We Trained the Next Generation of Restaurant Workers—Here’s What We Learned

Hiring and training staff is one of the biggest struggles for restaurant owners. We recently ran a 5-day restaurant bootcamp for high school students, teaching them the skills needed to land (and keep) a job in the industry. In this episode, we break down what worked, what didn’t, and the surprising takeaways about today’s workforce. Plus, we dive into why so many restaurant owners struggle with hiring and training—and what you can do to make it easier.

If you’re tired of the revolving door of staff, this episode is for you!

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
.9999999999that person wants to work there, but if they're getting treated like shit from day one, what do you think it's going to be like for them on day 50? Hey everyone, welcome to Table 13. 2 00:00:08,789.9999999999 --> 00:00:15,330 This is the podcast where we have real conversations about restaurants, business, and leadership without the fluff. 3 00:00:15,919.999 --> 00:00:21,379.999 I'm Susan Tung, a restaurant owner and entrepreneur, and I'm joined by my co host, Morgan Hercock.

(00:21):
Hey everyone, I've been in management for the last decade and we're excited to share our experience with you.
That nobody asked for.
.999Today, we are doing a little recap of this March break restaurant boot camp we just did.
.999At our restaurant, we put out the call for high school students that were interested in the restaurant industry and wanted to get a glimpse of what it's actually like to work in a restaurant. 8 00:00:47,829.999 --> 00:00:51,939.998 And we're going to share with you just some of the insights and what works. 9 00:00:52,244.999 --> 00:00:55,664.999 What didn't work, and all the fun stuff in between. 10 00:00:57,164.999 --> 00:01:00,544.999 We chose to run this boot camp. 11 00:01:00,899.999 --> 00:01:08,639.999 The same way we choose to do all things which is Susan texted me one day and said should we do a March Break boot camp and I said March Break is in three weeks, and she said yep. 12 00:01:08,659.999 --> 00:01:23,809.998 Let's do it so We decided it was a good idea for our business and kind of our bigger vision because we're really into investing back into the community Whether that's through donating food or our time or something like that. 13 00:01:23,859.998 --> 00:01:27,744.998 This was donating our time back to itself. 14 00:01:27,754.998 --> 00:01:40,754.998 So we're trying to bring up younger people in the industry so that there is a better background of people coming in after all of the people that are currently in the industry. 15 00:01:40,754.998 --> 00:01:44,104.997 So there's actually people who know what they're doing coming up after us. 16 00:01:46,404.998 --> 00:02:01,94.997 And we also lost a lot of good people during covid just because the industry is really challenging and there's a lot of low paying jobs and lack of growth opportunities and shitty environments. 17 00:02:01,334.997 --> 00:02:04,734.997 So, your husband is one of the people that left. 18 00:02:04,734.997 --> 00:02:05,94.997 He is. 19 00:02:05,124.997 --> 00:02:10,814.9975 Yep, he left because it was just easier and, you get better pay. 20 00:02:10,824.9975 --> 00:02:11,744.9975 You get benefits. 21 00:02:11,754.9975 --> 00:02:14,284.9975 You get RRSP contributions. 22 00:02:14,284.9975 --> 00:02:21,624.9975 You get all of the things that you should get in a restaurant because it can be a career that not a lot of places offer. 23 00:02:23,159.9975 --> 00:02:24,819.9975 But let's be serious, he misses it. 24 00:02:25,119.9975 --> 00:02:26,829.9975 He really does miss it, actually. 25 00:02:27,209.9975 --> 00:02:30,29.9965 Like, when he got to come do the pop up, he was so pumped about it. 26 00:02:30,879.9975 --> 00:02:33,379.9975 Maybe we'll have to incorporate him more in our catering. 27 00:02:33,879.9975 --> 00:02:33,979.9975 Yeah. 28 00:02:35,389.9975 --> 00:02:37,619.9975 So let's talk about the experience itself. 29 00:02:37,629.9975 --> 00:02:40,639.9975 So we're going to break down what we did with the students. 30 00:02:40,659.9965 --> 00:02:42,239.9975 We had them for five days. 31 00:02:42,799.9975 --> 00:02:52,309.9965 We ran this workshop during the mornings before the restaurant actually opened so that we had use of the kitchen space, of the dining room space, and it was just more private and more intimate. 32 00:02:52,909.9965 --> 00:02:54,759.9975 So it ran from Monday to Friday. 33 00:02:54,959.9975 --> 00:02:55,859.9975 It was from 9 a. 34 00:02:55,859.9975 --> 00:02:56,69.9975 m. 35 00:02:56,269.9975 --> 00:02:57,789.9975 to 11 30 p. 36 00:02:57,789.9975 --> 00:02:58,79.9975 m. 37 00:02:58,149.9975 --> 00:02:59,339.9975 Oh, sorry, 11 30 a. 38 00:02:59,339.9975 --> 00:02:59,649.9975 m. 39 00:02:59,659.9975 --> 00:03:00,839.9975 That's when they got dismissed. 40 00:03:02,169.9975 --> 00:03:08,549.997 Morgan, do you want to talk about what we did the five days? Yeah, so day one was definitely just like our intro day. 41 00:03:08,549.997 --> 00:03:21,24.9975 We hung out, explained who we are, what we wanted to accomplish throughout the week, and obviously just, All the admin stuff, like health and safety and all those kind of boring things, but they're things that need to be said. 42 00:03:21,644.9975 --> 00:03:25,454.9975 Day two, we did more the fundamentals. 43 00:03:25,564.9975 --> 00:03:27,454.9965 We gave them a tour of the kitchen. 44 00:03:27,464.9965 --> 00:03:33,444.9975 We explained what all the equipment does, what its purpose is, how to take care of it, stuff like that. 45 00:03:33,624.9975 --> 00:03:39,614.9975 And then we did really brief, of making fried spring rolls. 46 00:03:40,504.9975 --> 00:03:47,24.9975 So they got to learn, how to make a filling, how to use a Roboku, how to, season things, how to wrap spring rolls. 47 00:03:47,44.9975 --> 00:03:47,774.9975 It was a pretty good day. 48 00:03:47,774.9975 --> 00:03:49,284.9965 I think that they liked day two for sure. 49 00:03:49,874.9965 --> 00:03:57,264.9965 Day three we did basic knife work basic cooking, and like how to set up and tear down a station. 50 00:03:57,704.9965 --> 00:04:01,504.9965 So that day we did breaking down full chickens, which was fun. 51 00:04:01,854.9965 --> 00:04:15,804.9955 And then we made vermicellis for our lunch, which was also cool because everyone got to cook their own chicken, build their own bowl, all that stuff, but then they also got to set up stations, break down stations, do the dishes through the dishwasher, all those things. 52 00:04:16,304.9955 --> 00:04:18,534.9955 Day four we did customer service. 53 00:04:18,684.9955 --> 00:04:22,824.9955 We did ringing in orders, taking orders at the table. 54 00:04:22,824.9955 --> 00:04:27,944.9955 We did some role playing and then we did making bubble teas, which they loved. 55 00:04:28,734.9955 --> 00:04:29,734.9945 They were so excited about that. 56 00:04:29,735.0945 --> 00:04:32,114.9955 For that generation, yeah, they ate that up. 57 00:04:32,164.9955 --> 00:04:33,44.9955 Oh yeah, they loved it. 58 00:04:33,354.9955 --> 00:04:36,374.9945 And then day five we did industry insights. 59 00:04:36,374.9955 --> 00:04:39,144.996 So just our experiences within the industry. 60 00:04:39,154.996 --> 00:04:42,294.996 Red flags to look for when you're in an interview. 61 00:04:42,964.996 --> 00:04:44,24.996 We did resume buildings. 62 00:04:44,24.996 --> 00:04:50,744.996 We went through their actual resumes with them and Gave them tips and tricks on how to get seen and stuff like that. 63 00:04:51,494.996 --> 00:04:53,844.996 Looking back on it, just we're doing like a recap. 64 00:04:53,844.996 --> 00:04:59,44.996 It's like we went through so much material with them within 12 hours. 65 00:04:59,264.996 --> 00:05:00,864.996 Yeah, like a little over 12 hours. 