Fazoli’s is looking for more than 500 potential employees in its first “National Signing Day” on Tuesday, with many restaurants offering on-the-spot job offers and bonuses after 90 days of employment.
The Lexington, Ky.-based quick-service Italian chain said it is seeking workers for a variety of positions, including kitchen jobs, cashier/drive-thru operator, expediter, food runner and dining room attendants. These jobs require applicants to be at least 16 years old and legally eligible to work in the United States.
“Fazoli’s needs to hire more than 500 team players to keep our guests happy and coming back,” Carl Howard, Fazoli’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “Business is really booming thanks to improvements in our food and the addition of table service. Plus, we are getting ready to open several new locations.”
Howard said Fazoli’s is especially interested in prospective associates who are looking for advancement opportunities. “We fill over 60 percent of our manager openings with existing Fazoli’s hourly shift leaders and hourly team members,” he said.
Other restaurant brands have conducted similar hiring events. On Sept. 9, Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. conducted a nationwide career day.
“We set ambitious goals to interview more than 30,000 candidates for this,” Chipotle co-CEO Monty Moran said in a third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 20. “Through the event and surrounding publicity, we ended up hiring 4,977 incremental crew members.”
Moran said the National Career Day helped the company increase its “bench strength,” as well as offer it the opportunity to showcase its culture and career opportunities.
“Although the overall labor market continues to show signs of tightening, we have found that top performers are consistently attracted to the challenging work environment and growth potential offered at Chipotle,” Moran said.
In April 2011, McDonald’s Corp. sponsored a similar event, with the goal of hiring 50,000 employees.
Fazoli’s said many employees hired at participating restaurants as part of Tuesday’s Signing Day will be eligible for special incentives. After 90 days of employment, associates will be entered into a drawing to win one of five GoPro action cameras or one of five Bose SoundLink wireless speakers.
A “$90 after 90 days” signing bonus also may be available, the company said. Be sure to ask about incentives when applying. Those interested in learning more about Signing Day or pre-registering for the event can go to www.FazolisNSD.com.
Fazoli’s has about 220 restaurants.
Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
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