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I find it interesting how restaurants are moving more into the seafood category on their menus.  Living my life on the Chesapeake Bay I can't bring myself to order "Maryland Crab Cakes" in another state ... like the midwest. Not so long ago those who didn’t live near the water but who wanted to eat fresh seafood had to choose between expensive fine-dining restaurants or fry-it-all fast-food joints. Now, a wave of multi-unit, fast casual seafood concepts are stepping in to fill the gap. “We’ve seen the space grow significantly in the 12 years we’ve been around,” said Jonathan Weathington,…

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"Lifestyle dieters" want choices in where they eat which often makes it difficult for restaurants to recruit managers that understand that concept. Just when gluten-free has begun to be manageable for most QSRs to safely serve for both customers who must refrain from gluten, along with those who simply opt to do so, along comes a slew of new ways the world wants to eat. From keto and paleo, to Whole30 and Clean Menu eating, QSR customers are eating from the "lifestyle" diet that best meets their needs and  preferences. Typically, the popularity of any given diet will either build…

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As a recruitment agency we see all kinds of situations. It has been amazing to watch what people do on interviews.  I had a candidate that was interviewing with Panera Bread who walked into the interview with a Starbucks coffee!  There was a candidate who was finishing up chewing his breakfast while introducing himself to the interviewer.  What were these people thinking?  Obviously they weren't! Interviews come in many guises, but the errors people make are common. Some are very obvious, but recruiters still get faced with them on a regular basis. Not enough research By far the most common…

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Throughout the years of recruiting, I've seen the "style" become more and more casual.  When interviewing for a job you have make sure you "look" the part of the job you are applying for. It should go without saying that the interview is the first and only chance you’ll get to make a good impression. You may have all the qualifications in the world, but turn up looking scruffy and you’ll be headed for the exit instead of your new manager’s office.  Psychologists estimate that just 7% of the impression you make at interview will be based on what you say. The…

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As a career coach for 30 years, I've heard all the stories from recruiters about people going on interviews.  Recruitment is one thing, now you have the interview and there are many aspects to think about. Your body language can say a lot more about your feelings than you might suppose, and this is especially true when you’re being interviewed. Poor body language can betray nervousness and give the interviewer the wrong impression. Follow these five simple tips to ensure your body language remains as eloquent and as articulate as you are. 1. Faking it Most people can spot a…

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If you’ve been working in the hotel industry for a while, you’ll be looking to further your career at some point, and what better way than to make the step up to a five star hotel? Jose Ruiz, HR manager at The Berkeley Hotel, gives some ideas on what to expect when you interview for a five star hotel position.   Q: How different is the interview process for the service industry as opposed to, say, an office job? A: I wouldn’t say it’s completely different, although in the service industry the emphasis is firmly on personality and behavior. At our hotel,…

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 You’ve seen the hotel, restaurant or catering job   you want, you’ve sent off your resume and you’ve got a first interview. So, what are the mistakes you need to avoid to ensure you clear this hurdle and get a second one? Well, there’s a lot of advice out there, and you’ve probably heard the obvious ones about not turning up late and not looking scruffy. You’ve probably even heard the horror stories of the interviewees who chewed gum throughout their interviews, or started munching on sandwiches. Or the ones with the odd questions (tip: never ask an interviewer if that’s their natural hair color). But what about the…

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Recruitment Tips to maximize your job postings In today's unemployment market, you need to use all avenues to find the best candidate.  Using Patrice & Associates is a great idea as we want to be your staffing partner.  Being your staffing partner also means we want to help you find multiple ways to source candidates when necessary.  Solve Your Recruitment Challenges Did you know, as many as 54% of Americans use the internet to look for available jobs? So, if you're an employer wanting to fill a vacancy, there's a good chance you've posted an ad on a job board. If that…

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I want to share some thoughts that's relevant to you as a hospitality industry shift worker who works works long, disjointed hours.  Coping with shift work can be difficult.  "Work to live, don't live to work" "The easiest way to deal with working long hours was just to make it enjoyable, have a laugh and banter with the customers. At the end of the day, the best way to get through it is to keep yourself busy at all times." "Large vanilla latte, extra shot of espresso, plus a double choc muffin!" "Working in hot busy environments should be treated…

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How to Restore Your Work/Life Balance in Hospitality Profession Finding the right work-life balance is an important part of being happy at work. We all know how dedicated to your jobs you hospitality people are, but most of you know the tricks to maintaining equilibrium.  Getting the balance right between work and the other things in life can be tricky. Juggling work with caring for children or elderly relatives, studying, working in the community, or making time to meet up with friends can be difficult. Getting it wrong can lead to stress and unease, so finding that balance is crucial to…

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