I feel like I am going a little crazy trying to find a restaurant position and was wondering if others have had this experience? I have responded to over 25 server positions that are advertised as “hiring” and have had no luck at all. My experience is not recent and I have not held a position in CA, but I have over 8 years experience prior to moving here. I have even written cover letters to submit with my resume to address this and often I do not get as much as even a reply. Of the places that have responded, the following has happened:
1.) New (fancier) restaurant opening- I interviewed 4 times and they asked me can I be a food runner rather than a server and I agreed. On a Friday I was told I would need to come back and meet with the director the following Monday. They said to call then, so I did and they said he was full that day and they would follow up. I never heard back. I have seen advertisements from this restaurant this week looking for servers and food runners.
2.) Another new restaurant opening- I submitted my resume online and they reached out to me for an interview. When I went to the interview the next day, I met the person who scheduled the interview and he asked me if I had an appointment (like yes I did, you scheduled it). Then he told me he was busy and I would interview with his assistant. I did that, his assistant asked me 1 or 2 easy questions, said my experience looked good, he didn't see any reason why I wouldn't fit their needs and they would get back to me. The next week the same manager who I was initially supposed to meet with called me and said he just came across my resume and can I come in for an interview. I told him I did last week and met with his assistant. He seem caught off guard and said he would get back to me, but never did. I have seen advertisements from this restaurant this week looking for servers.
3.) Open Call- I go to to an open call and nobody else was there, to the point where I thought maybe I was there on the wrong day. I took this as a good sign for my chances, had what I felt was a great interview and was very hopeful (especially after my experience with #2). They also said they were looking for several part-timers and would get back to me the next day. I gave them a full availability for their hours of operation. The next day I receive an email saying that they went with someone else who had a better availability. I question this because my availability was open and they said they needed multiple people and get a very blanket response that the industry is dynamic and they will keep me in mind for the future.
4.) I apply to a restaurant looking for servers. In their posting, it appears they are hiring for their restaurant, but when they schedule the interview, it is for a different position on their rooftop. Ahead of the interview I express concern about this because the hours are very late and they tell me that they are part of a large hospitality group and have several options so I should still interview and they will see where there might be a fit. I go through with the interview and it seems pretty standard and as far as I'm concerned, went well. The HR manager tells me they will forward my resume to the restaurant I am most compatible with and that I would likely hear back within 24 hours. I never heard back, but this week I see an ad for that same restaurant looking for multiple candidates. I email hr to follow up and they reply that they went with someone else.
5.) I applied to a restaurant about 3 weeks ago and never receive a reply. I recently see again they are posting an advertisement so I call and ask if they received my resume initially. They say they did, but never looked at it. I call again a week later to follow up and they ask me can I come in this week. I just received a message from the cancelling my interview because they had a server return who picked up all the available shifts. In their advertisement on Indeed they said they needed 5 servers.
These are just examples of places that have actually responded. I have applied to so many more that advertise as hiring and hear nothing back. I am not sure what to think at this point. I get my experience is a little older, but I do have it and am willing and want to work. I have considered it might be that I have no experience in CA, but most of these advertisements have only been seeking people with 1 year experience and I have almost 8. I can also easily get my beverage and food handlers card online.
It doesn't make sense to me that all these restaurants are advertising as hiring and complaining that nObODy WaNtS tO wOrK, but I cant even get an interview to most of these places.
Could it be something else that is preventing me from getting hired? Is it possible there is some sort of “do not hire” list I could be on??? I don't know why I would be, but at this point I just can't comprehend why this has been so difficult.
Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated.