Posts Tagged ‘WyckWyre’

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Best Practices for Online Hiring Tools:

Hey everyone, today I am going to be talking about getting the most out of your online hiring software. In my last post, I talked about the top 5 benefits to online hiring, and now I’m going to address the best practices (for managers) on effectively using and implementing such software in your restaurant. I interviewed several hiring managers to get some real-world input on how to truly put your hiring software to work for you, and here are the top best practices that I found.

1.Process your applicants right away:
Online hiring allows you to process your applicants with a few clicks of a mouse and most software platforms will send you email notifications about new users. So why not process them right away? There are several benefits to this; first is that you are always on top of your hiring activity, and you will know right away when you get a great candidate that you want to hire. You don’t want to miss out on a great employee! Secondly, if you let your applicants pile up then it can easily get away from you and will ultimately take you more time to go through them. Thirdly, out of common courtesy for the applicant themselves, you should let them know your decision right away so they can prepare for what they need to do next. (This will also help avoid them calling the store and constantly asking what the status of their application is, which is a complaint that I have heard from several managers).

Here are some tips from some hiring managers for when to process your applicants, keep in mind that you should do whatever you feel most comfortable with:

• Have notifications sent to your smart phone so you know every time you get a new applicant – Jeremy Harding (Wendy’s) does this so that his applicants are always on the “top of his mind” and marks the email as unread if he can’t process them right away so he’ll notice it later.
• Set a schedule for when to log in, one manager logs in every 2 days which keeps processing to under a half an hour every time
• Set benchmarks for what a good applicant would be, James Berman said an applicant score of 85 or above (for WyckWyre) is the cut off for rejection or not
• If you are a high volume store then check in multiple times a day, get yourself into a routine

2.Have advertisements in the store promoting your online applications:
Now that you have an online application process, you can’t ignore people coming into the store. One of the great things about having an online hiring system is that you can reach a broader applicant base, but you still must be prepared for walk-ins.

“We have a hiring center on the wall right by the door so applicants can see it as soon as they walk in”
- Tricia Frank, General Manager at Wendy’s.

Doing something like this is a great idea, having a display solely for walk-in applicants will make it easier on your staff and is a constant advertisement for anyone who visits your store.

3.When processing applicants look at how they best fit in with your team:
One of the best things about an online hiring tool (like WyckWyre) is that it gives you the ability to make much more informed decisions about an applicant through pre-screening interview questions. So when looking at their answers, decide what is most important to you and the current culture of your store before bringing them in for an interview.

I received multiple answers when asking this question to hiring managers. James Berman (Wendy’s) said that he doesn’t put too much weight into grammatical/spelling mistakes and looks for the deeper meaning behind applicant’s answers, he understands that sometimes potential employees might have a great work ethic but maybe not the best writing skills. Other managers went with different approaches, putting more weight into these sorts of things. Whatever the case may be, try to access your team as a whole and build on their strengths.

4.Use additional free advertising to your advantage:
There are a few ways to further promote your online job board, and they are just waiting for you to use them! The biggest ones being Craigslist, Facebook, Twitter, and Blogs. Having a greater online presence results in more online applicants! If you run a restaurant and have a Facebook page or a Twitter account, make posts about your online hiring site. Since the people who follow you already like you, word will travel fast that you are recruiting.

Even if you don’t have a social media presence, Craigslist is a great option to advertise your jobs. In most areas it is free to post a job, so take 5 minutes and go to the Food, Beverage & Hospitality section and make a quick post about what jobs you have available with a link to your hiring site.

So there you have it, some great ways to fully utilize your online hiring system and get the best people possible! If you have any other tips or questions please leave them in the comments. Happy hiring everyone!

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Posted: Thursday, February 7th, 2013

Top 5 Benefits to Online Hiring (Vs. Paper Applications)

Benefits to Online Hiring (Vs. Paper Applications)

Hiring the best employees for your company can be somewhat of a nightmare, especially in high turnover industries such as restaurant and hospitality. Traditional methods of hiring like paper applications, local newspaper ads and radio/television ads, are quickly becoming a thing of the past. In the new era of the internet, there are a plethora of tools available for hiring managers to do all of their hiring exclusively online. Below I will outline the benefits of why you should do this for your company/organization. Leave your thoughts in the comments and anything that might have been left out!

