{"id":69603,"date":"2025-08-07T07:00:16","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T12:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/?p=69603"},"modified":"2025-08-15T15:32:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T20:32:42","slug":"five-expert-insights-on-landing-your-next-restaurant-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/hospitality-careers\/five-expert-insights-on-landing-your-next-restaurant-job\/","title":{"rendered":"Five Expert Insights on Landing Your Next Restaurant Job"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Listen to This Article:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"elevenlabs-audionative-widget\" data-height=\"90\" data-width=\"100%\" data-frameborder=\"no\" data-scrolling=\"no\" data-publicuserid=\"d443feec80bf8c8f2e009e26dafa4118e6eb9f14056a5516af577c77d4404c4e\" data-playerurl=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/player\/index.html\" data-projectid=\"0kEMt6bCSZm4gACGGjzU\">Loading the <a href=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/text-to-speech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elevenlabs Text to Speech<\/a> AudioNative Player&#8230;<\/div>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/player\/audioNativeHelper.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>On the hunt for your next job in the restaurant and hospitality industry? Now could be a great time to make a move.<\/p>\n<p>This sector is home to tremendous career opportunities, with the <a href=\"https:\/\/restaurant.org\/research-and-media\/research\/research-reports\/state-of-the-industry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Restaurant Association<\/a> projecting 200,000 new jobs by the end of 2025\u2014bringing total industry employment to just shy of 16 million jobs, its highest level ever.<\/p>\n<p>But even with this growth, it still helps to have a plan for how to get from where you are <em>today<\/em> to where you want to be <em>tomorrow<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Understanding current hiring trends and recruiter insights can help you set yourself up for success. To that end, we recently spoke with experts from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geckohospitality.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gecko Hospitality<\/a>, who offered some insights for job seekers looking to make their next career move. Check out these five key tips before you submit your next application!<\/p>\n<h2>Tip 1: Know Your Worth \u2013 and Do Your Research<\/h2>\n<p>It will probably come as no surprise that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/the-highest-paying-culinary-jobs-and-positions\/\"><em>earning more money<\/em><\/a> is the top reason job seekers say they\u2019re looking for a new position.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, according to Gecko Hospitality\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.geckohospitality.com\/hospitality-insights-recruiting-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">recent survey<\/a> of over 1,500 restaurant and hospitality professionals, nearly half (48%) of people looking for a new job did so to earn a better income, making compensation by far the top factor driving job changes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-wrap\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">Top Reasons for Seeking a New Job<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Earning a Better Income<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">48%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Moving to New Location<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">18%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Getting Back into the Industry<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Leaving a No-Growth Position<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">12%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Finding Better Quality of Life<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">10%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>And, according to that same survey, this focus on finding better paying opportunities is often worthwhile; in 2024, the average salary increase for those who changed jobs was $11,738 in hospitality and $5,815 in restaurants.<\/p>\n<p>The key takeaway? Well-paying opportunities are out there\u2014but you may need to do some research to find positions that can pay you what you\u2019re worth.<\/p>\n<p>During your next job search, try getting strategic: don\u2019t just search for any restaurant job, but take the time to explore market salary ranges for different roles, regions, and establishment types, since all of these factors can affect your earning potential.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<div class=\"blog-next\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-tagline\">Read this next<\/div>\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/the-essential-guide-to-culinary-occupations\/\" aria-label=\"Read this next: The Essential Guide to Careers in Foodservice\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-image\" style=\"background-image: url('https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/A-chef-in-a-professional-kitchen-adding-seasoning-to-a-dish-in-a-saute-pan-with-fresh-vegetables-and-cooking-ingredients-in-the-background.-768x512-1.webp');\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-contents\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-category\">Culinary &amp; Pastry Careers<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-title\">The Essential Guide to Careers in Foodservice<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-text\">Explore diverse foodservice careers\u2014from chefs to food writers to hospitality pros\u2014and find your perfect culinary path in this essential guide.