4-minute read ---
In the last several decades, the majority of high school students have found summer employment at entry-level, minimum wage level jobs. Whether teenagers are working to contribute to their family, gain practical experience, or simply have summer spending money, the food service industry in particular has relied on young employees during busy summer months. In fact, 1 in 3 of Americans’ first job was in a restaurant.*
This number started to change, however, in the mid 2000’s. Since then, only 30% of teens have spent their summers working in restaurants. With increased competition and pressure on college-minded students, young people prefer volunteer and internship opportunities over employment. As a result, restaurants struggle to hire high schoolers willing to commit to serving, dish washing, or hosting over a summer.
A key step in attracting teenage staff, then, is informing them of the practical skills they can learn as a restaurant employee, whether it’s engaging customers to develop social and speaking skills, mentoring other employees to learn about business management, or learning how to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Here are a few other steps restaurants can take to attract and retain teenage staff.
This number started to change, however, in the mid 2000’s. Since then, only 30% of teens have spent their summers working in restaurants. With increased competition and pressure on college-minded students, young people prefer volunteer and internship opportunities over employment. As a result, restaurants struggle to hire high schoolers willing to commit to serving, dish washing, or hosting over a summer.
A key step in attracting teenage staff, then, is informing them of the practical skills they can learn as a restaurant employee, whether it’s engaging customers to develop social and speaking skills, mentoring other employees to learn about business management, or learning how to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
Here are a few other steps restaurants can take to attract and retain teenage staff.
Actively Recruit
Unless a young person has a specific business in mind when searching for summer employment, getting a restaurant in front of potential employees is key to getting new hires. In addition to posting jobs inside the restaurant and on job search websites, restaurants are using social media and concrete incentives to encourage applicants.
By leveraging new or existing partnerships with community groups, schools, and other local businesses, restaurant owners actively engage potential summer hires in social settings. Some examples include visiting high school classes, sporting events, or job fairs to pitch your unique opportunity. This presents a great opportunity to reach out to customers at service-based events where they might be working for school credit.
Unless a young person has a specific business in mind when searching for summer employment, getting a restaurant in front of potential employees is key to getting new hires. In addition to posting jobs inside the restaurant and on job search websites, restaurants are using social media and concrete incentives to encourage applicants.
By leveraging new or existing partnerships with community groups, schools, and other local businesses, restaurant owners actively engage potential summer hires in social settings. Some examples include visiting high school classes, sporting events, or job fairs to pitch your unique opportunity. This presents a great opportunity to reach out to customers at service-based events where they might be working for school credit.
Be Transparent
During the hiring process, the most successful restaurants are clear with job expectations, daily tasks, hours and break times, and employee benefits. Transparency is key with young people, who are often intimidated by committing to a job they have no experience with, doubt that food service can provide them with applicable skills, or whose trust may have been broken by a former employer.
By providing flexible schedule options to teens, restaurant owners benefit both parties: the merchant is able to fill gaps in employee schedules, and teens are able to work while also participating in other school and summer activities.
During the hiring process, the most successful restaurants are clear with job expectations, daily tasks, hours and break times, and employee benefits. Transparency is key with young people, who are often intimidated by committing to a job they have no experience with, doubt that food service can provide them with applicable skills, or whose trust may have been broken by a former employer.
By providing flexible schedule options to teens, restaurant owners benefit both parties: the merchant is able to fill gaps in employee schedules, and teens are able to work while also participating in other school and summer activities.
A key step in attracting teenage staff is informing them of the practical skills they can learn as a restaurant employee
Clearly communicate job roles, expectations, and benefits wherever you are posting job openings, and provide a way for interested applicants to reach out with questions. A great way to help potential employees know about a business is by encouraging them to ask current employees what they enjoy about their job and how they have benefitted from it.
There are numerous stories of summer jobs leading to a very successful career, such as teens starting as a dishwasher and working their way up to sous-chef, then head chef, and ultimately owning their own restaurant(s). Sharing these stories assures young people of room for growth in the industry, encouraging them to return to work during winter vacations and summer breaks.
Some restaurants even create their own short video to answer these types of questions and post it on social media and the store website. Videos also provide a good opportunity for long-time employees to share their success stories that encourage young people to get involved.
Reward Applicants
Many restaurants already offer competitive sign-on benefits, or even rewarding applicants just for applying. By rewarding applicants who complete the interview process with complimentary loyalty credits or store gift cards, restaurants establish a positive rapport, ensure future business, and increase their likelihood of gaining new hires.
With Masa+ digital ordering and payments, guests can redeem physical and digital loyalty, rewards, and gift card credits in-store or online. Customers simply present physical cards in-store, or redeem digital rewards via a Masa+ secure wallet.
Learn more by contacting an Aldelo representative today at [email protected] or 925-621-2410
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Restaurants that use ultra-competitive Aldelo Pay or Aldelo Partner Merchant Services obtain access to a Centralized Multi-Store Restaurant Technology Platform that includes Masa+ Online Ordering, Unlimited Software Releases, Unlimited Software Upgrades, and 24/7 Technical Support! *** Please contact an Aldelo representative today for more details, including a free Aldelo Express POS demo trial [email protected] | 877-639-8767 | [email protected] |
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*https://www.restaurant.org/Downloads/PDFs/Research/SOI/restaurant_industry_fact_sheet_2019.pdf