Selling the Great
Hospitality Jobs in
Rural Clubs
By Ken Burgin
You offer the best hospitality
jobs in town - excellent
conditions, proper pay and a
commitment to training. So
why do people complain that
they can’t find good staff? Time
for a shift in how you promote
the opportunities, and a new
‘Masterchef’ face on your club’s
food. The talent is out there,
so let’s update the recruitment
methods.
1. Promote the benefits of your
area.
Check the local tourist authority
and council websites: they know
how to talk up the town. Country
rents and real estate can be
much less expensive than the
city – don’t forget to mention
this in your advertisements.
Your club website should
include information about
local attractions, schools and
lifestyle, as well as opening
hours, facilities and menus. This
could be the chance for a chef to
buy their own house, which they
could never afford in a big city.
2. Advertise positions so the
whole country can read them.
On your own website and using
national job websites. Savvy
candidates will check your
website, and won’t be impressed
if it looks old and ugly. Facebook
advertising is also an excellent
option – it can be targeted to a
particular area or type of person.
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3. Consider using a professional
recruiter.
Use a service that does all the
work – hunting, shortlisting,
interviewing and recommending.
It will cost a few thousand
dollars, but the cost of DIY is
much more – you know how
that’s worked in the past!
4. Modernise the menu.
You know it has to be done. TV
food shows are popular in every
part of Australia, and everyone is
thinking about food in a new way.
If the highlight of your culinary
week is the seafood basket, you
will not be successful attracting
young chefs. Period. Keep the
senior specials, but a fresh new
menu is essential.
5. Build a relationship with your
local school.
Hospitality is a popular subject,
and your teamwork with
dedicated teachers will mean