Job fairs are a great place to get leads on a restaurant career and to find out which companies are searching for Restaurant Staffing. When a person uses them effectively, they can be a quick way to gain new employment. Unfortunately, many people do not prepare for them the same way that they would for a job interview. If you are on a Restaurant Job Search, then anytime you talk to a potential employer you should act like it is a job interview. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

– Do not just walk up to a table and say “What openings do you have?” A Food Recruiter is not looking for a jack of all trades that will take what they can get. They want a specialist that will add value to the team and immediately start moving the company toward its ultimate goals. Do your research about the restaurants before you go to the job fair. Find out which restaurants are going to be in attendance and what openings that they have in their roster. Then speak directly about the opening and why you would be the best person for the job.

– Perfect your elevator speech. An elevator speech is no longer than 30 seconds and effectively communicates what you do and what your strengths are. So, when you meet a potential employer you can say, “Hello, my name is John Doe and I am a professional chef specializing in French cuisine. I see that you have an opening in your French restaurant for a head chef and I would love to discuss the details with you!” That will get you much more attention than, “Hi, do you have an application to fill out or should I just email you my resume?”

– Come prepared. For many Restaurant Careers an employer will want to know what your skills are, as well as your employment history. So, bring a few copies of an updated resume with you. It is better to have them and not need them, than loose a potential job because you were not prepared.

– Dress professionally and clean yourself up! If a company is doing a Restaurant Executive Search, then the first thing that they will look at is your image. It doesn’t matter what your business acumen is, if your customers will not eat anything that you may have touched. Get a haircut, take a shower and wear business casual dress. That would be nice shoes or loafers, khaki pants and a golf shirt, at a minimum. The only caveat is to dress appropriately for the restaurant that you want to work for. If you are looking for a five star employer then you may want to dress up even nicer.

Remember you can also try a restaurant recruiting agency. These companies work hard to get you in front of hiring managers with many of the restaurants across the country. This is also a great way to land a top restaurant position with a thriving organization. They will also help prepare you for the interview and guideance with your resume creation.

Restaurants are still hiring. There are many great positions currently available. Just put forth a little effort and you may have a new job title soon.

Author Bio: Article written by Craig Lawson with Click Ready Marketing for Martin & Associates. Martins & Associates are proud to be one of the nation’s top Restaurant Management Recruiters. Visit our site to learn more about career opportunities in restaurant management.

Category: Career
Keywords: Restaurant Management Recruiters, Restaurant Recruiting, Restaurant Careers, Restaurant Job Fairs