hire
Five Big Job Interview Don’ts
Job hunting can be a long and stressful process. Finally getting the call for an interview should be exciting news, but for many people it brings on a new wave of stress and anxiety. If you want to put your best foot forward, take a deep breath and be sure to steer clear of these big interview don’ts.
Don’t show up disheveled and sloppy. We’re all taught not to judge a book by it’s cover, but the truth is that in a job interview your appearance will be the thing that interviewers notice first. Appropriate work attire varies greatly between companies, but a little research before hand should let you know if you’re headed into a casual jeans enviroment or something more upscale. Most interviewers will forgive you for being slightly over or underdressed, but rolling straight out of bed- sloppy is a different story. Be sure to plan enough time into your day to arrive with well-groomed hair, trimmed nails, and wrinkle-free clothing. Looking like a slob can communicate to the interviewer that you don’t respect the company or the opportunity enough to take the time to put your best foot forward.
Don’t be clueless about the hiring company. If you’ve taken the time to apply for the job, it should me that you’re interested in being a part of their company. Spend a few hours in the days before your interview to do a little research on the business and even the hiring manager, if possible. Chances are that you will be asked if you have any questions about the company, and being able to ask an informed question will show that you take initiative and are serious about the opportunity. Walking into an interview with no knowledge of the company can come across as insulting and will make the hiring manager question if you’re even interested in the job at all.
Don’t freeze up. Interviews are stressful for everyone, but even more so for shy personalities and people with anxiety. It can be a natural tendency to feel nervous and want to stay quiet and get the process over as quickly as possible. But this is your one chance to show the hiring manager that you can be an asset to their company, and that’s virtually impossible when you freeze up. If your nerves tend to take over in an interview, spend a little time practicing in the days leading up to it. Go over common questions and think of how you might answer them. On the day of the interview remember to breath, look the interviewer in the eye, and try to avoid one word answers.
Don’t dominate the conversation. This is the polar opposite of freezing up, but it is usually a result of the same nerves and anxiety. You’re told to spend time practicing what you might say and to research the company before hand, but how do you apply those things once in the interview? You wait for the questions to be asked! You don’t want to walk into the room and begin talking as if it is a one-sided monologue rather than an interview. Even if you’re saying all the right things, dominating the conversation can feel exhausting for the hiring manager and be a major turn off. If nerves tend to make you talk more, try to focus on remembering to let the interviewer lead the conversation and maybe even ask him or her questions pertaining to the position to help engage in conversation.
Don’t stretch the truth. Everyone wants to put their best foot forward and deliver the best resume, but in the age of mass information it’s easier than ever to fact check anything you tell an interviewer. If there is anything less than impressive in your work history, it is best to take the high road and offer a simple, yet non-defensive explanation. Your trustworthiness is of the most importance and is a quality that any interviewer will want to see.
Job hunting is hard enough, don’t make it any more difficult than it has to be. If you keep these five things in mind as you prepare for your interview, then you’ll have a great shot at landing the job that you really want!
SEATTLE, WE’RE LOOKING FOR YOUR TOP KITCHEN & RESTAURANT MANAGERS:
In today’s extremely competitive job market, we need all the help we can get to land a job anywhere, and that includes the beloved city of Seattle.
Seattle has got a name on the map for the home of Starbucks, the Seahawks and being a destination of constant rain… but that’s not all! Whether it’s the tourist destination hot spots or locally owned, specialty restaurants… there’s a place for hospitality hires to enjoy life and expand their career in this hub of the Northwest.
Throughout every neighborhood you’ll find a vast variety of restaurants and bars. “Out with the old and in with the new” has been the recent mantra with a steady stream of business development specifically in the hospitality industry – new specialty bars, wineries, casual and high end restaurants with more popping up all over this Northwestern city.
Here at PCH we recruit only the top talent. As the fall season arrives, we have several outstanding positions open to fulfill for America’s top companies before the holiday rush takes over. Sound like you could be the qualified candidate for one of our openings?
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SEATTLE, WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR TOP KITCHEN & RESTAURANT MANAGERS:
In today’s extremely competitive job market, we need all the help we can get to land a job anywhere, and that includes the beloved city of Seattle.
