1. Virtual interviews

One of the top restaurant hiring shifts is the virtual interview to connect with potential candidates. Here are a few reasons why virtual interviews are so popular:

Time savings

If there’s one thing you can’t put a price tag on, it’s time. Virtual interviews save time by reducing, or even eliminating, the need for the following:

• Transportation: Many candidates prefer virtual interviews because they don’t have to physically travel to your location. Not only does this save them time, but it also makes your job posting more appealing.
• Logistical planning: Virtual interviews help restaurant owners save time by limiting the need for logistical planning. You don’t have to worry about meeting with someone or setting up a space for the interview — you can even save a list of interview questions directly on your computer.
• General introductions:Rather than asking candidates generic background questions, such as where they live or whether they’re qualified to work in the United States, you can ask them to fill out a virtual form prior to the interview. This also lets you focus on more important things during the actual interview, such as their qualifications.

By cutting down the amount of time you spend on interviews, you can reallocate your energy to other important restaurant tasks.

Faster hiring process

Holding a virtual interview is usually easier than meeting up in person. With an online meeting, both candidates and restaurant owners have a clear idea of how long the interview is going to be — this lets both of you plan accordingly. However, when scheduling in-person interviews, you have to take multiple factors into account, such as:

• Commutes: If a candidate has a long commute, they may not be able to schedule an interview quickly. The longer they wait before taking an interview slot, the longer it can take to hire a new employee.
• Timing: If you’re hosting an in-person interview, you’ll likely only be able to meet up during work hours. Virtual interviews, on the other hand, can be conducted whenever both parties are free.
• Other commitments: If you or a candidate are juggling multiple commitments, such as familial and work obligations, it can be difficult to schedule an in-person interview. Setting up a virtual conversation is easier to fit into each person’s schedule.

If you’re in dire need of new staff members, then shortening the hiring process can make a huge difference for your business. The quicker you can hire someone, the smoother your operations will be. Considering these benefits, it’s no surprise that virtual interviews are one of the biggest hiring trends in restaurants.

Safer interactions

Virtual interviews are one of the safest ways for restaurant owners to meet new applicants. During the interview, you can outline your health and safety requirements and confirm that the candidate plans to comply before moving forward with hiring.

2. Candidate-focused hiring

One of the biggest hiring challenges is a lack of quality candidates. Many people are reevaluating their working lives and becoming more selective about the jobs they apply for.

The desire to reach target candidates has led to the rise of a major restaurant trend: making your business appealing to applicants. When you post a job listing, candidates aren’t just selling themselves to you — you’re selling your restaurant to them. Here are a few ways to bring in more candidates:

Offer flexibility

While remote work, in which individuals split their time between working in the office and working from home, isn’t always plausible for restaurants, most candidates crave the flexibility that comes with it. Ways you can provide that include:

• Letting employees choose their days/hours
• Granting flexible time off
• Accommodating schedule changes

By offering a flexible work environment, you’re showing potential employees that you value their mental wellness and unique scheduling needs.

Write compelling job descriptions

Your job descriptions are a candidate’s first glimpse into what your business is all about. They should detail the following:

• The qualifications you’re looking for
• The job responsibilities
• The salary expectations
• Available perks and benefits
• Any requirements for the job (such as specific hours)

While your job description should contain essential information about the position, it shouldn’t be so informative that it becomes dull. A good job description should also share details about your restaurant, such as your goals, values and what makes you unique.

Video: Tips for Writing Better Restaurant Server Job Descriptions

Hiring a server for your restaurant starts with a good job description. Watch this video for tips on creating a job post that stands out to top candidates.

 
Offering wage transparency can be a benefit as lawmakers continue to debate hourly wages and services fees aimed to level the high prices of prices and labor costs. For example, new legislation in California will see fast food workers’ hourly wages set at $20 an hour starting on April 1, 2024. And starting July 1, 2024, Chicago will begin phasing out its tip credit. These are just some examples of wage driven conversations across the country.

