3 Key Things to Research Before Your Job Interview

/
ResearchJob02.jpg

Before you interview for your next job, be sure to do some prior research. Do not meet with the hiring manager without knowing basic background information about the restaurant or hotel company you hope to work for. Here are three key things to research on and how/where you can find the information:

  • What is the company all about?

Find out what the company does. Is it a restaurant, a bar, a cafe, a hotel restaurant? Make sure you clearly understand what type of business you may potentially be working for. Do thorough research online; visit their Harri company employer page and their company website.

  • What does the company value?

Learn why the business does what it does. What is its mission? See what fuels the employees and employers to work in the hospitality industry, day in and day out. If possible, try to find videos online of the restaurant owner or restaurant manager speaking about the business. With the video, you can hear first hand what the company is like, and why you should be a part of their team. For example, see what it is like working at The Little Beet, which was featured in our Kitchen Culture series. 

  • Is the company being talked about in the news?

This could either be a good sign or a bad sign. Browse through news sites and see what is written about your potential employer. Check out their social medias for hints on what company culture is like. Also, research key people who are part of the business, including owner(s), senior-level managers and decision-makers.

Other important things you may want to research prior to your interview include: 

  • How big is the company?
  • How many employees do they have?
  • Who are their main competitors?
  • What are their goals in the future?
  • Are they a global brand? If not, will they be expanding?

LOOKING TO WORK IN HOSPITALITY?

DISCOVER WHO'S HIRING ON HARRI

Follow Harri on Facebook and Twitter
for real time job posts and industry news.

Women-Owned Restaurants Driving Growth

/
WomenRestaurants.jpg

In 48 states plus the District of Columbia, women-owned restaurant businesses grew faster than the state’s overall restaurant industry between 2007 and 2012, according to the NRA’s Chief Economist Bruce Grindy. His Economist’s Notebook commentary and analysis appears regularly on Restaurant.org and Restaurant TrendMapper.

Women-owned restaurant businesses grew at a rate more than three times faster than the overall restaurant industry in recent years, according to newly-released data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Between 2007 and 2012 (most recent data available), the number of women-owned restaurant businesses in the U.S. jumped 40 percent. During the same five-year period, the total number of restaurant businesses in the U.S. rose 12 percent. 

As a result of these strong gains, 33 percent of restaurant businesses are majority-owned by women – up from 26 percent in 2007. Another 15 percent of restaurant businesses are equally-owned by women and men. Taken together, nearly one-half of all restaurant businesses in the U.S. are at least 50-percent-owned by women. 

Throughout most of the country, women-owned businesses have been driving growth in the restaurant industry in recent years. In fact, in 48 states plus the District of Columbia, women-owned restaurant businesses grew faster than the state’s overall restaurant industry between 2007 and 2012.

Mississippi saw the fastest growth in women-owned restaurant businesses between 2007 and 2012, at 95 percent. Delaware (86 percent), Nevada (73 percent) and Arizona (71 percent) also saw strong growth in the number of women-owned restaurant businesses during the five-year period.

The states with the highest proportion of restaurant businesses that are majority-owned by women are Georgia (44 percent), Mississippi (43 percent), Texas (42 percent), Alabama (41 percent) and Louisiana (40 percent).

The states with the highest proportion of restaurant businesses that are at least 50-percent-owned by women are Montana (63 percent), Idaho (62 percent), Wyoming (62 percent), Washington (61 percent) and North Dakota (59 percent).

WomenRestaurants1.jpg

Valuable Tax Credits for Hospitality Workers

/

Get the word out to employees and customers who could benefit from the Earned Income and the Child Tax credits, which reduce the amount of income tax workers owe. Workers who don't make enough money to owe taxes can still qualify for the credit, but they must file tax returns to claim the credits.

Earned Income Credit
The EIC is a refundable, federal income tax credit for full- and part-time workers who fall below certain income thresholds. Employers must notify employees for whom income tax was not withheld at any time during the year and are encouraged to notify employees whose wages for 2015 were less than $53,267 that he or she may be eligible. The EIC can be worth as much $6,242. Singles who raised children and earned less than $47,747, or those who are married filing jointly, raised children and earned less than $53,267, in 2015 can claim the credit, as well as singles not raising children who earned less than $14,820 last year or, for those who are married filing jointly, $20,330.