1. Reach a Broader Amount of Applicants
With over 245 million internet users in the United States and a higher than normal unemployment rate, it is no wonder that internet job boards are extremely popular .
By using an online hiring tool, you can expose your job to an incredible amount of applicants, and that pool is only increasing, especially in larger metropolitan areas. Right now you may be thinking, “what about people coming in asking for an application?” Simply direct those applicants to apply to your online hiring site, if they truly want the job, they will take the effort to apply online. If they don’t, would they have made a great employee to begin with?

2. Reach Better Quality Applicants
If your store is only accepting paper applications, it can be a hindrance not only to the amount of applicants you receive, but also to the quality of the applicant. Today’s job seekers are internet savvy; they want to work for companies that are “up to date”. Additionally, online applications can provide a more comprehensive pre-screening for applicants than paper applications, saving you valuable time when searching for that perfect employee.
If you aren’t accepting online applications, you are ignoring a large segment of the job-seeking population and potentially missing out on great talent!

3. Superior Organization
Keeping paper applications organized is so cumbersome. What do you do with the applicant files for people who were rejected? Put on hold? Hired? This can quickly add up to a lot of files to keep track of.
Many online hiring systems come with online storage for all of your applicant files. You can easily go back and take a look at past hires and other applicants, all organized and easily accessible. This will save you plenty of time and let you stay on top of your entire hiring process. Don’t even get me started on the metrics and reporting capabilities, we could be here all day… but seriously, how about being able to download the entire year’s hiring summary? Online hiring systems can provide you with some powerful metrics to let you make more informed decisions about your hiring methods.

4. Robust, Customizable Software Available
There is software out there for every sized business, whether you are a small company with 10 employees, or a large one with 500+. An online hiring system can be customizable so you can only receive information from applicant that you want. Additionally, you can add options that you might not have even been aware of. How about video or audio cover letters? The sky is the limit with online software, and most of them are user friendly and provide training for employees.

5. Reduce Your Carbon Footprint!
As an added bonus, going paperless will greatly reduce your carbon footprint and save some trees. So not only will you be hiring more quality applicants the way YOU want to, but you’ll also be saving the earth in the process. So what are you waiting for? It’s easy to make the switch, see you online!

Sources:

http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats14.htm

http://freelanceswitch.com/freelance-news/commentary-analysis/online-jobs-are-on-the-rise/

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Posted: Monday, January 7th, 2013

Top 5 Way to Tackle New Software Adoption

Whenever someone talks about new and innovative ways to hire, what they mean is via the internet.  Like Facebook, email and texting being the new ways to communicate, online products and services are the new ways to do business.  Introducing new ways to do things can be extremely rewarding and time saving, but can present a unique set of challenges.  One of the challenges we’ll explore today is called Adoption.
Adoption in this sense means the amount of time someone is willing to dedicate to a new process.  Inherently, people don’t like change.  Take, for example, an Applicant Tracking System: When you tell your employees they have to go from doing what they’ve known their entire job-seeking and management career, to something internet based and totally paperless, there may be a disconnect.  Adoption can make or break your success with anything that is new.  Here we explore ways to combat the adoption issue and help make your newest change a success.