66 00:05:00,864.996 --> 00:05:07,514.996 Yeah, like we went through a lot of stuff and I honest they're still like so young that they're still sponges for things. 67 00:05:07,524.996 --> 00:05:10,14.996 So they just absorbed it all so well. 68 00:05:11,464.996 --> 00:05:20,479.996 It's funny, my favorite was actually I feel like the cleaning because That's like a skill set that they would never learn from anywhere else. 69 00:05:20,729.996 --> 00:05:24,109.996 You literally taught them how to actually clean a kitchen properly. 70 00:05:24,429.996 --> 00:05:26,919.995 Like at home, when they clean, they probably just take a wet rag. 71 00:05:27,289.996 --> 00:05:28,59.896 Yeah, and they just wipe something down. 72 00:05:28,59.996 --> 00:05:29,69.996 And like wipes, yeah, exactly. 73 00:05:29,79.996 --> 00:05:40,549.996 Yeah, whereas like here, I'm like, okay, you're gonna take like hot soapy water and a sponge, and we're gonna clean the station, then we're gonna spray it down with sanitizer, and wipe it up, and all those things, it's nice being able to teach people that, cause honestly. 74 00:05:41,299.997 --> 00:05:48,119.997 I like knew how to do it before I got my first kind of restaurant job, but that's only because I was in culinary school, so yeah, these guys aren't going to learn that. 75 00:05:48,119.997 --> 00:05:48,469.997 No. 76 00:05:48,569.997 --> 00:05:53,579.997 Lots of people are just like, just spray it with sanitizer, and I'm like, ooh, but that doesn't really clean stuff very well. 77 00:05:53,599.997 --> 00:05:54,459.997 Yeah, exactly. 78 00:05:54,709.997 --> 00:06:08,425.097 What did you find was like your biggest surprise from doing this? I think the biggest surprise, like looking back on it, is how they were actually so excited to get up and do the things in the kitchen. 79 00:06:08,435.097 --> 00:06:13,225.097 Like I really thought that most of them were going to be like, we just want to serve tables. 80 00:06:13,225.097 --> 00:06:15,225.096 We just want to make drinks and all those things. 81 00:06:15,225.097 --> 00:06:19,425.096 But they actually all loved the like cooking and kitchen component, which I think was really fun. 82 00:06:20,435.096 --> 00:06:20,635.096 Yeah. 83 00:06:20,635.097 --> 00:06:22,275.096 They were like pumped every time we got up. 84 00:06:22,385.097 --> 00:06:23,85.097 That was our favorite part. 85 00:06:23,85.097 --> 00:06:32,465.097 Just anytime we were doing stuff on our feet, like these are the students that are like, we want to do, we don't want to sit and listen, which we totally understand because that's why we did this. 86 00:06:32,515.097 --> 00:06:32,695.097 Yeah. 87 00:06:34,115.097 --> 00:06:36,65.097 I will say, they are sponges. 88 00:06:36,125.097 --> 00:06:36,895.097 They're so smart. 89 00:06:37,295.097 --> 00:06:38,35.097 They're so smart. 90 00:06:38,725.097 --> 00:06:41,355.096 People really underestimate the younger generation. 91 00:06:41,355.096 --> 00:06:42,785.096 Yeah, especially teenagers. 92 00:06:42,785.096 --> 00:06:45,125.096 Teenagers always get a bad rap because they're teenagers. 93 00:06:45,145.096 --> 00:06:46,635.096 But they were all fantastic. 94 00:06:46,855.095 --> 00:06:47,145.095 Yeah. 95 00:06:48,725.095 --> 00:07:01,285.096 What skill did you think was harder for them than expected? I think that the taking orders and the customer service part was really hard for them, which makes sense. 96 00:07:01,285.096 --> 00:07:03,295.0955 As a teenager, you don't know who you are. 97 00:07:03,295.0955 --> 00:07:04,695.096 You don't know how to talk to people. 98 00:07:04,695.096 --> 00:07:06,145.096 You're just like awkward. 99 00:07:06,855.096 --> 00:07:15,945.096 And so they were trying to wrap their head around role playing out a thing, but they don't really know each other very well and stuff like that. 100 00:07:16,335.096 --> 00:07:18,5.096 So I think that was pretty hard for them. 101 00:07:19,20.096 --> 00:07:20,320.096 Thank God they opened up though. 102 00:07:20,350.096 --> 00:07:23,200.096 Imagine if we had done the role playing on the first day when they were all silent. 103 00:07:23,510.096 --> 00:07:24,610.096 Hey guys, here's an icebreaker. 104 00:07:24,610.096 --> 00:07:25,620.096 We're going to role play. 105 00:07:26,850.096 --> 00:07:27,100.096 Yeah. 106 00:07:27,200.095 --> 00:07:31,350.096 They would have just been sitting there silently staring at us like what? Yes. 107 00:07:31,360.095 --> 00:07:34,30.096 I'm definitely glad that we did that on the fourth day and not the first. 108 00:07:36,550.095 --> 00:07:45,850.095 What do you think were their biggest questions or concerns, in the week? I think that a lot of them were. 109 00:07:46,885.096 --> 00:07:50,55.096 I think they had the most questions on the day that we did the resume building. 110 00:07:50,845.096 --> 00:07:51,245.096 True. 111 00:07:52,195.096 --> 00:07:54,775.096 Like I think a lot of them, because none of them have jobs. 112 00:07:55,265.096 --> 00:07:59,515.095 Some of them have maybe been to a couple interviews, but they don't really know what to expect. 113 00:07:59,835.095 --> 00:08:04,835.095 And I think I remember my first interview, I was a nervous wreck going into my interview at Old Navy. 114 00:08:04,865.096 --> 00:08:07,495.096 Like I was terrified of the interview. 115 00:08:07,495.096 --> 00:08:11,695.096 And then I remember getting there and doing it and being like, Oh, that wasn't really that bad. 116 00:08:11,715.096 --> 00:08:16,115.096 Did you guys have one on one interviews or group interviews? It was a one on one interview. 117 00:08:16,385.096 --> 00:08:23,75.096 So I, my first job, my first interview was at Garage, so also the same mall, and it was a group interview. 118 00:08:23,735.096 --> 00:08:23,975.096 That's wild. 119 00:08:23,975.096 --> 00:08:31,675.0945 And I just remember it being, it was actually outside at one point because like they brought us outside and sat all in a circle and asked us questions. 120 00:08:31,875.0955 --> 00:08:33,675.0955 At the mall? It was at the mall. 121 00:08:33,795.0955 --> 00:08:34,605.0955 That's wild. 122 00:08:34,615.0955 --> 00:08:34,825.0955 Yeah. 123 00:08:34,825.0955 --> 00:08:37,545.0955 It was so memorable, I would say. 124 00:08:37,745.0955 --> 00:08:37,995.0955 Yeah. 125 00:08:38,25.0955 --> 00:08:39,865.0955 That's so weird, but cool, yeah. 126 00:08:39,865.0955 --> 00:08:45,855.0955 And then I made a friend because We got, some of us got invited back for a second part of the interview and it was weird. 127 00:08:45,855.0955 --> 00:08:49,915.0955 So it was like the first part and then they were like, okay, we'll see you in an hour or two. 128 00:08:50,575.0955 --> 00:08:57,25.0955 And I made like a random friend in that interview and I just hung out with her and I got in her car and like we went somewhere. 129 00:08:57,645.0945 --> 00:08:58,765.0955 I don't remember her name. 130 00:08:58,815.0955 --> 00:09:00,637.545 I just I'm like, now that I look back and I'm like, that's funny. 131 00:09:00,637.545 --> 00:09:05,707.545 I just got in a car with this random girl I met in an interview and I don't think she got hired. 132 00:09:06,227.545 --> 00:09:09,767.445 I don't remember her being hired after. 133 00:09:11,507.545 --> 00:09:25,907.544 What were some of your favorite moments from last week? I think that sitting with them around the table talking about customer service interactions was like peak amazing. 134 00:09:26,237.545 --> 00:09:34,157.545 Because one, they're teenagers and they're all like Gen Z so they just are hilarious in general. 135 00:09:34,477.545 --> 00:09:37,407.545 And they shit talk the crap out of places. 136 00:09:39,397.545 --> 00:09:45,597.545 It's just funny hearing their interpretations of terrible service or terrible customer interactions. 137 00:09:45,597.545 --> 00:09:54,127.545 Whereas with us, we've had so many more interactions with people that it's like, the ones that we talk about that are terrible are like, terrible. 