Quick Ways to Hire Servers for Your Restaurant

Servers for Hire: Quick Ways to Staff Your Restaurant 

Running a restaurant is a fast-paced and demanding endeavor. The ability to quickly adapt and respond to changes is a big factor in the restaurant industry. One of the biggest challenges is finding reliable staff on short notice. 

Servers play an important role in keeping things running smoothly and ensuring your customers have a great experience. As the demand for dining out increases, the need to fill server positions quickly becomes even more critical.

In recent years, restaurants have faced significant staffing challenges. This blog will discuss the growing need for servers, and the ways to quickly find and hire the right people using technology and local resources.

The Growing Demand for Servers

The demand for servers has significantly increased in recent years. Servers are essential in creating a positive dining experience, and with more people dining out, restaurants are busier than ever. This surge in dining means that restaurants need more servers to meet the growing customer demand and ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for all guests.

Several factors contribute to this increased demand. With economic recovery and rising consumer confidence, people are dining out more frequently. Special events, corporate event functions, private parties, and other types of events are also seeing a resurgence, further driving the need for more servers. As restaurants expand their services and operating hours to accommodate this influx, the need for reliable and skilled servers becomes even more critical.

Current Staffing Challenges

In recent years, the hospitality industry has faced significant staffing challenges. Many restaurants are struggling to find and keep good servers, leading to labor shortages and high turnover rates. Several factors contribute to these issues, and restaurant owners and managers to find quick and easy solutions.

Factors Contributing to Staffing Challenges

• Changing Work Preferences: More workers want flexible schedules and a better work-life balance, making it harder to keep full-time staff.
• Economic Pressures: Rising living costs and low wages in some areas have driven many workers to look for higher-paying jobs elsewhere.
• High Turnover Rates: The constant need to train new staff is time-consuming and costly for restaurants.
• Unpredictable Staffing Levels: Inconsistent staffing can lead to overworked employees, resulting in burnout and even more turnover.

Impact on Restaurants

• Quality of Service: A shortage of reliable servers can negatively impact the quality of service and the overall dining experience.
• Increased Training Costs: High turnover rates mean that restaurants must frequently invest in training new employees.
• Employee Burnout: Overworked staff due to unpredictable staffing levels can lead to higher turnover and lower morale.

Given these challenges, finding effective ways to hire food servers quickly and maintaining a stable workforce has become a top priority for many restaurants.

Leveraging Technology for Quick Staffing

Staffing a restaurant quickly and efficiently is essential to maintaining excellent service. With advancements in technology, restaurant owners and managers now have access to tools that can streamline the hiring process and ensure they have a reliable team of servers. Here are some key technologies that can help with quick staffing:

On-Demand Staffing Platforms

On-demand staffing platforms, like shiftNOW, provide instant access to vetted servers. These platforms connect restaurants with a pool of qualified and experienced workers who are ready to fill shifts at a moment's notice. Here's how to leverage these platforms:

• Instant Access to Talent: With a few clicks, you can post a job and instantly receive applicants from shiftNOW’s network of pre-vetted servers. This means no more waiting days or weeks to fill a position.
• Vetted Candidates: On-demand platforms pre-screen and vet candidates, ensuring you get reliable and skilled workers. This saves you time and effort in the hiring process.
• Flexible Hiring Options: Whether for a single shift or a longer-term position, these platforms offer flexible hiring options to meet your specific needs.

Mobile Apps

Mobile apps, often part of these staffing platforms, have changed the hiring process. With these apps, managers can post job openings and review candidates quickly and easily. Using apps allows you to find food servers for hire near you, meaning you can find the right people without delay. Here’s how to make the most of mobile apps:

• Quick Job Posting: Mobile apps allow you to post job openings on the go. Simply enter the job details, and your posting will be visible to potential candidates immediately.
• Candidate Review: These apps provide detailed profiles, ratings, and even video introductions of potential hires. You can quickly review and select candidates who meet your criteria.
• Real-Time Updates: Get real-time notifications when candidates apply, so you can respond promptly and secure the best talent for your restaurant.

AI and Automation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation tools can make the staffing process even more efficient. Here’s how AI and automation can help you quickly find the best candidates:

• Smart Matching: AI tools, such as those offered by Indeed, and LinkedIn Talent Solutions, can match job postings with the best candidates based on skills, experience, and availability. This ensures you get the most suitable candidates for your needs.
• Predictive Staffing: Tools like Workforce Logiq, and TalentNeuron use AI to analyze your staffing needs and predict the best times to post jobs. This helps you stay ahead of your staffing requirements by anticipating hiring needs based on various factors such as seasonality, turnover rates, and business trends.
• Automated Scheduling: Automation tools like When I Work, and Kronos Workforce Ready handle the scheduling process, ensuring that shifts are filled quickly and efficiently without manual intervention. These tools analyze employee availability, preferences, and business needs to create optimal schedules and manage labor costs effectively.

By leveraging these technologies, finding servers has never been easier. 

Networking and Local Resources

In addition to technology, leveraging local resources and networking can help you quickly staff your restaurant. Here are some effective ways to find food servers for hire using your existing connections and community resources:

Employee Referrals

Encouraging your current employees to refer friends or family members can be a highly effective way to find new servers. Here’s how to make the most of employee referrals:

Incentives for Successful Hires

Offer bonuses or other incentives to employees who refer successful hires. This motivates your team to recommend people they trust and believe will be a good fit.

Create a Referral Program

Establish a formal referral program with clear guidelines and rewards. Communicate this program to all employees so they know how it works and what they can earn.

Quick Integration

Referred candidates often integrate more smoothly into the team because they already have a connection within the workplace.

Community Connections

Utilizing local resources can help you find potential hires quickly. Here’s how to tap into your community connections:

Local Job Fairs

Attend local job fairs where you can meet potential candidates face-to-face. Bring information about your restaurant and the positions available.

Hospitality Schools

Reach out to local hospitality schools and culinary institutes. These schools often have job boards and career services that can connect you with students looking for work.

Community Boards

Post job openings on community bulletin boards in places like libraries, community centers, and local shops. This can help you reach people who are actively looking for work in your area.

Social Media Outreach

Using social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram can expand your reach and attract a wider pool of candidates. Here’s how to use social media for hiring:

LinkedIn

Post job openings on LinkedIn and share them in relevant groups. Encourage your employees to share these posts with their networks.

Facebook

Use your restaurant’s Facebook page to post job openings and boost these posts to reach a larger audience. Join local job groups and post your openings there as well.

Instagram

Create eye-catching posts or stories about your job openings. Use relevant hashtags to increase visibility. Encourage your followers to share the posts with their networks.

Quick and Effective Staffing Solutions

Staffing your restaurant quickly and efficiently is essential for maintaining excellent service and ensuring a positive dining experience for your customers. 

Implementing these strategies you can find and hire reliable servers even at the last minute. Platforms like shiftNOW provide a form of staffing service that allows you to quickly access vetted servers, making it easier to fill open shifts and maintain high service standards.

Don’t let staffing challenges slow you down. Start exploring these methods today to find the best servers for hire and ensure your restaurant is always ready to provide exceptional service. For more information on how shiftNOW can help you meet your staffing needs, visit www.shiftnow.com and discover the benefits of our on-demand staffing solutions.