Find Restaurant Jobs

Find Restaurant Jobs

A practical guide on how to find restaurant jobs, covering industry trends, types of positions, timing, and the best search strategies.

According to the National Restaurant Association, there are hundreds of thousands of restaurants in the United States, representing a massive and growing industry where the average American eats a significant portion of their meals. Restaurants are also one of the easiest places to find employment. Restaurant jobs are generally divided into "front of the house" positions—including hosts, servers, bartenders, bus personnel, and dining room managers—and "kitchen" positions, including chefs, sous-chefs, line cooks, dishwashers, and prep cooks.

Keep in mind the cyclical nature of the restaurant business when searching for a job. Most restaurants need extra help before the holiday season. Restaurants in cold-weather locations tend to slow down from January to March, whereas restaurants in resort destinations are busy during the beginning of the year and slow down in the summer.

How do you find restaurant positions? Consider the following sources:

1. Local Newspapers. Since most restaurant jobs are local, newspapers remain a primary source of information on openings. Don't limit yourself to major area newspapers; smaller neighborhood weekly papers often include restaurant job listings, and free entertainment or event tabloids frequently feature classified advertising. When searching newspapers, watch for mentions of proposed new restaurants in the business or city sections, as these locations will eventually need employees.
2. In-Person Visits to Restaurants. Launching a grass-roots, in-person job search works exceptionally well for finding restaurant jobs. While you wouldn't necessarily barge into a Fortune 500 company asking for a job, restaurants generally welcome walk-in applicants. Arm yourself with a folder of resumes and hit the pavement. Remember: only visit restaurants during off-peak times, such as before 11:30 AM and between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM.
3. Recommendations from Friends and Acquaintances. Most people have family, friends, or acquaintances who work in restaurants. Ask around about possible job openings. Because restaurants tend to have a high turnover rate, current employees are generally the first to know about new vacancies and can provide valuable insight into benefits, the work environment, and hours.
4. Online Job Sites. National online job sites sometimes feature restaurant jobs, though these tend to be management positions. For hourly restaurant positions, try the online classified sections of local newspapers or classified sites. There are also several websites that specialize in kitchen and foodservice jobs.