138 00:09:54,157.544 --> 00:09:55,347.544 They're real bad. 139 00:09:55,757.544 --> 00:10:01,632.544 Whereas with them, it's yeah, that's bad, but like It's not the worst thing that could happen. 140 00:10:01,642.544 --> 00:10:01,912.544 Yeah. 141 00:10:01,942.544 --> 00:10:08,312.544 But to them it's, it is the worst experience they could have, right? Yeah, they've only had so many experiences versus us, right? Yeah. 142 00:10:09,822.544 --> 00:10:11,12.544 I agree, that was fun. 143 00:10:11,82.544 --> 00:10:11,682.544 It was fun. 144 00:10:11,732.544 --> 00:10:13,432.544 Just like sitting and talking to them once they actually opened up. 145 00:10:13,612.544 --> 00:10:20,642.544 And, just, their personalities coming out were, they were just, they were all characters. 146 00:10:20,752.544 --> 00:10:21,692.544 Oh yeah, they totally were. 147 00:10:21,702.544 --> 00:10:28,682.5435 They were all so different, but They were all very different, but every single one of them was like the most stereotypical teenager. 148 00:10:30,452.5435 --> 00:10:31,932.5435 True, they all have like their archetypes. 149 00:10:31,932.5435 --> 00:10:32,832.5425 Yeah, totally. 150 00:10:37,312.5425 --> 00:10:51,207.5435 What were some of the key takeaways from this bootcamp, that revealed You know, what this next generation of workers is really I think there's a lot of stereotyping about this next generation. 151 00:10:51,757.5435 --> 00:10:58,177.5435 But now that we've actually got to, work with them closely, we weren't their bosses, we were more like their mentors and teachers. 152 00:10:59,277.5435 --> 00:11:15,627.5435 What kind of observations did you make? So I think one of the things that was really important that you asked them during our last day was like, how they felt about the fact that Everyone else is oh, they don't want to work, like the younger, no one wants to work anymore. 153 00:11:15,637.5435 --> 00:11:24,57.543 They don't want to have jobs, and they don't want to work hard, and all of them were like, yeah, it sucks that people think that about us. 154 00:11:24,57.543 --> 00:11:25,397.544 We do want to work hard. 155 00:11:25,397.544 --> 00:11:26,437.544 We do want to make money. 156 00:11:26,437.545 --> 00:11:42,52.544 We want to, have a career and all those things, but I think that What was really interesting is that they, and this is true for everybody, but they are very focused on getting paid. 157 00:11:42,92.544 --> 00:11:50,802.544 Like what, They are worth, there's not a whole lot of oh, I'll do a free unpaid internship going on with the younger generation They're like no. 158 00:11:50,802.544 --> 00:12:06,912.544 No, I'm worth more than a free internship like They have a higher perceived value of themselves than I think older generations had when they were that age Like when I was a teenager, I was like, oh, yeah You're going to pay me minimum wage to fold shirts? Sick. 159 00:12:07,162.544 --> 00:12:09,832.544 Whereas they're like, I don't want to be paid minimum wage to fold shirts. 160 00:12:09,852.544 --> 00:12:12,462.544 I want to do something more important that I can get paid more for. 161 00:12:12,542.543 --> 00:12:22,712.5445 Yeah, I think that's the, I think that's also the key thing is like being important though, like having purpose, right? Sense, there's a bit of entitlement, like the way you're phrasing it, but I don't think it's the way you phrase it makes it sound like they're entitled. 162 00:12:22,712.5445 --> 00:12:24,312.5445 But I don't think that they're entitled. 163 00:12:24,312.5445 --> 00:12:29,312.5445 I don't, I think they're looking for meaning and they want to be valued. 164 00:12:29,812.5445 --> 00:12:32,322.5445 And not oh, I'm just like another cog in the machine. 165 00:12:32,342.5445 --> 00:12:32,812.5445 Exactly. 166 00:12:32,812.5445 --> 00:12:33,552.5445 Yeah, that's what they want. 167 00:12:33,582.5445 --> 00:12:34,742.5445 They just want to be valued. 168 00:12:34,812.5445 --> 00:12:37,532.5445 And they are worth the value that they place on themselves. 169 00:12:37,552.5445 --> 00:12:40,942.5425 Students, whether they want to work or not they are important. 170 00:12:40,952.5435 --> 00:12:46,722.545 We wouldn't have McDonald's or Tim Hortons or any of those student job places without them, right? They do have skills. 171 00:12:46,722.545 --> 00:12:47,572.545 They do have value. 172 00:12:47,972.545 --> 00:12:50,852.545 And I think that they just want to be recognized for that value that they bring. 173 00:12:50,922.545 --> 00:12:51,202.545 True. 174 00:12:51,252.545 --> 00:12:56,222.545 And I also think employers also forget the fact that they literally have To go to school full time. 175 00:12:56,662.545 --> 00:12:57,12.545 Yeah. 176 00:12:57,512.545 --> 00:12:59,312.545 They go to school Monday to Friday. 177 00:13:00,872.545 --> 00:13:02,462.545 Eight to four. 178 00:13:03,12.545 --> 00:13:03,972.5445 And then extracurriculars. 179 00:13:03,972.5445 --> 00:13:06,812.545 Yeah, and extracurriculars, and being social with your friends. 180 00:13:06,852.544 --> 00:13:09,142.544 And making sure you're getting good grades. 181 00:13:09,192.545 --> 00:13:14,892.545 And then, with the case of four out of the five of them, they're all in grade 11 and 12. 182 00:13:14,902.545 --> 00:13:22,602.545 So they're trying to prepare to go to university, which is stressful for them, right? Yeah, but when an employer sees them in their work environment, they just see them at work. 183 00:13:22,612.545 --> 00:13:34,502.544 So they don't like Think about all the other shit that they're dealing with outside of work, and it's hey, you're here working You should be giving like a hundred percent, which don't get me wrong like absolutely But they've literally just went to another job, which is school. 184 00:13:34,772.545 --> 00:13:43,832.545 Yes that they don't get paid for Yeah, and I think that's also hard for them Because they're trying to like Pay for shit. 185 00:13:44,2.545 --> 00:13:47,112.545 Yeah with their minimum wage jobs, which you know nothing. 186 00:13:47,192.545 --> 00:13:51,632.545 What can you really get? Nowadays, with the way the economy is, and things are so unaffordable. 187 00:13:52,142.545 --> 00:13:58,322.545 I think it's also, they just, I don't want to say doom and gloom, but, they're not stupid. 188 00:13:58,332.544 --> 00:14:03,962.544 They see what the world is like, how much an apartment costs, and how much university costs. 189 00:14:03,962.545 --> 00:14:04,422.545 Totally. 190 00:14:04,472.545 --> 00:14:05,302.545 They can do the math. 191 00:14:05,312.545 --> 00:14:22,257.545 They're like, okay, how does this make sense? Like, how can they be motivated to go to university, spend like 50 grand on a degree, and pay for rent? And food and all the other stuff and have a car if you want a car and get out of that alive and Debt free within a reasonable amount of time. 192 00:14:22,257.545 --> 00:14:23,57.545 Yeah, like it's no sad. 193 00:14:23,87.545 --> 00:14:29,497.544 It doesn't happen right there's a reason why people are like Oh, I'm just never gonna pay off my student loans Because you just don't. 194 00:14:29,627.544 --> 00:14:34,637.544 It's money that just, you took to do something, and you're like, ah I can pay it later. 195 00:14:34,667.543 --> 00:14:43,367.542 And then you just end up never paying for it, because everything else just piles on, right? Yeah, it's a little bit more important for me to pay for my food and living, versus this debt I owe the government. 