RestaurantTax02.jpg

Some workers with children choose to receive part of their EIC payments in advance as part of their regular paychecks and the rest after they file their annual tax returns. Individual taxpayers who earned less than $39,131, or those married filing jointly who earned less than $44,651, with at least one qualifying child are eligible.

Child Tax Credit
The Child Tax Credit is worth up to $1,000 for each qualifying child under 17. The tax credits can help employees pay for childcare and cover other day-to-day needs. Families who earned at least $3,000 in taxable income in 2015 are eligible.

Employer assistance
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities offers free posters, fliers and paycheck inserts for employers. Color posters are available in English and Spanish, and fliers are available in 21 languages. Get more information at 202-408-1080. Download thematerials, and get tips to promote the tax credits.

The Internal Revenue Service also offers an employer toolkit with outreach tips, posters, payroll stuffers, and social media tools. 

Free tax help
The IRS offers free electronic filing and assistance through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, a partnership with community-based organizations. Workers who earned less than $54,000 in 2015 are eligible, as well as people with limited English-language skills, people with disabilities and the elderly. Taxpayers can call 800-906-9887 to find a VITA site near them. The IRS helpline at 800-829-1040 is set up to answer taxpayer calls about credits or other tax issues. 

(via National Restaurant Association)

Women and Minority-Owned Restaurants Growing Sharply

/
RestOwners01.jpg

Women-owned and minority-owned restaurant businesses grew at rates well above their cohorts in the overall economy in recent years, according to the NRA’s Chief Economist Bruce Grindy. His Economist’s Notebook commentary and analysis appears regularly on Restaurant.org and Restaurant TrendMapper.

In addition to providing employment opportunities for both first-time and experienced workers, the restaurant industry offers a path to entrepreneurship that no other industry can match. In fact, eight in 10 restaurant owners say their first job in the restaurant industry was an entry-level position, according to research by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

With few barriers to entry, the restaurant industry provides ownership opportunities to people of all backgrounds. This was on full display during the challenging economic environment in recent years, when women-owned and minority-owned restaurant businesses grew at rates well above their cohorts in the overall economy.

RestOwners03.jpg

Between 2007 and 2012 (most recent data available), the number of women-owned restaurant businesses jumped 40 percent, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. During the same 5-year period, the number of women-owned businesses in the overall economy rose 27 percent.

As a result of these strong gains, 33 percent of restaurant businesses are majority-owned by women – up from 26 percent in 2007. Another 15 percent of restaurant businesses are equally-owned by women and men.

Minority-owned restaurant businesses also rose sharply in recent years. The number of Hispanic-owned restaurant businesses soared 51 percent between 2007 and 2012, while black- or African-American-owned restaurants jumped 49 percent. Both were above their corresponding growth rates in the overall economy.

The number of Asian-owned restaurant businesses increased 18 percent between 2007 and 2012, which was slightly below the 24 percent increase in the overall economy.

As a result of the steady growth in recent years, fully four in 10 restaurant businesses are majority-owned by minorities. In the overall economy, 29 percent of businesses are owned by minorities.

(via National Restaurant Association)

Harri's Hospitality Career Fair in LA

/
Harri-Grid-v2.jpg
unnamed-1.jpg

YOU'RE INVITED TO HARRI'S HOSPITALITY CAREER FAIR!

Incredible FT and PT opportunities available for FOH, BOH and Management talent. Participating brands include:

  • The SLS Hotel
  • Mendocino Farms
  • Greystone Manner
  • Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse
  • Nobu
  • BOA Steakhouse
  • Soho House
  • And MANY more!
unnamed.jpg

All applicants must RSVP online in order to unlock location and job openings: http://bit.ly/HCFLA

Employers, if you want to participate in our Hospitality Career Fair in LA, contact Jeremy, Harri's Business Development Manager (West Coast) at jeremy@harri.com.

LOOKING TO WORK IN HOSPITALITY?

DISCOVER WHO'S HIRING ON HARRI

Follow Harri on Facebook and Twitter
for real time job posts and industry news.