  1.  Speak positively about the new change.  If you’re talking about changing a process or adding an internet-based program, such as an Applicant Tracking System, talk about how much it is going to help save time and make the process more stream-lined.  Stay away from negatively referencing the new change.  Don’t mention how much you hope it works, or that you’re skeptical of the outcomes.  Stick to things like, “This will work! It will save us time!”
  2.  Take advantage of training.  Some companies includes unlimited training in their subscription rates, however some charge hourly.  If you know you’ll have a few people who need extra one-on-one time, take advantage of the unlimited training!  If the training is paid, be sure to reserve time for the users who may need help.  At any time if someone tells you they are struggling, or if a new manager comes on board- schedule a session with your account representative, or identify the expert user in your company to do training.  Also, if your new product or service offers this, instruct your staff to reach out to their contact if they need anything at all.  It will lessen the burden on you for fielding questions you may not have time for, and also let your staff know they are supported in this big change!
  3. Utilize Resources.  If marketing materials are provided, use them!  Companies have planned and tested the materials and know that they are proven to work.  For example: WyckWyre provides a business card template, and a poster template, both personalized with your hiring site information.  Hand the business cards out to walk-in applicants instead of a paper application, hang the poster somewhere visible in the store, and watch your online applicant traffic grow!  Utilizing the resources in the way the company suggests will help the service work for you.
  4.  Follow Up.  Most companies will follow up to see how you’re doing with the product.  However, make a point to talk to your managers to see how they are really doing with the system.  Sometime managers will be more willing to speak with you about the problems or issues they are having.  If they are uncomfortable in any way, see #2.
  5. Dive in!  If you’re heading up the project (or even if you’re not), dive-in!  Start navigating around the system, ask questions, and see what the service can do for you!  If you become an expert user, chances are the ones that you lead will follow!

Changes in processes can be a great asset to a growing company in today’s world- especially with the addition of internet based services.  With the right mind-set and tools, you and your management will be on your way to succeeding in no time!

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Posted: Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

Four questions you must ask during a job interview

Interviewing can be nerve-wracking for anyone. You have to prepare with as much research about the company as you possibly can do in order to have an intelligent conversation with the interviewer. On top if it all, you have to meet with people you don’t know, in a place you’re not familiar with, all while hoping that you’ll come across in a way that is attractive to them. With all of this to deal with, you may forget something very obviously: This job, this company and this interviewer are undergoing interviews to. This is your opportunity to learn as much about the company as they are learning about you.

Here are four questions that will help you get a solid understanding of the position at hand, and will help you to determine if it’ll be a good fit.

1.) Are you able to tell me why the last person in this position decided to leave?

While not all companies have open policies when it comes to sharing why employees left, it is a question worth asking. If the employee left for a better opportunity or was promoted within the company, you know that this position is a launching pad where you can gain experience and move forward in your career.

If the person left because he/she was not satisfied with the job, or if the interviewer tells you that many people have come and gone within the job recently, you know that this may be a somewhat unstable environment. Red flags aren’t green for a reason – so definitely take a moment to process the interviewer’s response to this question.

 

2.) How long do people usually stay in one position at the company? How long do they stay at the company in general?

These questions will let you know if there is strong room for growth in the company. It’s not as demanding as asking “When do you see me getting a promotion?” before you are even offered a job. The worst way to come across during an interview is to act as though you are not interested in the job at hand, but just in moving up. Employers will see that as an issue. They want someone who can do the job the have open now, not hypothetical jobs in the future. It’s great to see a lower-level position as an opportunity to get your foot in the door, and expressing that, but make sure you’re ready to do a stellar job in the position you’re about to be hired for.

Another great thing about this question is you can see if people stay and move up in the company, or if they just leave after a few years. If you see  a pattern of people staying with the company between 3-5 or maybe even 7+ years, that’s a sign that the company takes care of its employees. If employees are treated badly enough, no matter the situation, they usually find a way out.

 

3.) What are issues or problems that I could solve for you now if I were to be offered the position?

This question is going to help you two different ways. One, it shows the employer you are a go-getter and you’re ready to get to work. It screams to them that you’ll be the solution to the problem, not another headache.

Two, it allows you insight into the world of the new opportunity. Too often, candidates wear rose-colored glasses during an interview, thinking  the new position will be much better than the last just because it’s new. That’s not always the case. By seeing what a few obstacles would potentially be, you’ll be better able to gauge the situation and understand whether or not this is something you’d like to take on.

This question should replace your “Tell me about a typical day in this position.” That question will get you a generic timeline, this question will give you focus.