196 00:14:43,387.543 --> 00:14:43,747.543 Yeah. 197 00:14:44,697.542 --> 00:14:46,407.541 For school that they keep telling me that I need. 198 00:14:46,447.541 --> 00:14:47,77.541 Yes. 199 00:14:47,577.541 --> 00:14:54,632.642 I think they just have so much potential, but that potential is it's like under there and we just need to find it. 200 00:14:55,702.642 --> 00:15:12,372.642 And I'm not saying restaurants are the key to that, but I think that for employers that want to hire young people, they need to understand that this is the reality they're dealing with now and we need to pivot to be able to navigate like these challenges for them. 201 00:15:13,522.642 --> 00:15:15,982.642 And make it so that they want to work in restaurants. 202 00:15:16,32.642 --> 00:15:16,312.642 Yeah. 203 00:15:16,572.642 --> 00:15:19,232.642 And see that there's value in places like this. 204 00:15:19,232.642 --> 00:15:21,982.642 Because for me, I'm like, I see there's a lot of growth potential in restaurants. 205 00:15:22,742.641 --> 00:15:23,632.642 But for them, they might not. 206 00:15:23,632.642 --> 00:15:28,392.642 Because they are, they have that mindset of, Oh, I need to go to university after. 207 00:15:28,402.642 --> 00:15:28,612.642 Yeah. 208 00:15:28,622.641 --> 00:15:29,112.641 And whatnot. 209 00:15:34,562.641 --> 00:15:57,512.638 Why do you think restaurants struggle with hiring and training? I guess one of the big things is that if you look at, I don't know, I'd say maybe 70 percent of people who do work in restaurants are students who are going to university or young people who are just starting out as a hostess or, a busboy or a dishwasher and stuff like that. 210 00:15:57,522.639 --> 00:16:03,622.6385 And I think that is like the struggle is in that fact that it's people who are not here for the long haul. 211 00:16:05,327.6385 --> 00:16:09,217.6385 Do I think that is a detriment? Sometimes yes, mostly no. 212 00:16:09,477.6385 --> 00:16:47,647.6375 I think, even if people are only here for a short period of time, if that's, even if it's just a summer job, or if they're only working the weekends or whatever, I think that you still have to put that effort into training and kind of cultivating those people so that They do actually still help your business like I think you know people Owners or people who are training or hiring managers or whatever are hiring a hostess and they're just like, oh, they're just a hostess like I don't need to put my time and effort into that. 213 00:16:47,647.6385 --> 00:16:54,57.638 They just seat people at tables and it's if you put the time and effort into them and train them properly, then they will actually help your business. 214 00:16:54,67.637 --> 00:16:55,907.638 Yeah, they can build relationships. 215 00:16:55,917.638 --> 00:16:56,197.638 Yeah. 216 00:16:56,297.638 --> 00:17:04,97.637 And that wait time for customers is a little shorter because that hostess has customer service skills and is able to accommodate them better, communicate better. 217 00:17:05,782.638 --> 00:17:16,922.638 I also think owners don't plan well enough sometimes, they hire these low level positions and they don't really give much like forethought of how long is this person really going to be with me. 218 00:17:17,22.638 --> 00:17:17,932.6375 Sometimes it's a first summer. 219 00:17:17,932.6375 --> 00:17:18,232.637 Okay. 220 00:17:18,282.638 --> 00:17:22,242.638 If they're only going to be there for a summer, you need to already start hiring for when they go back away. 221 00:17:22,242.738 --> 00:17:26,2.638 So you know, is that the best hire? Maybe not. 222 00:17:26,52.638 --> 00:17:28,512.638 But if you, if that's the best person you can find. 223 00:17:29,337.638 --> 00:17:31,457.638 Then you need to be prepared for when they leave. 224 00:17:31,457.638 --> 00:17:36,167.638 I often see owners be like, we're suddenly so short staffed because the students went back to school. 225 00:17:36,167.638 --> 00:17:39,87.638 It's dude, you know that students go back to school in September. 226 00:17:39,87.638 --> 00:17:40,487.638 This is not a everyone knows that. 227 00:17:40,987.638 --> 00:17:43,787.6375 We plan for that we plan for that months in advance. 228 00:17:43,807.6375 --> 00:17:45,967.6365 Yeah, and they're like, oh my god, we're suddenly short staffed. 229 00:17:45,967.6375 --> 00:17:48,467.6375 It's bro, they always go back to school in September. 230 00:17:48,467.6375 --> 00:17:50,117.6375 It's been like that forever. 231 00:17:50,147.6375 --> 00:17:50,397.6375 Yeah. 232 00:17:51,842.6375 --> 00:17:56,182.6375 So I just think they just do it to themselves or maybe they don't even know the people working for them well enough. 233 00:17:56,182.6375 --> 00:17:57,242.6375 It's no, surely they do. 234 00:17:57,512.6375 --> 00:17:58,202.6375 They've got to know. 235 00:17:58,342.6365 --> 00:18:01,362.6355 They're like, the kid's 19, they're definitely going back to school. 236 00:18:02,497.6365 --> 00:18:17,847.6355 But anyways, I think just the lack of planning sometimes is challenging for people and again, this is these are owners that sometimes are too busy and they don't have time to build relationships with their staff or train them properly or have the right training or hiring systems in place. 237 00:18:18,407.6365 --> 00:18:23,707.637 So it's they just go day by day, right? They're just trying to fill these positions to just get by, right? They're just trying to just like. 238 00:18:24,722.637 --> 00:18:27,552.637 It's okay, tomorrow's got to be better because I hired this person. 239 00:18:27,592.637 --> 00:18:28,512.637 Okay, that person left. 240 00:18:28,512.637 --> 00:18:30,912.637 Okay, the next day's got to be better because I hired another person. 241 00:18:30,922.637 --> 00:18:32,302.611875 It's you got to think longer term. 242 00:18:32,302.611875 --> 00:18:34,687.4988125 They're filling just holes one thing at a time. 243 00:18:34,687.4988125 --> 00:18:38,142.561125 But unfortunately those holes are going to resurface because they're not going to be there forever. 244 00:18:38,562.562125 --> 00:18:42,782.561125 So it's they almost need to re strategize their training systems. 245 00:18:43,702.561125 --> 00:18:49,32.561125 And hire better for people that are going to be either, more long term or be prepared for that turnover. 246 00:18:49,532.561125 --> 00:18:52,262.561125 Which again, just requires more planning. 247 00:18:52,322.561125 --> 00:18:52,862.561125 Yes. 248 00:18:55,762.561125 --> 00:19:05,42.561125 What do you think people need for really good onboarding and training? We've worked a lot on our onboarding and training. 249 00:19:06,2.561125 --> 00:19:08,242.561125 Because it's actually a lot harder than I think. 250 00:19:08,827.561125 --> 00:19:09,667.561125 People think it is. 251 00:19:10,167.561125 --> 00:19:12,87.561125 And especially onboarding. 252 00:19:12,107.561125 --> 00:19:13,477.561125 I think training is a little bit easier. 253 00:19:13,517.561125 --> 00:19:18,877.561125 Onboarding is very challenging to have a person come in and be like, Oh, I actually do want to stay here. 254 00:19:18,877.561125 --> 00:19:22,957.561125 Or have a person come in and understand what in the world is happening around them. 255 00:19:22,977.561125 --> 00:19:24,407.560625 Because restaurants are busy. 256 00:19:24,407.560625 --> 00:19:25,447.561125 They're fast paced. 257 00:19:26,47.562125 --> 00:19:29,827.561125 Not everyone always has time to like properly introduce you to everything. 258 00:19:30,237.561125 --> 00:19:44,37.561125 I think one of the biggest things that we have done like more recently, is having a specific person be the like tied to the new trainee. 259 00:19:44,37.561125 --> 00:19:45,317.561125 So we have a new person start. 260 00:19:45,357.561125 --> 00:19:55,787.561125 Oh, they only work with Ryan for the first two weeks of their shifts because then they have a single person that they can go to with questions. 