Showcase your brand’s personality

Your restaurant is more than just a means to income — it’s your livelihood and passion. It goes without saying that you want your staff to care about your restaurant’s success as well. By creating an appealing job profile that shows off your restaurant’s personality, you can attract candidates who are interested in your business. Here are a few tips:

• Be clear on what you’re looking for: In your job postings, make it evident that you’re looking for someone who’s passionate about food and likes restaurant settings.
• Use employee testimonials: The opinions of your current employees can be a valuable asset. By sharing positive things your employees have to say, you can quickly attract new applicants.
• Share fun details about your business: What makes your restaurant fun to work at? Perhaps you host trivia nights, or maybe you have live music. Whatever it is that makes you special, share it with your applicants.

To succeed in the restaurant industry, it’s important to create an environment that people are happy to be a part of. If you manage to find multiple, high-quality candidates, consider hiring an extra employee (assuming it’s in your budget). This will help prevent you from being understaffed if an employee suddenly quits.

3. Digital recruitment

While finding and hiring people online has been a common strategy for some time now, digital recruitment has seen a spike in use. Some advantages of this hiring trend include:

• Speed: Using the internet, you can connect with new candidates in a matter of minutes.
• Personalization: You can specify the exact type of candidate you’re looking for online, from personality type to qualification requirements.
• Diversity: The internet can connect you to a wide range of people with different experiences and cultural backgrounds.

To reap the benefits of digital recruitment, you need to know where to look. Here are a few popular ways to find new employees online:

Your website

Many restaurants have a “career” tab on their website where people can learn more about your business, discover job openings and submit applications. Of course, to get people to apply through your site, they need to know about it first. Ways to promote your website include:

• Social media
• Job boards and career sites
• Business cards

You can also advertise your website directly to customers by including it on the take-out menus or packaging you distribute during delivery orders. Since customers already support your business, they can be a great avenue for finding dedicated employees.

Job boards and search engines

Job boards are websites where businesses can advertise their open positions to potential candidates. When an interested applicant clicks on your posting, the job board will often redirect them to your website. However, some will let candidates apply directly on-site. Perks of job boards include:

• Wider connections: Job boards attract a wide audience, which gives you more applicants to choose from.
• Automatic updates: Many job board sites will automatically update you when a candidate arrives, letting you respond promptly.
• Specifications: Job boards often have advanced search engines that help you connect solely with applicants who meet your requirements.

Read more: How to Post Food & Beverage Jobs on Indeed

Artificial intelligence

While artificial intelligence (AI) can’t replace front and back of house staff, it can help the people running the restaurants. Leveraging AI to complete the mundane administrative tasks allows restaurant owners to focus more on their menu and customer experience.

Here are some ways restaurants can use AI technology:

• Chatbots for drive-thru and delivery
• AI-based tracking for staffing and scheduling employees
• Predictive AI to forecast orders and anticipate busy hours
• Sensors to monitor inventory levels
• Online menu personalization

Social media

In the United States alone, over 70% of people use social media to engage with one another. These platforms are also a great way for job seekers to find positions. Through social media, you can achieve the following:

• Show off your brand personality: As mentioned earlier, demonstrating what makes your restaurant unique is a great way to attract quality candidates. Social media provides a platform to show people what your restaurant is all about.
• Connect with passive candidates: Not every potential candidate is actively seeking a job. Known as passive candidates, these individuals are unlikely to be present on job boards. However, they can be found on social media — if your profile is compelling enough, they might be encouraged to apply.
• Share an employee referral program: An employee referral program is a recruitment method in which your employees help you find potential candidates. While employees can’t use job boards, they can use their own social networks.

For the best results, it’s helpful to have accounts with multiple platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Why are hiring trends in restaurants important?

Having a strong, collaborative team is important. Restaurants wouldn’t thrive without the help of talented, hardworking employees who are devoted to seeing your business succeed. By adapting to restaurant hiring trends, you increase your chances of finding the best possible team members and achieving long-term success.