In the fast food industry in the United States, turnover is high, and competition for good employees is fierce. As a result, many franchise owners and managers rely on fast food recruiters to help them through the recruitment process. But what are the pros and cons of working with fast food recruiters? Let’s take a look.
The Pros of Working With a Food & Beverage Recruiter
Saves Time
The main advantage of working with a fast food executive search recruiter is that it saves you time. Instead of spending hours writing job descriptions, combing through resumes, and conducting interviews, you can let the recruiter do all the legwork for you. All you need to do is provide them with a list of the skills and qualifications you’re looking for in an employee, and they’ll take care of the rest.
Provides Access to a Large Pool of Candidates
Another pro is that a fast food recruitment agency can access a larger pool of job seekers than you likely can. They cast a wide net when sourcing candidates, which means you’ll have a better chance of finding someone qualified for the job.
Get Expert Advice
Because they work with so many different employers, fast food recruiters have their finger on the pulse of the food industry. They know which companies are hiring and which are laying off, so they can give you up-to-date information about the job market.
The Cons of Working With a Recruiter
However, there are also some disadvantages to consider before working with a fast food recruiter.
You’re Not In Control
When you work with a recruiter, they’re in control of finding candidates and scheduling interviews. Because they work with so many different employers, recruiters may not have the same level of commitment to filling your position as you do. They could prioritize other clients over you, which could lengthen the hiring process.
Can Still Be Time-Consuming
While recruiters have access to more candidates than you likely do, that doesn’t mean those candidates are necessarily good ones. It’s still up to you to weed out the unqualified candidates — something that takes time and energy away from running your business. Sometimes, you may have to compromise on your ideal candidate to fill an open position quickly.
Expensive
A fast food recruitment agency will typically charge a percentage of the new hire’s salary, so it can quickly add up if you’re looking to fill multiple positions.
Hidden Costs
In addition to their fees, recruiters may charge additional costs for advertising, background checks, and drug tests. Be sure to ask about all potential costs before signing any contracts so there are no surprises down the road.
An Alternative to Working With a Fast Food Recruitment Agency
Working with a fast food recruiter can be expensive and time-consuming, and the quality of candidates is often poor. However, there are alternatives.
HourWork is a SaaS recruitment and retention platform that gives franchise owners and managers more control over the hiring process while saving time and money. We help you recruit workers that fit into your company culture by leveraging the power of your existing relationships. For example, we send automated messages to the people who already know you — former employees and applicants.
Contacting former employees is a smart move for several reasons.
First, their circumstances may have changed. For example, if a food service employee worked for you before but left for study commitments or another reason, they may now be available to work.
Second, they’re likely to know people similar to them who might also be interested in working for you.
Third, they already know your business and work routines involved, so there’s no need to spend time and money training them.
Contacting former applicants is also an excellent idea. They’ve already shown an interest in working for you, so they’re more likely to be qualified and a good fit for your company.
Because the process is automated, it’s much faster, cheaper, and more scalable than working with a recruiter.
HourWork also helps fast food companies communicate with employees to reduce staff turnover.
Request a demo today to learn more about how HourWork can help you attract and retain staff.