261 00:19:55,787.561125 --> 00:19:57,287.560125 They'll feel more comfortable with them. 262 00:19:57,547.560125 --> 00:20:02,477.561125 They're seeing exactly what happens during an actual like week rather than. 263 00:20:02,772.561125 --> 00:20:08,882.561125 Just being like, oh yeah, I went for a day and worked three hours with a random human here, and I don't even remember their name. 264 00:20:09,152.561125 --> 00:20:14,182.560125 And I worked for two hours over here with another person that I didn't even remember their name. 265 00:20:14,372.561125 --> 00:20:21,52.560625 Whereas like, when you're working with one specific person, you're like, okay, that's my, that's my human that can like, help me through this process. 266 00:20:21,662.560625 --> 00:20:24,92.560625 I think that makes it a little nicer for people. 267 00:20:24,92.660625 --> 00:20:25,82.560625 A hundred percent. 268 00:20:25,142.560625 --> 00:20:30,157.560625 I think there, I think a lot of Places lack almost empathy when they think about onboarding. 269 00:20:30,167.560625 --> 00:20:37,47.560625 It's yeah, that person wants to work there, but if they're getting treated like shit from day one, what do you think it's going to be like for them on day 50? Yeah. 270 00:20:37,57.559625 --> 00:20:48,317.560625 Or 1, 000? When you're like the new person, if you're not welcome into a place, they feel that and they're just going to leave, right? Like people have options, they're going to go somewhere else. 271 00:20:49,217.560625 --> 00:20:55,997.560625 Maybe not in this, right this moment, because I think that's a bit more of an employer's market right now with just a lot of the uncertainty. 272 00:20:57,777.560625 --> 00:21:10,907.559625 But one thing I think is good for us, what we've done, and it's not perfect, but like we keep our, we're always fine tuning it, is having a training checklist that the trainee can see and the trainer can see. 273 00:21:10,957.559625 --> 00:21:14,607.559625 They see what things they need to learn to be fully trained. 274 00:21:14,617.559625 --> 00:21:15,807.559625 Whereas like other places. 275 00:21:17,92.560625 --> 00:21:21,972.560625 that are a little bit more, less developed, maybe, I would say. 276 00:21:23,212.560625 --> 00:21:26,12.560625 That person that's new in training, they don't really know. 277 00:21:26,42.560625 --> 00:21:33,32.560625 They're just like getting thrown into things and they don't know what those expectations are for them to be actually trained. 278 00:21:33,42.560625 --> 00:21:35,252.561125 It's am I still in training? It's there's that lack of clarity. 279 00:21:35,782.561125 --> 00:21:38,502.561125 Whereas for us, it's very clear if you're still in training. 280 00:21:38,802.561125 --> 00:21:45,582.561125 You have a checklist, a list of things that you need to learn before you're considered trained, or at least be exposed to before you. 281 00:21:47,52.561125 --> 00:21:47,292.561125 Yeah. 282 00:21:47,972.561125 --> 00:21:52,722.561125 So like some places, it's Oh, I'm already working on myself, but I don't even know how to, I don't even know how to close the till. 283 00:21:52,732.561125 --> 00:21:53,582.561125 No one ever showed me. 284 00:21:53,612.561125 --> 00:21:53,982.561125 Yeah. 285 00:21:54,312.561125 --> 00:22:03,122.561125 And then they feel shitty because they're not good at their job or they get in trouble for making a mistake and they don't feel good about themselves and they're not valued and they're just like downward cycle. 286 00:22:03,122.661125 --> 00:22:03,282.5944583 Yeah. 287 00:22:03,282.5944583 --> 00:22:03,602.461125 Like just. 288 00:22:04,182.561125 --> 00:22:18,592.561125 Losing people so easily when you've worked so hard to get them in the first place, like interview them, and hire them, and have someone train them, and like paying someone to train them costs money too, like you gotta pay for the new person's time and the trainer's time. 289 00:22:18,592.561125 --> 00:22:18,932.561125 Yeah. 290 00:22:19,562.561125 --> 00:22:30,92.560125 It costs a lot of money to train someone, so if you're gonna do it, if you're gonna put the money in and the time in, you might as well do it properly if you want to, keep that new hire. 291 00:22:30,717.561125 --> 00:22:35,862.661125 Imagine every new hire costs you, let's say, anywhere from 500 to 1, 000. 292 00:22:35,872.661125 --> 00:22:38,592.660125 Someone that stayed a little bit too long would probably cost you 1, 000. 293 00:22:39,92.660125 --> 00:22:45,872.560625 You go through 20 servers that don't work out in a year, it's 20, 000. 294 00:22:45,872.660625 --> 00:22:47,12.711125 10, 000 Yeah. 295 00:22:47,662.711125 --> 00:22:49,742.711125 Of your money that just vanished in a thin air. 296 00:22:50,32.711125 --> 00:22:56,57.711125 And that's the other thing about labor, which is funny, right? Labor is like this You spend money on labor and it just disappears. 297 00:22:56,67.711125 --> 00:22:59,247.711125 If they're not producing anything, let's say it's like dead and they're just standing around. 298 00:22:59,377.711125 --> 00:22:59,617.711125 Yeah. 299 00:22:59,677.711125 --> 00:23:01,127.711125 You're never getting that money back. 300 00:23:01,157.711125 --> 00:23:05,217.711125 With like cost of goods, you have it sitting in inventory, you're gonna sell it and whatever. 301 00:23:05,227.711125 --> 00:23:06,817.711125 Yeah, you're gonna get the money back, yeah. 302 00:23:06,877.711125 --> 00:23:07,547.711125 It's more tangible. 303 00:23:07,547.711125 --> 00:23:11,847.711125 Spending money on labor is like throwing money into the air and it just vanishes. 304 00:23:12,67.710125 --> 00:23:12,487.711125 Yeah, exactly. 305 00:23:12,487.711125 --> 00:23:13,517.711125 Unless it's used productively. 306 00:23:13,517.711125 --> 00:23:13,847.711125 Yeah. 307 00:23:14,347.711125 --> 00:23:30,267.710125 If I was a restaurant owner that was struggling with hiring and training, what are some quick things I can do today to fix my hiring and training problems? I think first we need to dedicate who is your trainer. 308 00:23:30,767.710125 --> 00:23:31,217.710125 Yes. 309 00:23:32,267.710125 --> 00:23:40,292.711125 And again, a common mistake is people put They're strongest person in that position, as a trainer, but they're not a good teacher. 310 00:23:40,352.711125 --> 00:23:41,422.711125 Like they're just really good at cooking. 311 00:23:41,422.711125 --> 00:23:42,632.710125 But it's they're not good at teaching though. 312 00:23:42,682.710125 --> 00:23:43,582.711125 So that's a different problem. 313 00:23:43,632.711125 --> 00:23:43,852.711125 Yeah. 314 00:23:44,72.711125 --> 00:23:45,52.711125 Or they're the best server. 315 00:23:45,62.711125 --> 00:23:50,452.711125 They can upsell the shit out of anything, but they're not good with teaching a newbie how to do that. 316 00:23:50,512.710125 --> 00:23:53,932.710125 You're not going to just get a bunch of mini versions of that person. 317 00:23:54,362.710125 --> 00:23:55,162.710125 That's not how it works. 318 00:23:55,212.710125 --> 00:24:02,102.709125 But I think we just commonly assume that because I've also been there you naturally put your best, You want to use like your best person. 319 00:24:02,987.710125 --> 00:24:06,717.710125 To train someone because you want the next person to be your next best person. 320 00:24:07,37.710125 --> 00:24:18,577.710125 But that's not always how it goes, right? Because I can use this example from in between like me and my husband, right? He's amazing in kitchens and has lots of great skills. 321 00:24:18,647.710125 --> 00:24:19,417.710125 Terrible trainer. 322 00:24:19,527.710125 --> 00:24:21,577.710125 Like literally is horrible at training people. 323 00:24:21,967.710125 --> 00:24:23,17.710125 Whereas Go do it now. 324 00:24:23,127.710125 --> 00:24:23,907.710125 Yeah, literally. 325 00:24:23,917.710125 --> 00:24:24,737.710125 You watched me do it once. 326 00:24:24,817.710125 --> 00:24:25,597.710125 Now you're on your own. 327 00:24:25,777.710125 --> 00:24:29,197.710125 He's And if you mess it up and it tastes terrible, you have to eat it. 328 00:24:30,357.710125 --> 00:24:32,107.710125 So you learn never to do it again. 