<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"blog-next-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"button\">Read Article<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<p>For example, large corporate restaurant companies like Darden (which owns brands like Olive Garden, Longhorn, and Ruth\u2019s Chris) can offer strong financial opportunities, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/executive-chef-vs-head-chef-what-is-the-diference\/\">executive chefs<\/a> and general managers earning more than $150,000 annually. On the flipside, Gecko notes that smaller restaurant groups (that is, local groups that might own five to ten different concept restaurants) are not only showing tremendous growth, they can provide diverse experience (and income potential) while staying within one company\u2019s ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p>Job seekers who take the time to research compensation benchmarks for their target roles can put themselves in a position to apply for more lucrative opportunities and to negotiate salary based on market data. That\u2019s a strong position to be in when you walk into your next interview!<\/p>\n<h2>Tip 2: Embrace Education \u2013 and Opportunity<\/h2>\n<p>Gecko\u2019s report also suggested that there can be opportunities for people to advance their careers regardless of their educational background\u2014but that, for some, pursuing an education might provide an advantage.<\/p>\n<p>Survey results showed that 40% of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/what-does-a-restaurant-manager-do\/\">hospitality management candidates<\/a> hold four-year degrees, while 36% have no collegiate education at all. 21% hold two-year degrees, while just 3% hold a master&#8217;s degree or higher.<\/p>\n<p>On the one hand, the fact that more than a third of management candidates have no college background at all highlights that there can be avenues for success in this industry no matter what one\u2019s background might be.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, these results show that almost two out of three management-level candidates do have some form of post-secondary education, suggesting that formal training can provide competitive advantages.<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-wrap\">\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th colspan=\"2\">Spotlight on Educational Background of Hospitality Management Candidates<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">No College<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">36%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Two-Year Degree<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">21%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Four-Year Degree<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">40%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">Masters or Higher<\/td>\n<td style=\"text-align: center;\">3%<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<p>As you think about your future, step back and consider where you\u2019d like to see yourself in the next few years; then, think about the kind of opportunities you might want to pursue that could help you get there. There isn\u2019t necessarily a \u201cright\u201d answer that applies to everyone, as Gecko\u2019s research shows there can be multiple paths to get to the same place. But there might be an answer that could help <em>you<\/em> reach <em>your<\/em> specific goals.<\/p>\n<p>For some, that might mean exploring unique opportunities like seasonal work arrangements, which can offer intensive learning experiences in high-volume kitchens. For others, that might mean taking a \u201cstep backward\u201d in their career\u2014that is, working in a lower position at a more prestigious establishment in order to add credibility to their resume. And some might also explore pursuing an education aligned with their unique path.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21000\" style=\"width: 778px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21000\" class=\"wp-image-21000 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Two-cooks-preparing-food-in-restaurant-kitchen-768-.jpeg\" alt=\"Two people in chef\u2019s uniforms smile as they work side by side in a brightly lit commercial kitchen.\" width=\"768\" height=\"503\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Two-cooks-preparing-food-in-restaurant-kitchen-768-.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Two-cooks-preparing-food-in-restaurant-kitchen-768--300x196.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21000\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Job seekers can benefit from seeking opportunities to learn \u2013 like working under respected chefs, or attending culinary school.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Going back to school can provide a structured way to gain practical skills, business knowledge, and real-world experience that can help with career advancement. Escoffier offers eleven programs across six different disciplines, from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/academics\/culinary-arts-online\/\">culinary arts<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/academics\/food-and-beverage-online\/\">hospitality and restaurant operations management<\/a>, providing students with the chance to develop a job-ready skill set and industry connections in their chosen field.