Baltimore restaurant chains are looking for managers, and John Hess has opened an office to help get you that job.

Hess and his partner, Michael Feinberg, help match up restaurant managers and assistant managers with job openings in the area, and also help chains find the talent to fill managerial spots. Locally, Hess says there are about 20 foodservice jobs he’s scouting for in the $30,000 to $50,000 pay range. Below, you’ll find a Q&A I recently had with Hess about the restaurant hiring trends.

 What do you find the right person for the right job?

We run ads on the internet, on our website and cold call to find great managers. The Patrice & Associates reputation of over 20 years brings a lot of people to our website.

 What do you see going on in the hiring part of the restaurant industry?

 About how many resumes and job applications do you get a day?

On an average day, it can be anywhere from 50 to 100. Somewhere in the 20 percent range are job seekers I can actually work with.

 What advice would you give for job seekers looking to get their foot in the managerial door?

I face that every day with good quality people who don’t have the experience. I think the best thing to do is start working somewhere. Get a job as a server, waiter, kitchen, and try to move up. Tell them you’re interested in doing more, by helping with marketing or promotions or ordering. Most places will let you do that. And stability. Stay somewhere for a while, learn where you are. Don’t just leave in six months. That’s the biggest thing I can offer somebody.

 Where do you focus on recruiting jobs?

 We recruit nationally. We did set up the office here in Baltimore because we live here. So we try to focus here in Maryland, but we spend as much time for Philadelphia, Florida, Virginia. Wherever the people and the jobs are taking us.

 What kinds of jobs do you recruit? 

I am proud to announce that our largest class ever has just graduated.  We had 16 high energy, smart people in our class which included 6 franchisees (Regional Recruiting Managers) and 10 recruiters that will be working with senior Regional Recruiting Managers.  We covered the country with people from Florida to California.

This is our first class where we have expanded our training to include the services of an independent Business Coach for all Regional Recruiting Managers.  It is my personal mission to provide franchisees with every possible advantage for success. 

Ann Connor, Business Coach with AdviCoach, provided telephone profile assessment counseling prior to everyones arrival in Baltimore. Ann flew from New Hampshire to Baltimore on the first day of training and conducted one-on-one coaching sessions with each Regional Recruiting Manager. She also talked with the group of recruiters and gave them some tips on beginning their own business as a recruiter with Patrice & Associates.

Many franchisees and recruiters are first time business owners and making the transition from employee to self-employment can be difficult. Through Ann’s guidance, our class  is coached on developing a business plan with financial projections and goals, marketing and sales tools for budgeting and measuring the results from advertising campaigns, developing an individualized plan of action to ensure goals are met, establishing daily routines with weekly self-checking mechanisms to ensure success. 

I feel confident that the addition of Ann’s services to our training program will be a huge benefit to all!  To learn more about how business coaching can help you, visit Ann’s website at www.advicoach.com/aconnor