Avoiding the Job Board Hassles: Smarter Hiring for Restaurants

Hiring the right team for your restaurant can be challenging. From managing high turnover to finding people who fit your fast-paced environment, you want reliable hires without the extra stress and surprise charges. Job boards like ZipRecruiter and Indeed can be tricky to navigate, with unexpected costs and questionable results that leave many restaurant owners frustrated. Let’s dive into some shared experiences and talk about better ways to hire for your restaurant without the headaches.

The Job Board Trap: What Restaurant Owners Are Saying

It’s becoming a common theme in discussions—job boards are not delivering the results many restaurant owners expect. One restaurant owner shared how ZipRecruiter tacked on a $120 “traffic boost,” only to reveal a mandatory $500 subscription afterward. Others report high costs with little to no return, spending hundreds of dollars on ads that result in just a few views or applicants who never even show up for interviews.

“I spent over $600 on a ZipRecruiter post, and not a single applicant was qualified,” one person said, echoing the experiences of many. These platforms can feel like a gamble, especially when the candidates that do come through aren’t suited for the demanding roles restaurants require.

Why Job Boards Might Not Be Your Best Bet

The frustration doesn’t stop with employers. Job seekers also face scams, ghost job postings, and excessive spam, which in turn, damages the quality of candidates applying to your job postings. One common scam involves “payroll assistant” positions, tricking applicants into fraudulent schemes. With so much noise, it’s no wonder hiring managers are looking elsewhere for reliable candidates.

Several restaurant owners say they’ve had better luck with referrals, Instagram, and even Facebook. One owner noted, “We’ve hired maybe two or three from Indeed, but I’ve hired 15 from other places, mostly through social media and word of mouth.”

A Smarter Approach to Hiring for Your Restaurant

Restaurants thrive on personal connections and community, so why not use that to your advantage when hiring? Posting on platforms where your local community engages, like Facebook or Instagram, has proven successful for many small businesses. By reaching out through your network and encouraging referrals, you’re more likely to find motivated candidates who fit your restaurant’s culture.

Also, consider adopting recruitment solutions that align with your business needs, ones that prioritize results rather than just clicks. Job boards tend to prioritize volume over quality, leaving you sifting through a pile of unqualified resumes. Focusing on targeted strategies like employee referrals, social media outreach, or even local community boards can save you time and money, delivering better results without the hidden fees.

Why Interviewy is the Perfect Fit for Restaurants

At Interviewy, we believe in making the hiring process easier and more transparent. That’s why we’ve designed our system so you don’t pay until you get interviews with qualified candidates. We know that the restaurant industry needs fast and efficient hiring, and we want to take the stress out of the process. You won’t be dealing with inflated charges, surprise fees, or unqualified candidates. Instead, you’ll only pay when we deliver on our promise: connecting you with great people who are ready to work.

Hiring for restaurants doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive. Skip the job board headaches, lean into community-driven hiring, and rely on smarter solutions like Interviewy that put your needs first. With the right tools and approach, you can build a team that fits your restaurant perfectly, without any of the usual frustrations.