Seattle has got a name on the map for the home of Starbucks, the Seahawks and being a destination of constant rain… but that’s not all! Whether it’s the tourist destination hot spots or locally owned, specialty restaurants… there’s a place for hospitality hires to enjoy life and expand their career in this hub of the Northwest.
Throughout every neighborhood you’ll find a vast variety of restaurants and bars. “Out with the old and in with the new” has been the recent mantra with a steady stream of business development specifically in the hospitality industry – new specialty bars, wineries, casual and high end restaurants with more popping up all over this Northwestern city.
Here at PCH we recruit only the top talent. As the fall season arrives, we have several outstanding positions open to fulfill for America’s top companies before the holiday rush takes over. Sound like you could be the qualified candidate for one of our openings?
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HIRING: PACIFIC NORTHWEST
The Pacific Northwest… the only place in America where you can blaze the trail to natural hot springs in the morning, Instagram a pic of the mountains during lunch and hit one of the world’s coolest cities by afternoon to sample a few local brewed beers and dine at the finest of establishments into dawn.
The Pacific Northwest is a region of offbeat charm and character. Its quirky sense of style and belonging make it a place that’s hard to say goodbye to.
Portland and Seattle are just two of the Northwest cities we’re most fond of and currently hiring talented candidates for open hospitality positions:
Call it what you want – PDX, P-Town, Puddletown, Stumptown, City of Roses, Bridge City, River City or Beervana – Portland doesn’t disappoint. And Seattle, it might have got a name as the home of Starbucks and it certainly shares in the bad rap for rain and grey skies along with Portland… but there’s more! Much more to both these Northwest cities when you become a local.
The locals don’t let the rain get them down, umbrellas are for the visitors – locals don’t mind the weather and never let it get in the way of having a good time. With Pike Place Market home to more than 200 vendors, farmers, and specialty shops, it’ Seattle’s No. 1 tourist destination.
Portland continually keeps things a little more green with a strong reputation for being a republic of tree huggers, and understandably so. One of the best and most convenient places to enjoy them is the aptly named Forest Park, a bosky Eden where natives like to take their morning run, bike, dog walk or enjoy the day.
When you’re headed to a local game in the Northwest, you can’t be a fair weather fan. And may we not forget the grub – with everything from specified menus created by world renowned chefs to longstanding home style establishments, your pallet won’t go dull.
Whether looking for a career advancement or uproot from your current location, maybe the Northwest lifestyle is right for you? Apply today.
The Economy of Artisan Pizza
Is there such a thing as bad pizza? In today’s ever growing “artisan pizza” market, there might one day soon be a thing as bad pizza which everyone wants to avoid. Cheap and basic don’t often cut it anymore. Consumers are looking for artisan crafted and pizzerias to step it up with the product they deliver. The freshness of farm-to-table ingredients creates the perception of a healthier pie, while exotic cheeses and meats convey an aura of sophistication and provide a new experience in flavor profiles.
Along with new flavor experiences everyone is looking for quality – what that standard of quality is may vary from consumer to consumer – whether it be taste, organic ingredients used, size of each pie, etc. consumers are starting to realize the art of pizza making and the quality they are receiving on each slice.
In general, most consumers haven’t let a sluggish economy get in the way of pleasing their palates; if anything, they’re getting pickier about quality. In a 2012 survey by research firm Technomic, 34% of diners said they were willing to pay more for gourmet ingredients, compared to 26% in 2010, while 27% said they’d shell out more for natural or organic ingredients, up from 21% two years earlier. In the same study, 33% said they were “interested in trying pizza with highly innovative toppings,” a big jump from 13% in 2010.
Want proof the consumers growing favoritism for specialty pizzas? The biggest pizza chains in the US today are even making alterations to meet consumers demands for artisan, hand crafted pies. From Domino’s to Papa Murphy’s and many small pizza shops in cites all across the US, all have leapt into this new market concept, artisan pizzas.
With the economy of pizza ever growing and changing, the rise of careers available comes along too. With consumers begging for new, bold and specialty flavors, now is the time to start your artisan career in the pizza industry. More than just a hospitality position, PCH is looking to place artisans with a passion and desire to create and combine unique taste pizza consumers will rave about.
Want more information on positions we’ve got available in the pizza industry? Visit our website.
JOIN THE RESORT LIFE: JOBS IN WASHINGTON AND MONTANA
The destination is where the journey begins. Working at a resort will give you the chance to see the world, meet people from all over, live in a spectacular setting, and learn new skills.
While most of your time will be spent working, you will have opportunities to enjoy your surroundings. Better yet, most employers allow employees free use of resort facilities while on their time off.
Hiring for resort positions can be very selective – here with Pacific Coast Hospitality, we have the inside track for jumpstarting your hospitality career. Along with all the relaxed lifestyle, secluded in exceptional resorts, you will have opportunities for career development within today’s most dominate industry leading establishments, from the point of hire throughout an extensive career.
Whether looking for a career advancement or uproot from your current location, maybe the resort life is right for you? Apply today.
TOP 3 MISTAKES MADE HIRING IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Hiring continues to be one of the most difficult aspects of managing and growing a successful business. A massive amount of research has gone into the subject and methods of all kinds have been created by thinktanks and scholars, yet it remains one of the top 3 objects of worry for business leaders in the U.S. While finding the perfect hiring method may have eluded us so far, it is possible for us analyze the biggest mistakes hospitality managers make that keep businesses from realizing their potential level of success.
- Succumbing to Panic
It’s not uncommon for business owners or managers to find themselves desperately understaffed after a previous team member suddenly resigns or acts in a way that necessitates their immediate severance. It’s in these instances that it is easiest to succumb to the pressure of your staff to hire replacements immediately to fill the holes left by the previous employees, regardless of whether or not those rushed hires are compatible with the business or the best fits for the job. This can lead to workplace instability, conflict with staff, and a lowered productivity level that can easily sink your business.
The best way to avoid this is being proactive and having a plan for staffing emergencies. It’s very easy to get into a comfortable place and fail to observe changes in the behavior of your employees that may becoming less invested in your business and their job. This is the number one sign of an oncoming opening in your staff-and you do NOT want to be caught unprepared. Always be on the lookout for people who may be interested in working for you-take down the contact information of anyone who comes in wondering if you’re hiring, and keep a lookout on employment services like linkdin and job boards around your area for people who are looking for a job in your industry.
ALWAYS utilize pre-employment checks before settling on a candidate. No matter the pressure you’re under to fill a spot, never let your guard down lest your business suffer the consequences of a lying candidate.
- Not Following Gut Instincts
We see it in movies and television all the time: the down-on-their-luck man or woman who goes from place to place looking for a job to no avail. If only someone would just give them a chance, they would make an exemplary employee and be a boon for business! We all root for this person, and when we see it in real life, we want to see them succeed all the more. While such generosity and empathy should be undoubtedly encouraged, we must express temperance, as it is easy to get caught up in the moment and ignore the signs we feel may not seem entirely right about a prospective employee.
The guilt we feel over not giving somebody the chance that they desperately need, or perhaps the self-righteousness and vindication we feel when we decide that WE are the ones who will give that person the opportunity can easily cloud our better judgment. Always take a step back and analyze your gut feeling about a person. It doesn’t matter if it’s the homeless woman down the street or the snazzily dressed middle class man with the impeccable résumé smiling at us from across the table, if something feels off about them, listen to that instinct. People can catch small idiosyncrasies subconsciously, and those little inconsistencies give us a sense of unease. If you feel that unease during the hiring process, that candidate may very well not be worth the chance.
- Tunnel Vision
As managers, it’s easy to become fixated on certain traits we believe to be imperative in a successful role fulfillment while hiring. The checklist of main personality aspects and skills that are essential to the role drown out everything else on the list of things that make a good employee. While they are important, we can’t focus on such traits to the absolute exclusion of all other things.
For example, when hiring for a sales position, we may think that the most important aspect of a potential employee’s personality may be the gift of gab and conversation. Once we find someone who can easily build rapport and close a sale, we hire them without looking at the other aspects of their personality. Once hired, though, we find out they may be lazy, deceitful, or are incapable of operating as part of a team. The same principle applies to the hospitality industry-we may hire a server who is personable, attractive, and coordinated, but they may be disorganized, forgetful, and unprofessional in their relationships with their coworkers.