 

4.) Do you have any questions, or doubts, as to why I would not be a good fit for this position? I’d love to clear anything up because after speaking, I know I’d be a great fit for this position.

Only ask this question if you know for a fact that you would be good at the job – and you have the examples to back it up.

This requires thinking about the response to this question, if they need it, beforehand. By asking this, you’re putting yourself out on a limb, but in a good way. It allows you to make sure you did all you could to tell the interviewer how you could hold your own in the position. It will also help clear up any confusion that you may not have even known was there to begin with.

 

Need to find that new opportunity now? Let WyckWyre find it for you for free. Sign up for Job Alerts now.

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Posted: Thursday, August 23rd, 2012

What interviewers are saying about you post-interview

Ever wonder what happens after you walk out of the door of the company you just interviewed at? We’re going to give you some insight so you know exactly how to make the best impression, and can practically predict what happens post-final hand shake.

1.) What your first impression was like
Your mother always told you that a first impression is a lasting impression. Turns out, she was 100% right. Many hiring managers will immediately get a “sense” for you when you walk in the door. Don’t think it’s fair? It doesn’t matter. The second you step into the company’s doors, you are at the interview. So put away your phone while you’re waiting, be friendly, and smile. Give off the vibe that you want to be there, and if you can’t, then maybe this job isn’t for you.

2.) How well you researched the company
A huge turn-off for a hiring manager is if you know absolutely nothing about the company you’re interviewing for. What’s the point of interviewing if you didn’t want to take the time to get to know what you’d be doing, or who you’d be working for? Do yourself a favor and take at least 20 minutes to do a briefing online with a simple Google search. Know some of the recent company news, follow them on social networks and read up on their blog, if they have one. That’s the best way to get an “insider’s view” on how the company works.

3.) Your demeanor while answering questions
Did some questions make you feel uncomfortable, and maybe you were a little put-off so you snapped back? Or even worse, you seemed bored with their questioning? Don’t expect a call back, then. Keeping your emotions in check during an interview is huge. Remember, an interview is an audition for a job. How you perform during it determines if you’ll get the job or not. If you’re interviewing for a high-stress position, and you can’t get through the interview without throwing out a little attitude, you won’t do well day-to-day. We’re not saying to not be who you are, but what we are saying is to keep it professional at all times. The more control you have during an interview the more you will not only leave on the table positively, but the more you’ll learn about the environment that you may be working at soon.

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Posted: Monday, July 2nd, 2012

You’re hired! Three ways to hear those glorious words.

Job hunting is tough. It’s even tougher in a rough economy. Don’t let that get you down. There are many different ways you can boost your chances to landing your next gig by going above and beyond. Here are a few steps to take to hear the fantastic phrase, “You’re hired!”

1.) Don’t think just because you don’t have a job yet, you don’t need to do work.
I’ve heard it countless times. “I’m not going to work too hard, because it’s just an interview and I’m not getting paid for it.”

If that’s your mindset, then get comfortable on the couch – you’ll be there for a while. With a down economy, employers can pick and choose from numerous applicants for each position they post. What makes you stand apart from the 20+ other people who applied for your position?

Motivation. Persistence. Putting yourself in the best light possible.

No matter what job you are interviewing for, never go to the interview empty-handed. Always bring, at the very least, a copy of your resume and a cover letter specific to that job. If you really want to stand out, also bring some letters of recommendation from past co-workers, employers and educators, along with some proof of your work.

For example, if you were a cashier at the grocery store, and your item-swipe time was the fastest in the store, make sure to write that down, along with other ways you were a great employee, on a “Fast Facts” sheet.

The “Fast Facts” sheet is a boiled down version of your resume. It’s quick one-liners only focusing on your achievements. At the top of the page, you can put your name, address and contact information. Keep “Fast Facts” down to one page only.

Also, don’t just drop the information off and run. At the end of the interview, or when it seems an appropriate time to do so, open up your portfolio and explain what each piece of information is. This way, you’re able to show the employer the thought-process behind why you chose the information you did to leave with them.

