What to look for when choosing a hospitality & restaurant recruiter

The best operators are looking for employees who want to build a rewarding career that can grow their brands. Great employees are the engine that fuels any restaurant / hospitality operation. Whether you are trying to find a new position or fill an opening for your hospitality / restaurant group, we highly recommend using a recruiter. A recruiter that focuses on the restaurant / hospitality industry is vital to ensure a great fit for both the employee and employer. It is difficult to find a good national recruiter that has the infrastructure and resources to quickly place qualified candidates. The staff here at FBHpro put together a list of things to look for when picking a recruiter:

What employers should look for when choosing a recruiter:

• The fee is based on a contingency agreement. You only pay for placed candidates.
• A team that has decades of hospitality leadership experience in the restaurant, and hotel industry.
• A large database of candidates and the ability feature open positions on multiple websites.
• A recruiter that has experience placing all levels of managers, chefs, FOH, BOH and hourly staffing positions.
• A candidate sourcing strategy that includes leveraging the recruiter’s network, cold calling, social media, and traditional print / web advertising.

What candidates should look for when choosing a recruiter:

• No services charge. You should be very cautious of any recruiter who is attempting to charge you for their service. The one exception to this rule would be an optional service such as professional resume writer. A free option is some of the resume templates, and samples here at FBHpro.
• Open positions in your geographical region.
• A recruiting firm that focuses on restaurant / hospitality industry. A great recruiter that understands the opening, work, and the typical career path in your industry.
• A comprehensive knowledge of the regional and industry compensation packages.
• Free resume critiques.
• Great relationships with award-winning hospitality establishments.
• Willingness to accommodate your schedule. You do not work just 9:00 – 5:00, neither should your recruiter.
• Free career and interview coaching.
• Inside information on companies and interviewers.
• Access to exclusive positions not advertised on the major job posting websites.