329 00:24:32,467.709125 --> 00:24:33,827.709125 But then there's That's so old school. 330 00:24:33,867.709125 --> 00:24:34,997.709125 Oh, so old school. 331 00:24:35,37.709125 --> 00:24:37,17.708125 But it's that's how he was taught. 332 00:24:37,37.709125 --> 00:24:45,732.709125 And so that's how he teaches, right? Whereas, I try to better the way that I'm teaching when I try to do it. 333 00:24:45,742.709125 --> 00:24:56,812.608625 So like, when I am training people, I try to adapt the way I'm training to the person I'm training to make it easier for them. 334 00:24:56,812.608625 --> 00:24:59,172.608625 I usually ask people how they learn best. 335 00:24:59,172.708625 --> 00:25:19,540.158625 I'm like, are you like a visual person? Do you need me to show you? Or can I just explain it to you and you can take that and Do what you will with it or can I say cut cucumbers and you say okay? Where are the cucumbers so I can go look at them? Or do you need me to actually like actively show you so I? Think that a lot of people fail there where they're like oh, I've tripped But I've trained everyone this exact same way, and they've all done well. 336 00:25:19,550.158625 --> 00:25:19,810.158625 It's okay. 337 00:25:19,810.158625 --> 00:25:26,900.158625 That person Might not do well with that training so like you need to adapt How you're doing things. 338 00:25:27,450.158625 --> 00:25:33,890.158625 I think the other thing is that a quick fix with like their hiring and training is just creating a basic checklist, just. 339 00:25:34,340.158625 --> 00:25:35,520.158625 Go on the Word document. 340 00:25:36,20.158625 --> 00:25:42,540.158625 For each position, what should that new person know within the first month, right? You break it down from their first day. 341 00:25:42,540.158625 --> 00:25:54,220.158625 What should they learn? On the second day, what should they learn? Third day, what should they learn? At least there's just like something that's consistent that they can start following and then over time you can tweak it to what it needs to be and you can make it better over time. 342 00:25:54,220.258625 --> 00:25:55,310.158625 It's always a working document. 343 00:25:55,310.158625 --> 00:25:57,210.158625 Like we've edited ours hundreds of times. 344 00:25:57,210.258625 --> 00:25:57,870.258625 So many times. 345 00:25:58,300.258625 --> 00:25:59,450.258625 And I still don't think it's perfect. 346 00:25:59,460.258625 --> 00:25:59,780.258625 No. 347 00:25:59,810.258625 --> 00:26:05,995.258625 And, the first time we made that document, it was like bare bones, like Oh, we had something to work off. 348 00:26:06,45.258625 --> 00:26:06,555.258625 Exactly. 349 00:26:06,555.258625 --> 00:26:07,395.258625 That's all it needs to be. 350 00:26:07,395.258625 --> 00:26:10,15.258625 It doesn't have to be anything crazy or concrete. 351 00:26:10,15.258625 --> 00:26:15,465.257125 It just has to be like, Hey, do you, on the first day, do you want the trainer to give them a tour of the restaurant? Cool. 352 00:26:15,465.257125 --> 00:26:16,365.257625 Put that on your list. 353 00:26:16,625.257625 --> 00:26:20,615.257125 Or do you want the like trainee to know like where to throw their dirty cloths at the end of the night? Cool. 354 00:26:20,615.257125 --> 00:26:21,195.257625 Put that on your list. 355 00:26:21,405.257625 --> 00:26:26,385.257625 Like it doesn't have to be like, I need you to teach them the nuances of cooking in a wok. 356 00:26:26,435.257625 --> 00:26:30,885.257625 No, just like the basic of basics, what they need to learn. 357 00:26:31,370.257625 --> 00:26:34,990.257625 That's like the, and then again, going back to like, how we talked about old school way of training people. 358 00:26:35,490.257625 --> 00:26:37,690.257625 Old school doesn't work anymore with this younger generation. 359 00:26:37,890.257625 --> 00:26:39,740.256625 They are Yeah, they don't want to learn that way. 360 00:26:39,780.256625 --> 00:26:40,130.256625 No. 361 00:26:40,330.257625 --> 00:26:41,440.257625 They don't want to be treated like shit. 362 00:26:41,470.257625 --> 00:26:41,690.257625 Yeah. 363 00:26:42,410.256625 --> 00:26:45,170.257625 And if they are, like, they're just not gonna, they're not gonna come back the next day. 364 00:26:45,170.257625 --> 00:26:46,450.257625 Yeah, they're just okay, see ya. 365 00:26:46,480.256625 --> 00:26:47,760.256625 They have no patience for it. 366 00:26:47,870.256625 --> 00:26:48,190.256625 Yeah. 367 00:26:50,370.256625 --> 00:27:05,925.256625 I think there's one thing to highlight from doing the boot camp is, what Do young employees want in a restaurant job today? And for me, I find that they want to work in places that they, and I hate to use this word, they vibe with. 368 00:27:05,935.256625 --> 00:27:10,325.255625 The ones that, resonate with their personality, and that they feel strongly about. 369 00:27:10,585.255625 --> 00:27:11,855.256625 That they're actually passionate about. 370 00:27:12,455.256625 --> 00:27:13,835.256625 And I hate to say this, but the chains. 371 00:27:15,515.319125 --> 00:27:21,965.319125 Like they want to work there because they're gonna get the hours and stuff, but I can't really say that they're Overly motivated to work there. 372 00:27:22,285.319125 --> 00:27:39,830.317125 No, I wouldn't say so, but this is where a lot of independent restaurants Have that amazing leverage, right? It's hey, you guys are a mom and pop, you're an independent restaurant, this is a place where the young people get to work with you closely and learn from you, and it doesn't feel as corporate y and, have to wear like a McDonald's uniform. 373 00:27:40,20.317125 --> 00:27:40,370.317125 Yeah. 374 00:27:40,610.318125 --> 00:27:48,390.318125 If you're an independent restaurant, you should be like eating this up because young people, they would rather work for you versus, a McDonald's or like a Popeye's chicken, whatever. 375 00:27:49,460.318125 --> 00:27:51,640.318125 So I think that's something that people should really take into account. 376 00:27:53,540.318125 --> 00:28:07,760.318125 What do you, what would you keep the same for our next workshop? What would you change for the next workshop? So keeping the same, I think I would do the same kitchen things. 377 00:28:07,760.318125 --> 00:28:13,70.318125 I think that, curriculum, I think that the curriculum that we came up with was good. 378 00:28:13,200.318125 --> 00:28:22,510.318125 I think that we maybe just need to change the layout of how those things are taught a little bit, just to make it a little, easier, maybe a little less like chaotic. 379 00:28:22,510.318125 --> 00:28:25,940.318125 Like some of our days were like chaos, and then other days were like not. 380 00:28:25,990.318125 --> 00:28:28,40.318125 Because we did so much stuff in one day. 381 00:28:28,40.418125 --> 00:28:30,280.318125 Yes, because we did almost too much stuff in one day. 382 00:28:30,780.318125 --> 00:28:35,720.318125 Yeah, it was like, some stuff was like, we did too much doing, and then other days we were doing too much talking. 383 00:28:35,730.317125 --> 00:28:35,970.317125 Yes. 384 00:28:36,30.317125 --> 00:28:38,250.317125 We just need to find like the balance between the two. 385 00:28:38,250.317125 --> 00:28:38,800.317125 Yes. 386 00:28:38,840.317125 --> 00:28:41,30.318125 So that we're not miserable, and they're not miserable. 387 00:28:41,60.318125 --> 00:28:41,510.318125 Yes. 388 00:28:41,680.318125 --> 00:28:47,600.318125 And I think also another thing that we like knew was happening, but made it a little bit more difficult to prevent. 389 00:28:47,610.318125 --> 00:28:52,650.318125 That was the first day we had a catering going on in the kitchen that we had to get out by a certain time. 390 00:28:52,650.318125 --> 00:29:01,400.316625 So it was, like, we couldn't really do much in the kitchen wise and we didn't really want to be in the way in the front either because we were just we need to pack up food for 60 people. 