2.) Customized things sell quickly for a reason.
Admit it, you have at least one or two items in your house with your initials on them, or maybe a key chain with your first name engraved into it. Things like this are unique to us so they attract us more than other things that just about anyone can have.

The same goes for that portfolio of your resume, cover letter, references and previous work that you’re bringing in to an interview. Do not, I repeat, do NOT, bring in the same exact cover letter to every job. Generic cover letters are the death of the job-hunting experience.

If you take an extra five minutes to customize your cover letter, you’ll find that many more employers will be interested in you. The cover letter will be unique to them – just like that initial binder you had in third grade.

3.) Follow up, or be ready for the let down.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had friends so excited after a job interview, then a week goes by, only find them deflated and telling me how upset they were not to hear back yet.

My first question is, “Have you followed up with them?”

If they say “no,” then I automatically lose all pity.

If you do not follow up with an employer after an interview, then really, you don’t want the job. Following up can leave a fantastic impression on the interviewer, even if the interview was possibly a hit or miss.

The bottom line is employers are busy. Even if they need to fill the job right away, they also have a lot of other things to do, too. So while a week may seem like a long time to you, it went by in the blink of an eye for them. Be sure to keep yourself on the top of their mind with a follow up about once a week until you hear their final decision.

Be sure to get the interviewer’s contact information at the end of the interview. It can be a phone number, e-mail address or physical address.

When you follow up, know what you’re going to say. If you’re calling the person, be sure to have a few bullet points written down in front of you before you dial their number. Also, be sure to keep it simple, short and sweet.

An e-mail is another option to follow up with. Again, only keep the e-mail the four, maybe five sentences at most. Get the point, and let them know how much you appreciated their time.

My personal favorite is the hand-written note delivered by snail mail. I know, I know. Archaic. But there’s something about receiving a card in the mail that isn’t a bill or blatant advertisement that makes it stand out in your mind.

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Posted: Monday, May 14th, 2012

2012 National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show Highlights

Customer Success Specialist, Jessica Miller, shows how WyckWyre works at the 2012 NRA Show.

What a fantastic past few days it has been! The WyckWyre crew returned from the 2012 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago just a few days ago, and we’ve been talking about what a great show it was ever since. More than 50,000 people, including attendees and vendors, packed into McCormick Place over the course of four day to get ahead on the latest trends in the industry!

The NRA Show is the largest venue for restaurateurs and those in the food and hospitality industry to gather at each year. Professionals come from near and far to see – and feature their own – products and services, talk about new, exciting ideas  and meet up with old friends in the industry.

Oh, and did I mention the tons of food tastings at the show? You’ll never go hungry while working in/for the restaurant industry, I promise you this.

This year was WyckWyre’s second year at the show, and it was very successful to say the least. We met up with a lot of our current customers and friends, and were even able to make new friends during the four days of the show that absolutely flew by for us.

The part that we loved was introducing our Customer Success Department. It’s customer service unlike anything you’ve seen before. We actually monitor every single job posting to ensure traffic and quality applicants. If we see a problem, we fix it immediately and then tell you about it. No more calling into a call center. Who has time for that, anyways?

Check out exactly what the show looked like by watching the video below:

If you happened to miss our booth, no worries! You can check out exactly how we streamline the hiring process for the industry by clicking here. You can even schedule a free demonstration to get a better look at how it all works,  plus pricing, by scrolling down and requesting to chat with us by filling out the form.

Do you hire less than two people a month? Get right to hiring someone now. No contracts, no fuss. Just quality applicants. You can purchase positions and begin editing them by clicking here.

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Posted: Friday, May 11th, 2012

New Customer: All-Star Management Signs With WyckWyre For Quality Recruiting

WyckWyre is proud to announce its partnership with All-Star Management, a Wendy’s franchise in Bourbonnais, IL. The two have partnered together in an effort to recruit top-quality employees for All-Star’s restaurants.

All-Star will use WyckWyre’s applicant tracking system for staff recruitment in all 16 of its Wendy’s fast food restaurant locations.

