A Job Posting Outside the Box for an Outside-the-Box Moment

Everyone is talking about how hard it is to get folks to apply for restaurant jobs. After this time in lock-down, all the restrictions on dining across the country, restaurant workers have had some time to reassess their careers and what they want in a workplace. I’ve talked with restaurant folks who all say the same thing: culture has to change if we are going to attract people back to this industry.

You can’t solve a problem with the same thinking that created it…that’s a quote from Albert Einstein.

Let’s begin with the job posting. So you want to attract people to your job. You pull out that tired old posting you always post when you are looking for servers and line cooks. SO boring. If I am applying for a server position, I KNOW it’s going to be a “fast-paced environment”. Have you ever worked in one that wasn’t? Frankly, food service people thrive in that environment.

I’m calling bullshit on all those job postings! No wonder you aren’t attracting the people you want.

Job postings in the past have always been about 1) how great the company is, 2) the tasks of the position and, 3) the requirements of the position. Yada, yada, yada. And benefits. Of course, you get a meal with your shift. That isn’t a benefit (and if you think it is, that’s sad…really).

How do you write a job posting that knocks people’s socks off? Stand in the shoes of someone who is looking for work. Paint a picture for them about what each day might look like. They want to know what a day working in your restaurant will look like, what they can count on. How will it feel every day to walk in the door?

If you are appealing to folks who haven’t been working in restaurants for a bit, or who never have, paint the picture of what it looks like to connect with customers again, get them present in the ad to what it was they came to this industry for, and play that up.

It might look like this:

What does it look like to work for us? Each day you can come to work, knowing that your hard work is appreciated, that your identity is recognized, you will learn something new, and you are part of a team that has your back. Everyone is treated equally, compensated well, heard. Health and safety are a priority because people who are healthy and feel safe do their best work. You will know what’s expected of you and you will have all the tools at your disposal to fulfill those expectations – and if you don’t, you have space to say so. If you want to make a career of this work, we will help you with that. And if you just need to be here while you figure it out, we can help you with that. We are creating a new kind of restaurant environment – come join us to make that happen.

And what we expect from you is an open heart, a desire to work hard, a love of the industry. We know you’re great - no need to prove that to us, we hired you. A willingness to take responsibility, be accountable, and find solutions that work for everyone.

We are creating a new kind of restaurant environment – come join us to make that happen.

Now, someone who cares about what you care about will respond to that ad.

If you think you’d like me to craft a perfect job posting for you, let me know.