391 00:29:01,440.317625 --> 00:29:01,950.318125 We can't. 392 00:29:03,70.318125 --> 00:29:04,380.318125 Please get out of the kitchen now. 393 00:29:04,380.318125 --> 00:29:05,310.318125 Yeah, exactly. 394 00:29:05,310.418125 --> 00:29:21,465.417125 I think One of the things that we also like because we were taking notes and of changes We wanted to make throughout while we were doing it And I think the biggest thing we were talking about is how if there were more people how we would manage Yeah through scaling those things. 395 00:29:21,465.417125 --> 00:29:23,955.417125 Yeah, like we did five students and that was great. 396 00:29:23,955.417125 --> 00:29:29,155.418125 It was like nice and intimate but You know financially like it was like a break even for us. 397 00:29:29,175.418125 --> 00:29:41,510.417625 Yeah Not that we're not getting compensated properly, but at the end of the day, we still want to be able to turn a little bit of profit so that profit can go back in to make this program even better, and yes, and all that, right? I think the next goal is probably to do 10 students. 398 00:29:41,510.417625 --> 00:29:41,810.417125 Yeah. 399 00:29:42,920.418125 --> 00:29:44,170.418125 Yeah, I think that's a good goal. 400 00:29:44,190.418125 --> 00:29:51,220.418125 I think it would be enough of a challenge without it being like, oh my god, we took on too many kids. 401 00:29:51,840.418125 --> 00:29:53,350.418125 Neat gloves for smaller hands. 402 00:29:53,350.418125 --> 00:29:54,970.418125 That's something that I did not think about. 403 00:29:55,0.418125 --> 00:29:57,440.417125 Yes, we definitely didn't, I didn't think about that at all. 404 00:29:57,990.417125 --> 00:30:09,430.417125 We also talked about making our tour slash Like, health and safety brief more fun by doing like a scavenger hunt in the kitchen. 405 00:30:09,430.417125 --> 00:30:13,990.417125 So do a quick tour with them and then be like, Okay, like I need everyone to go find a sanitizer bottle. 406 00:30:13,990.417125 --> 00:30:17,700.417125 I need everyone to go find where the dirty cloths go and all those things. 407 00:30:17,700.417125 --> 00:30:23,860.417125 Just to make it more fun and also be more of like an icebreaker for them on the first day. 408 00:30:23,890.417125 --> 00:30:26,970.417125 Because they were so quiet on the first day. 409 00:30:26,970.417125 --> 00:30:28,310.416125 I have like nightmares about that. 410 00:30:29,560.417125 --> 00:30:29,950.417125 I know. 411 00:30:30,210.417125 --> 00:30:32,130.417125 Are they going to come back the second day? Yeah. 412 00:30:32,190.417125 --> 00:30:33,480.417125 Oh my god, they hated us. 413 00:30:33,500.417125 --> 00:30:34,890.417125 They hated everything about it. 414 00:30:35,490.417125 --> 00:30:37,460.417125 We still need to actually go over our survey. 415 00:30:37,800.417125 --> 00:30:41,160.416625 Cause we, last time I checked, we had one response from the survey. 416 00:30:41,160.416625 --> 00:30:41,190.416125 Yes. 417 00:30:41,240.416125 --> 00:30:45,60.416125 So we should, after this, go through like the final part of it. 418 00:30:47,790.416125 --> 00:31:00,55.416125 Can every restaurant owner do this similar mini training for new hires? Do you think that every restaurant could incorporate this? I think they could if they actually had the time. 419 00:31:00,275.416125 --> 00:31:06,425.416125 I think a lot of places maybe don't have the time or manpower to do these things. 420 00:31:06,445.416125 --> 00:31:23,630.416125 We're lucky here because we have both recently come back from mat leave and we're in this place where We've made ourselves a little Obsolete here because we have the staff to take over the things that we have so we have the time. 421 00:31:23,630.416125 --> 00:31:23,890.416125 It's true. 422 00:31:24,440.416125 --> 00:31:37,410.416125 If you were a busy restaurant owner like before opening you wouldn't be able to teach kids like because you're running around or prep or you're prepping if you're like front line and you're If you're an owner and also the chef like you're probably just like prepping in the morning. 423 00:31:37,420.416125 --> 00:31:41,800.415125 Exactly, right? Like you're getting things ready to run through your day or your week. 424 00:31:41,800.416125 --> 00:31:45,800.416125 You're not like I should focus on teaching teenagers how to do this. 425 00:31:45,820.416125 --> 00:31:56,160.417125 But I think that if you are maybe more in a place like where we are, where we have the extra time to give back, I think that people could totally do it. 426 00:31:56,655.417125 --> 00:31:57,995.417125 They just have to want to do it. 427 00:31:58,105.417125 --> 00:31:58,655.417125 Exactly, yeah. 428 00:31:58,865.417125 --> 00:32:00,315.417125 I think the want is a big thing, right? Yeah. 429 00:32:00,315.417125 --> 00:32:02,545.417125 I think they have to see value in bringing in kids. 430 00:32:03,75.417125 --> 00:32:04,455.416125 I'm going to use the word kids for a moment here. 431 00:32:05,95.417125 --> 00:32:08,455.417125 They have to see value in bringing them in and investing their time into them and training them. 432 00:32:09,125.416125 --> 00:32:12,385.416625 I think the cool thing is the parents really appreciate it because they're actually customers of ours. 433 00:32:12,385.416625 --> 00:32:15,55.416625 We only advertise this to our customer base. 434 00:32:15,75.416625 --> 00:32:16,305.416625 And they filled up so fast. 435 00:32:16,595.416625 --> 00:32:18,975.416625 And we even had a waiting list for more spots. 436 00:32:19,695.416625 --> 00:32:41,305.416625 But, I think, There was just so much value for everyone because there's not a lot of stuff for their age group to do because they're in a weird, awkward age where they're not going to go to camp because they're too old, they're like in this age where they're trying to become adults and get jobs, but, so I think this was like a perfect activity for them during like their school break. 437 00:32:41,355.416625 --> 00:32:41,605.416625 Yeah. 438 00:32:43,775.416625 --> 00:32:45,355.416625 And I will say, having done this. 439 00:32:45,775.416625 --> 00:32:50,495.416625 Bootcamp, we did find a potential hire from doing this, which is great. 440 00:32:50,515.416625 --> 00:32:56,645.416625 And that we bypassed any hardship of having to put up a job ad. 441 00:32:56,665.416625 --> 00:32:59,175.416125 And, we got to really know the students. 442 00:32:59,215.415125 --> 00:33:00,985.416125 Yeah, we don't even really have to interview them. 443 00:33:01,145.415125 --> 00:33:02,75.415125 They are still coming for an interview. 444 00:33:02,125.416125 --> 00:33:04,85.416125 I know, because we should do an interview. 445 00:33:04,635.416125 --> 00:33:11,275.416125 But realistically if you really got to know them you wouldn't even have to do that in depth of an interview, right? Yeah, we know them well enough. 446 00:33:11,325.416125 --> 00:33:11,615.416125 Yeah. 447 00:33:12,45.416125 --> 00:33:22,315.416125 But, yeah, for the sake of going through the process, even for them, I think it's still, and that's why I wanted them to go through the interview, is because they're so young, I think they'll still get so much value and they should learn how to do a proper interview. 448 00:33:25,135.416125 --> 00:33:36,385.416125 What are your thoughts on, where do you think this boot camp can go expansion wise? Expanding, I think, would be fun just because it's always fun teaching and giving back and all those things. 449 00:33:36,695.416125 --> 00:33:40,15.416125 The only logistical problem is that they're in school. 