WyckWyre allows restaurants to find and focus on quality applicants for its open positions. From entry-level to top level management positions, WyckWyre’s recruiting techniques help restaurant owners and managers quickly see who is the best fit for the job out of those that have applied.

To see how WyckWyre can help you in your recruiting efforts, contact us now for a free demonstration.

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Posted: Thursday, April 5th, 2012

Why You’re Not Landing That Job

From the application to the interview to the follow-up, there are different reasons why you’re stalled in your job search. Here are some helping job hunting tips from the WyckWyre team:

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Posted: Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Restaurant Gift Cards: Santa’s New Secret Weapon

The holidays seemed to fly by this year. It’s already 2012 and time to get back to work. Was your Christmas an exciting one with lots of presents? Mine was pretty great – I got everything I asked for, and a few other surprises here and there. But I bet there’s a certain gift that a lot of readers received just like I did: a gift card. I “unwrapped” a few of them on Christmas morning. I had even bought some gift cards as presents for some of my family members.

 

Unless you really, really like socks.

 

Gift cards are growing in popularity for obvious reasons: they are quick and easy to buy, you don’t have to fight the crowds, you don’t have to agonize over what to get everyone on your list, your recipient can pick out exactly what they want, and there are endless choices. Retail gift cards still top the popularity charts, but guess what is next in line? That’s right, restaurant gift cards.

More and more people are giving the gift of food and drink. It’s an easy choice if you know what restaurant or kind of food someone enjoys. It might be easier for a gift giver to pick out a restaurant gift card for family and friends than try to figure out where they prefer to shop.

They're more popular than ever!

A November 2011 study done by the National Retail Federation estimated that 80% of people shopping for holiday gifts would purchase gift cards for the 2011 Christmas season. Another study by NRF found that almost 60% of people would like to receive a gift card as their present.

Those numbers encompassed all types of gift cards (retail, gaming, internet shopping, etc.). So where to restaurants fit in? Out of all of the gift cards purchased this season, about 34% of them were for restaurants. This makes it the second most popular type of gift card right after department store cards at about 39%.

However, the numbers shift a little as you look at different age groups. It seems that adults aged 55-64 are more fond of restaurant gifting options, because they actually beat out department stores for this age group. Restaurant cards topped their list at about 37% of card purchases.

NRF had some other amazing facts and figures. They estimated that Americans would spend almost $28 billion on gift cards, and that’s just during the 2011 holiday season. And for the fifth straight year in a row, gift cards were the number one requested gift during the holidays.

To meet the demands, it seems like most stores and chain restaurants have gift cards as an option. Do you have a gift card for your restaurant? If not, you might want to think about incorporating them. Local and independently-owned restaurants can profit from them in the same way that larger businesses do.

Not exactly the best way to welcome the new year...

I wrote some previous blogs about how holiday meals are changing by becoming more restaurant dependent. Making gift cards available at your restaurant can bring customers in the door at the end of the year as their gift cards from Christmas are burning holes in their pockets. I’m talking about New Year’s Eve. (No, Ashton, the holiday, not your excuse for a movie.)

The tail end of the holiday season brings a lot of business as people splurge for a night on the town. One way to increase the chances that your establishment is on their itinerary is to sell those gift cards at Christmas. Customers want a fun night out, but money is tight after all that gift giving. Receiving a restaurant gift card will allow some customers the financial freedom to ring in the new year in style, with good food and drink, instead of sitting at home drinking a box of wine and subjecting themselves to Ryan Seacrest. To avoid that fate, an estimated 100 million Americans turned to restaurants or bars on December 31.

Going out on New Year’s Day is also quite common. In fact, I used some restaurant gift cards from my stocking to go out for a post-NYE brunch. There was no way I felt like cooking that day. The crowds in the restaurants that day led me to believe that a lot of other people felt the same way, and couldn’t wait to dwindle those gift card balances, either.

So if you haven’t yet, think about the option of providing gift cards to your customers. They not only make great presents during the holidays, but all year round for birthdays, wedding gifts, and other special occasions. Be sure to browse WyckWyre.com for more fun ideas to improve your business.

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Posted: Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

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