<\/p>\n<p>What Gecko\u2019s experts<em> don\u2019t<\/em> recommend is simply grinding out long hours in the belief that this alone will help you get ahead. While working excessive hours might have been a badge of honor at one time in the industry, more and more businesses are recognizing that this is unsustainable and are now prioritizing quality experience for new hires.<\/p>\n<p>Consider applying that lesson to your own career moves. Are you pursuing work and educational opportunities that demand more than you can give, or that reward you by unlocking even more opportunities down the line?<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cA big trend is empathy and quality of life\u2026 Working 110 hours a week is not good for your mental health. I think the companies that are putting that at the forefront are attracting the talent that wants to be there\u2026 That\u2019s really what we\u2019re seeing that is at the forefront right now in the hiring trends.\u201d\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Evan-Kaplan.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Evan Kaplan\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Evan Kaplan<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPartner - Northeast, Gecko Hospitality, whose team recruits for hotels, resorts, casinos, and senior living facilities\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2>Tip 3: Change Jobs Wisely \u2013 Not Randomly<\/h2>\n<p>While Gecko\u2019s experts recommend actively seeking out new opportunities to advance one\u2019s career, they also urge candidates to be mindful of the impact that job-switching can have on one\u2019s resume.<\/p>\n<p>Gecko franchise owner and recruiter Brian Blum says many employers today <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/podcast\/126-career-boosting-tips\/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#:~:text=important%20to%20them.-,Job%20stability%20today,-is%20no%20more\">view job stability<\/a> as having no more than three positions within a six-year period\u2014a more flexible standard than in the past, but still one that suggests candidates should aim to stay with any given employer for at least two years on average.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_69606\" style=\"width: 778px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-69606\" class=\"wp-image-69606 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Several-people-in-chefs-uniforms-work-at-various-stations-around-a-counter-in-the-center-of-a-commercial-kitchen.-768.webp\" alt=\"Several people in chef\u2019s uniforms work at various stations around a counter in the center of a commercial kitchen.\" width=\"768\" height=\"379\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Several-people-in-chefs-uniforms-work-at-various-stations-around-a-counter-in-the-center-of-a-commercial-kitchen.-768.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Several-people-in-chefs-uniforms-work-at-various-stations-around-a-counter-in-the-center-of-a-commercial-kitchen.-768-300x148.webp 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-69606\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Employers generally like to see a stable work history \u2013 but strategic changes can help you get ahead.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>So if job stability is a good thing, does that mean that it\u2019s better to never change your employer? According to Gecko, not at all! In fact, recruiters tend to look for diverse experience across different types of establishments; for example, someone who has worked in restaurants, private clubs, and corporate dining is often more valuable than someone with seven years at one location.<\/p>\n<p>The key is to make <em>strategic<\/em> career moves: ones that have the potential to grow your skills, broaden your network, and enhance your resume\u2014like landing a new position under a respected chef, or enrolling in culinary school.<\/p>\n<p>Early in your career, ask yourself whether you\u2019re still <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-arts\/5-kitchen-survival-tips-for-all-young-chefs\/\">learning new things<\/a> at your job; if not, it might be time to look elsewhere so you can keep developing your trade.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cWhen you\u2019re young in your career and you\u2019re learning, I think the key isn\u2019t stability as much as: are you always learning? Are you always coming in and getting something new today? If the learning stops wherever you are, then it\u2019s time to move on until you\u2019re ready to get into a leadership role.\u201d\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Brian-Blum.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Brian Blum\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Brian Blum<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFranchisee and Recruiter, Gecko Hospitality\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<p>Once you reach the sous chef level, the tenure expectation changes slightly; employers will likely want to see that you\u2019ve stayed one year per position at an absolute minimum, but preferably for longer as frequent moves become red flags about your ability to work with others.<\/p>\n<p>The important takeaway here is that job seekers (especially early-career professionals) should focus on continuous learning and skill development rather than tenure at any single position\u2014though they should remain mindful of the impact of job-switching and look to prioritize strategic moves where they can.<\/p>\n<h2>Tip 4: Seek Out Opportunities to Develop New Skills<\/h2>\n<p>Your job isn\u2019t just a thing you do to earn money\u2014it can be an opportunity to develop new skills that can serve you for the rest of your career. But these opportunities won\u2019t always be obvious, and they certainly won\u2019t take advantage of themselves. Often, you\u2019ll have to seek them out yourself. But the effort involved in doing so can be highly worthwhile.