Attracting the best candidate for your chef job.
Only Chefs
Only Chefs is a multi-award winning chef recruitment platform. Find your next dream job at Only Chefs.
Post Brexit and Covid, and with a shrinking talent pool and higher demand for chefs, it’s no mean feat being able to hire and retain a capable, competent and brilliant chef for your business right now.
However, there are some things you can start doing, or do better! Here are five tips to help you attract the best candidate for your chef job.
1. Get the basics right
Our research shows that at least 60% of employers looking to hire chefs right now are out of touch with current salary and benefit levels in the marketplace.
In other words, you should be offering at least what the market expects in order for you to attract the level of chef that you’re looking to hire. Make sure you do your research before going out to market. You can do this by searching for similar jobs on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed etc.
2. Tap into your network
The chef world is a small yet highly interconnected place. Talk to other restaurant, bar or pub owners and ask them if they know anyone suitable for the role you’re recruiting for (if they aren't hiring as well). If you know other currently employed chefs, reach out to them as well.
Also, put the word out to family and friends that you’re on the lookout for a chef. People know people, so you need to take advantage of as many networks as possible.
3. Put social media to good use
Make sure your chef job is posted on social media platforms (this includes LinkedIn). Think about doing a chef job ad video rather than just an image and copy post.
Consider paying to promote your chef job locally on social media to help boost awareness. And don’t forget to post your opportunity on relevant social media groups. Just make sure you follow each groups posting rules and guidelines.
Lastly, don't forget to use hashtags to boost the reach your chef job ad gets. Be sure to always include some of these high-use ones: #chef #chefsofinstagram #chefs #chefstalk #cheflife #chefjobs #instachef #topchef #cheftalk #chefwork #professionalchefs #chefjob
4. Incentivise your staff
Chances are that your present workforce has connections in the chef world and might be able to provide recommendations.
Offer some sort of bonus or gift to them to help widen your applicant net. And don’t forget to ask them to like and share your chef job post on their social media pages to extend your job ads organic reach.
5. Build your employer brand
Your employer brand is a mix of multiple touchpoints: your culture, your team, your vision, and the opportunities you can provide potential hires with. Your employer brand is just as important whether you are a 30-cover neighbourhood restaurant or a branded restaurant chain with 100 venues. Ignore it at your peril.
Having a strong employer brand should by its nature drive great chef prospects directly to you. People want to work for good employers, and those who do often act as brilliant advocates for a company, without being asked or paid to do so.
A strong employer brand will also make it easier for you to retain your existing staff AND boost productivity as employees will want to do their best for you!
And finally...
The industry has changed, but has your approach to?hiring chefs??
A smaller chef talent pool and much more competition means it’s vital for every employer regardless of size to utilise the most effective recruitment tools in the market to engage the talent they need.
Save yourself precious time and money by using Only Chefs, the UK’s leading chef-only direct hire platform. Plus, sign up today and get?6 weeks free access to the platform?and a chance to win 12 months free access worth ￡3,000 (T&Cs apply, click link for more).