Don't sell yourself short - 5 tips to secure the best cafe staff in a post-covid job market
In the UK at the moment, people are leaving their jobs at the highest rate since 2009, and we are in what’s being dubbed ‘The Great Resignation’. Sounds overblown, but, trust me; it's not.
Couple that with post-covid cafe staff shortages across hospitality and you can see why now more than ever, hospitality business owners are stepping up in their search for the best cafe workers.
So what can you do to stand out from the crowd and secure top talent?
Enough about them, what about you? Whether you’re looking for temp cafe staff or a full time Barista for hire, gone are the days where hospo businesses had their pick of hundreds of applications - in today’s market where there is a staff shortage, you are selling yourself and your business to job-seekers! Of course it’s important for potential staff to tell you about their background and skills but when they are looking at 10 different jobs with a similar offering, what makes you unique? Tell them about the business, what’s it like to work at your venue, what makes you unique and why should they want to work with you?
Job seekers are looking for security Do you offer your staff regular, reliable hours? What about secure contracts? For cafe workers struggling with burn out, the offer of paid leave would be music to their ears. Don’t be afraid of offering more security or job perks - you will be more likely to retain the amazing staff you spent so long searching for!
Money, money, money If you’re recruiting for an entry level role then it might make sense to offer minimum wage. But if you’re looking for a skilled barista, chef or waiter that you’re hoping will stick around long term, they will be expecting a reasonable wage to match their skills. With the cost of living always on the rise, a competitive pay rate is an important part of your offering.
First impressions count Job seekers walk into countless cafes and restaurants for job interviews, and that first moment that they enter your business could make or break the interview for you. Do they get greeted warmly? What’s the ambiance like? Do you have an amazing playlist running? All of these factors will influence the tone of your interview - you want them to want to come back!
On-the-job trainingThe kind of staff that you want in your cafe long term are the kind of staff that are always keen to up-skill and get more training under their belt. So if a worker is choosing between you or a competitor, offering on-the-job training or funded industry courses could just tip the scales in your favour.
When you go the extra mile for your staff, they will go the extra mile for your customers which is the key to creating a loyal customer base. The post-covid job market is new territory for all of us, but by focusing on seeking out the best talent possible and standing out from your recruitment competition, you’ll be setting your business up for long-term success.