450 00:33:40,465.416125 --> 00:33:51,725.416625 We can't just have them here any day of the week, right? It's either weekends or we do it when they're off in the summer, right? Which is basically the only issue with expanding it. 451 00:33:53,385.416625 --> 00:33:55,55.416625 I would like to expand it. 452 00:33:55,95.416625 --> 00:33:55,565.416625 For sure. 453 00:33:55,615.416625 --> 00:34:01,945.416625 The fact that someone from the school board already contacted me about it, and they're like, we want to send five students, and we're like, I'm sorry, we're full. 454 00:34:01,955.416625 --> 00:34:02,875.415625 Yeah, exactly. 455 00:34:02,885.416625 --> 00:34:21,870.416125 And even if it was expanding it in the way where we go to the schools that have a cooking class for a week at a time, and teach in those classrooms, I think that would still be a good way of expanding it, where then we don't have to worry about the logistics of like, When are they going to come here? Kind of thing. 456 00:34:22,320.416125 --> 00:34:29,70.416125 I think there's, yeah, and again, if we had like the space and time, we could totally do even more different more specialized. 457 00:34:29,170.416125 --> 00:34:29,390.416125 Yep. 458 00:34:30,310.415125 --> 00:34:43,140.416125 Workshops, right? Just a front of house one, or just a back of house one, or specific types of cooking, different cuisines, and I think the opportunities are just Really broad, like there's so much stuff we can do in different age groups. 459 00:34:43,480.416125 --> 00:34:49,500.416125 The fact that an adult was like, Can you do an adult bootcamp for us? And it's yes, but you have work during the weekdays. 460 00:34:49,780.415125 --> 00:34:56,330.416125 Yeah, like when are we supposed to bring you in? And that is how we started a cooking and restaurant school. 461 00:34:56,360.417125 --> 00:34:56,630.417125 Yeah. 462 00:34:57,590.416125 --> 00:34:58,870.417125 You heard it here first, people. 463 00:34:59,20.417125 --> 00:34:59,230.417125 Yep. 464 00:34:59,730.417125 --> 00:35:00,830.417125 Let's do some final thoughts. 465 00:35:00,840.417125 --> 00:35:13,415.417125 What has this experience taught you? I think One of the more challenging parts of this for me was actually teaching the younger kids. 466 00:35:13,715.417125 --> 00:35:17,745.417125 Don't have much background in actual teaching. 467 00:35:17,745.417125 --> 00:35:26,945.417625 I train people and, but I am definitely like a harsher, like I'm a kitchen person, like I work in kitchens. 468 00:35:26,945.417625 --> 00:35:32,55.417625 I'm not like, it's not like I'm like a front of house person being like, I don't have the like bubbly ness. 469 00:35:32,185.417625 --> 00:35:33,475.416625 You're not soft. 470 00:35:33,485.417625 --> 00:35:42,635.416625 Yeah, like I'm not a soft person and I think teenagers and kids and younger people need maybe more of a soft person, so that's why you have me. 471 00:35:42,675.417625 --> 00:35:43,885.416625 We balance each other out. 472 00:35:43,885.416625 --> 00:35:50,185.417625 So I was trying to reach for that softer bit that I might have buried deep down somewhere. 473 00:35:51,435.417625 --> 00:35:53,845.417625 That has started coming out more because I'm a mom now. 474 00:35:54,465.417625 --> 00:35:58,725.417625 So that I can be You're more empathetic now. 475 00:35:58,755.417625 --> 00:35:59,335.417625 Yes. 476 00:35:59,445.416625 --> 00:36:06,245.416625 So it's easier for me to teach people and do those things with younger people. 477 00:36:06,255.417625 --> 00:36:14,690.317625 So I think that is something that I learned from this is how to approach them, how to talk to them that gets them to react and engage with you. 478 00:36:16,440.417625 --> 00:36:22,530.417625 For sure, I think this was different in that this is like a younger group than we're used to. 479 00:36:22,600.417625 --> 00:36:25,860.317625 Like when we get new employees, they're usually like 17, 18. 480 00:36:25,860.417625 --> 00:36:28,120.418625 That's very rare that we bring on someone that age. 481 00:36:28,190.417625 --> 00:36:28,380.417625 Yes. 482 00:36:28,380.517625 --> 00:36:28,900.418625 Like super rare. 483 00:36:28,930.418625 --> 00:36:29,120.418625 Yeah. 484 00:36:29,940.417625 --> 00:36:44,295.418625 So like to actually do that is With multiple of them, it's like a different experience altogether, right? I think for me, I think the biggest takeaway I got from this was just, it really gave me a lot of hope for the younger generation. 485 00:36:44,295.418625 --> 00:36:54,675.519625 If you just motivate them in the right way, and you find the right ones, the sustainability of restaurants is still there because there are people that still want to work. 486 00:36:54,735.519625 --> 00:36:56,445.519625 People say young kids don't want to work. 487 00:36:56,455.519625 --> 00:36:57,165.520125 It's that's not true. 488 00:36:57,165.520125 --> 00:36:58,305.520125 Like they, they do. 489 00:36:58,315.519125 --> 00:37:02,615.420125 They want to have their own income and to spend money the way they want to spend it. 490 00:37:02,615.520125 --> 00:37:08,985.520625 You just need to provide them some value, whether it's growth opportunity, some mentorship, right? Like having a dedicated trainer. 491 00:37:08,985.520625 --> 00:37:13,435.520625 Like for me, I love this industry because when I think about like my mentor that I had. 492 00:37:13,935.520625 --> 00:37:17,665.520625 I think so highly of them, and they taught me so much, and that's what they need too. 493 00:37:17,665.520625 --> 00:37:24,225.520625 I think they valued having such close conversations with us. 494 00:37:24,485.520625 --> 00:37:25,555.520625 Yes, I think so too. 495 00:37:26,55.520625 --> 00:37:31,285.522625 They liked just being able to sit and talk and ask whatever questions they wanted to ask, because we were there to answer them. 496 00:37:31,285.522625 --> 00:37:33,565.522625 Yeah, and we're super blunt, we're gonna be honest with them. 497 00:37:33,565.522625 --> 00:37:38,485.522625 We're not their teachers, we're not their parents, we're just like another adult that they got to build a relationship with. 498 00:37:38,485.522625 --> 00:37:38,685.522625 Yeah. 499 00:37:39,185.522625 --> 00:37:39,605.522625 I think. 500 00:37:40,175.522625 --> 00:37:46,645.522625 Owners need to open their minds back up to just, how valuable young people can be and how malleable they are. 501 00:37:47,145.522625 --> 00:37:49,865.522625 We just need to take into account that it is a different time. 502 00:37:49,875.522625 --> 00:37:51,435.522625 Social media, you can't hide shit. 503 00:37:51,465.521625 --> 00:37:53,465.521625 If you're a terrible employer kids are gonna find out. 504 00:37:53,465.521625 --> 00:37:54,445.520625 People talk. 505 00:37:54,445.521625 --> 00:37:56,715.521625 The community talks. 506 00:37:56,805.520625 --> 00:37:59,575.521625 You just need to be on the opposite side of that and be on the bright side. 507 00:38:00,720.521625 --> 00:38:03,730.521625 Alright that is a wrap on today's episode of Table 13. 508 00:38:04,80.521625 --> 00:38:10,830.521625 And if you're struggling with hiring and training, just know that with some small changes, it can get easier for you. 509 00:38:11,950.520625 --> 00:38:15,660.521625 If this episode resonated with you, we'd love to hear your thoughts. 510 00:38:16,390.521625 --> 00:38:18,380.521625 DM me on Instagram at Susan Tong. 511 00:38:18,390.521625 --> 00:38:19,600.521625 You can leave a review. 512 00:38:20,90.521625 --> 00:38:24,680.521625 And please share this with any other restaurant owners that would love to hear this. 513 00:38:26,0.521625 --> 00:38:30,940.521625 And if you have a story, a struggle, or a win you want to share with us, please reach out. 514 00:38:30,950.521625 --> 00:38:33,660.521625 We're always looking to bring real conversations to the table. 515 00:38:34,210.520625 --> 00:38:37,630.521625 Thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time at Table 13.