<\/p>\n<p>Taking initiative to learn beyond your assigned role demonstrates leadership potential, which can set you apart from other candidates.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_40252\" style=\"width: 778px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-40252\" class=\"wp-image-40252 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/A-chef-on-the-right-shows-a-cook-on-the-left-how-to-properly-plate-a-dish.-768x512-1.jpeg\" alt=\"One chef carefully composes fish and vegetables on a plate while another chef looks on intently and offers instructions in a commercial kitchen environment.\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/A-chef-on-the-right-shows-a-cook-on-the-left-how-to-properly-plate-a-dish.-768x512-1.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/A-chef-on-the-right-shows-a-cook-on-the-left-how-to-properly-plate-a-dish.-768x512-1-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-40252\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Seeking out opportunities to gain new skills can be a great way to stand out to future employers.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Gecko\u2019s experts describe a so-called \u201ctriple threat\u201d skill set that they often see in their successful chef candidates\u2014a skill set that includes culinary skills, leadership abilities, and financial management knowledge. While it\u2019s certainly possible to find rewarding work without this full suite of skills, a weakness in any area can potentially put a ceiling on one\u2019s career ambitions.<\/p>\n<p>So, what can you do to develop the kind of skills that could help you climb the ranks in the industry? In their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/podcast\/126-career-boosting-tips\/\">appearance on The Ultimate Dish podcast<\/a>, Blum and Evan Kaplan offered some key tips on developing the skills that recruiters say matter.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Learn another language<\/strong>. Bilingual skills, particularly English and Spanish fluency, are extremely valuable given the diverse workforce in most kitchens. This is especially important for those in management positions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Take initiative, but pace yourself<\/strong>. Don\u2019t try to do everything on Day One. Get proficient in your current role first (30-45 days) before volunteering to take on additional responsibilities like writing prep lists or learning new stations. This gives you a chance to build trust with your team, avoid overloading yourself, and ensure you\u2019re doing things the right way.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Look for opportunities to step up<\/strong>. No matter what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/different-types-of-chef-jobs-in-the-brigade-de-cuisine\/\">your current role in the kitchen<\/a> is, look for opportunities to pitch in above your job description. For example, you might ask to learn expo during rush periods\u2014not only can this help out your team, it can demonstrate leadership skills and give you practical management experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many jobs in the restaurant and hospitality industry can require a wide range of abilities, and those with the broadest experience often rise to the top.<\/p>\n<p>Again, it\u2019s not likely that these skills will simply be handed to you\u2014so it can be in your interest to take the initiative to seek out training that could help you get ahead.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cIf you\u2019re going to run a business, you\u2019ve got to understand the financials\u2026 You\u2019ve got to have the culinary chops, the leadership chops, and the financials.\u201d\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Evan-Kaplan.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Evan Kaplan\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Evan Kaplan<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPartner - Northeast, Gecko Hospitality\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2>Tip 5: Win Interviews with Authentic Storytelling and Preparation<\/h2>\n<p>So you\u2019ve done your research, built up your resume, and developed relevant skills. Does that mean you\u2019re a shoe-in for the job of your dreams? Not quite! Landing a great job still often depends on making a great impression on your prospective employer (not to mention the recruiter who may be helping you along the way).<\/p>\n<p>Without a solid presentation, even the best candidates can fade into the background.<\/p>\n<p>So with that in mind, what should you consider doing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/10-common-interview-questions-for-a-chef-position\/\">ahead of interviews<\/a> in order to set yourself up for success?<\/p>\n<p>For starters, consider the language you use to talk about your background. Recruiters and interviewers want to hear you share <em>specific<\/em> experiences and stories, rather than generic statements about being \u201corganized\u201d or a \u201cnatural leader.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25854\" style=\"width: 778px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25854\" class=\"wp-image-25854 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Chef-wearing-a-black-apron-sitting-with-hands-crossed-speaking-with-someone-across-the-table-768.jpeg\" alt=\"A person in a chef\u2019s apron sits with hands folded on a table and addresses an interviewer in a restaurant dining room.