate

To start, think about the perfect candidate for the job and what they would bring to the table in terms of ability. Make a list of the most essential traits and skills you need (like prior experience in a specific type of cooking), as well as any deal-breakers (like constantly changing jobs every few months). This will help you generate a pool of potential applicants to zero in on.

2. Use social media

Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach a larger pool of potential candidates. Post job listings on your restaurant’s social media channels and encourage employees to share them with their networks. LinkedIn is another powerful way to search for candidates, especially if you have a lot of employees who work remotely.

3. Utilize employee referral programs

If your restaurant has an employee referral program, take advantage of it! Encourage your employees to recommend qualified friends or family members who might be a good fit for the open position. This can help you attract high-quality candidates already familiar with your business. This approach helps you attract the kinds of candidates you want while still giving your team a sense of ownership over the recruitment process.

4. Conduct phone screenings

Once you’ve received a stack of applications, it can be helpful to conduct initial phone screenings with candidates to help narrow down your list. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about their qualifications and better understand their personality — without having the pressure of an interview. Make sure that this part of the process is well-documented and easy to reference later on.

5. Invite candidates for interviews

After phone screening candidates, invite the most promising ones in for in-person interviews. This is your chance to really get to know the candidate and determine if they’re a good fit for your restaurant. During the interview, ask behavioral interview questions that will give you insights into how the candidate would react in real-life situations. For example, if a customer complains about food, what would they do? Would they address it directly and quietly with the person who prepared it? Or would they write it down but not say anything until a manager came on shift?

6. Offer training and development opportunities

One of the biggest factors that employees consider when accepting a job offer is whether there are opportunities for growth and development within the company. This is one area where you can really differentiate yourself from your competitors. The growth and development of your employees will ultimately determine the success of your company, which is why it’s important to provide all employees with both opportunities and access to learning opportunities.

By following these tips, you can find and train the best restaurant employees for your business. With the right team in place, you’ll be poised for success.

Onboarding and Training with KNOW

Onboarding and training are two essential elements of hiring great new restaurant employees. Onboarding helps new hires get acclimated to your business and understand your company’s values and policies. Meanwhile, training provides new employees with the skills they need to excel in their roles.

A good onboarding program will introduce new hires to key team members, your company’s mission and values, as well as an overview of the restaurant industry. It’s also important to give new hires access to helpful resources like a job description, employee handbook, and training modules.

With a mobile-based training platform like KNOW, you can onboard your staff effectively so they’re ready to work on Day 1. Use KNOW to engage your staff and ensure they’re up-to-speed with best practices. Provide your staff with a comprehensive resource of all the information they need to excel in their roles. Offer your employees a clear path for growth and development within your organization.