Finding the right staff for your restaurant can be a challenge. Whether you’re running a busy neighborhood café or a fine dining spot, having a reliable team makes all the difference. General job boards often miss the mark, which is why many restaurant owners turn to specialized restaurant hiring platforms.
In this guide, we’ll break down the 11 best restaurant hiring platforms to help you cut through the noise and find the talent you need to keep your business running smoothly.
Hiring restaurant staff is different from hiring for an office job. You need people who can handle the unique demands of hospitality—whether that’s working under pressure, juggling tasks, or just being able to jump in wherever needed. That’s why these hiring platforms for restaurants exist. They’re designed to help you find people who’ve been there and know what to expect.
Using these platforms means:
Poached is one of the go-to job boards for restaurants. It caters specifically to the hospitality industry, so you’re not wasting time with irrelevant applicants. It’s great for everything from front-of-house roles to line cooks.
Culinary Agents takes a more professional approach to hiring for food and beverage roles. Think of it as the LinkedIn for restaurant and hospitality pros. It’s not just about jobs—you can also network with talent across the industry.
Harri isn’t just a hiring platform—it’s a full workforce management tool. It’s got everything from job postings to scheduling and internal communication, which can be a lifesaver for restaurant owners trying to keep track of a growing team.
Indeed might not be hospitality-specific, but its reach is massive, and that makes it useful for volume hiring. If you need to fill positions quickly, the sheer number of candidates on Indeed can help. Here's how to post a job on Indeed in five simple steps.
ZipRecruiter uses some clever AI to help match you with the right candidates quickly. You can also post to over 100 job boards in one go, which can be helpful if you’re trying to reach as many people as possible.
Seasoned focuses on hourly workers in the restaurant industry. It’s especially useful for hiring locally since it taps into community-based networks. If you’re looking to fill front-line roles quickly, Seasoned is a solid option.
Snagajob is all about hourly work, making it perfect for restaurants. Whether you need part-time help or full-time staff, Snagajob’s got a large pool of hourly workers ready to apply.
Hcareers is a job board that specializes in the hospitality industry. It’s a good place to find experienced professionals who have worked in restaurants, hotels, and similar settings.
Shiftgig connects businesses with gig workers who are looking for temporary shifts. If you need extra hands for a busy weekend or a special event, this is a great way to get people in fast.
With so many options available, the key is to figure out which restaurant hiring platform fits your needs. Here’s how to make that decision:
1. What is a restaurant hiring platform?
It’s a job board or recruitment site built to help restaurants find qualified staff quickly and easily. These platforms often include tools like applicant tracking and scheduling.
2. Which platform is best for hiring hourly workers?
Platforms like Seasoned and Snagajob are designed specifically for hourly workers, which is perfect for most restaurant roles.
3. Can these platforms help me hire seasonal or temporary staff?
Yes, platforms like Shiftgig specialize in connecting restaurants with temporary or gig workers.
4. How do I choose the best hiring platform for my restaurant?
It depends on what you’re looking for. If you need quick hires, go for platforms with large applicant pools like Indeed or ZipRecruiter. If you’re looking for specific skills, Culinary Agents or Hcareers might be a better fit.
Finding the right staff is one of the most important parts of running a restaurant. By using one of these restaurant hiring platforms, you can make the process smoother and more efficient. Whether you’re looking for temporary help or long-term team members, there’s a platform here that will help you find the talent you need.
The 5 C's of interviewing include Competency, Character, Communication Skills, Culture Fit, and Career Direction. Competency involves having the necessary technical skills for the task, often assessed through technical evaluations during the interview.
To conduct an effective interview, start by making the applicant comfortable, such as by establishing rapport with a shared topic before diving into more challenging questions. Utilize open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses, listen more than you speak, take notes diligently, and be mindful of legal boundaries in questioning.
When giving an interview, it's advisable to arrive early, prepare a brief summary of your experience relevant to the position, listen attentively to each question, maintain a positive demeanor while avoiding negative remarks about previous employers, and be conscious of your body language and tone.
A good interview should begin with a friendly opening to make the candidate feel at ease, followed by proper introductions. Set clear expectations for the interview, treat it as a conversational exchange to gather essential information, and share your leadership philosophies. Finally, allow the candidate to ask their own questions.