\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Chef-wearing-a-black-apron-sitting-with-hands-crossed-speaking-with-someone-across-the-table-768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Chef-wearing-a-black-apron-sitting-with-hands-crossed-speaking-with-someone-across-the-table-768-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25854\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Candidates can make a good impression by offering specific experiences rather than generic responses.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Thorough preparation is also essential. Consider researching your interviewer on LinkedIn and studying their background\u2014you never know what connections might emerge. You also may want to look into the history of the company you\u2019re engaging with\u2014for example, its ownership group, current and previous executive chefs, and so on\u2014so that you\u2019re fully aware of the space you\u2019re coming into and can talk about it intelligently.<\/p>\n<p>Other interview best practices include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Listening carefully to the interviewer\u2019s questions and answering them directly without going off on tangents.<\/li>\n<li>Creating a strong visual portfolio showing diverse dishes that you yourself have made and that are relevant to the role you\u2019re seeking.<\/li>\n<li>Prepare questions to ask at the end of the interview, which can show that you\u2019ve done your research and are really interested in the position<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Escoffier students can get support with these strategies through our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/career\/\">Career Services<\/a> department, which can offer guidance on resume building, interview prep, networking, and more.<\/p>\n<p>One last tip that Gecko\u2019s experts noted: your communication with potential employers isn\u2019t limited to the interview room\u2014it\u2019s something you can cultivate through the way you present yourself to the world.<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t just \u201chave\u201d social media\u2014<em>use<\/em> it to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-promote-your-restaurant-on-social-media\/\">create a compelling story<\/a> and a showcase for your work. Include photos and write-ups of dishes you\u2019ve prepared and events you\u2019ve participated in. This can create a vibrant, uniquely personal presentation that elevates everyday technology into an invaluable networking tool.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cAny time you cook something, take a picture of it. Pop it on your LinkedIn page. Make a post. Explain: This is the dish; this is who I made it for. I was catering a party of 400 today and here is some of the food we presented. Put it all up there. Let the world know what you\u2019re doing.\u201d\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Brian-Blum.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Brian Blum\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Brian Blum<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFranchisee and Recruiter, Gecko Hospitality, whose team focuses on restaurants and corporate dining\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2>Take Charge of Your Next Career Move<\/h2>\n<p>The hospitality industry offers diverse career paths with strong growth potential for those who understand the industry landscape and make strategic moves to advance their careers.<\/p>\n<p>Whether you\u2019re entering the field for the first time or looking to take your career in a new direction, combining hands-on experience with formal education can provide the comprehensive foundation needed for long-term success.<\/p>\n<p>If you think pursuing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/academics\/\">culinary or hospitality education<\/a> could help you achieve your career goals, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/contact-us\/?v=2\">contact our admissions team<\/a> to learn more about what Escoffier can do to help.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/admissions-aid\/financing-your-culinary-education\/\">Financial aid, grants, and scholarships<\/a> are available to those who apply and qualify, which can potentially help make this opportunity more attainable, no matter your background.<\/p>\n\t\n\t<h3 class=\"additional-articles-heading\">LOOKING FOR MORE INSIGHTS ON CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY CAREERS? CHECK OUT THESE ARTICLES NEXT!<\/h3>\n\n\t\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-start-a-food-business-from-home\/\">How to Start a Food Business from Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/culinary-school-pros-and-cons\/\">Culinary School Pros and Cons: How to Decide If It\u2019s For You<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/top-remote-culinary-careers\/\">Top Remote Culinary Jobs: A Brief Guide<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Looking for a new job in the restaurant and hospitality industry? We offer expert insights that could help you land your next job!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":24974,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1372],"tags":[1299,1300,72],"class_list":["post-69603","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hospitality-careers","tag-career-advancement","tag-career-change","tag-career-services"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Five Expert Insights on Landing Your Next Restaurant Job - Escoffier<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Looking for a new job in the restaurant and hospitality industry? 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