Want to know how a global restaurant chain hires 1,500+ employees while battling an industry notorious for turnover? In this episode, Joel chats with Chrystal Gualtieri, the Global Talent Acquisition Leader at CKE Restaurants—the powerhouse behind Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. They dive into the ins and outs of recruiting in the fast-paced hospitality world and explore how recruiters can keep things human in an age dominated by technology and templates.
Chrystal takes us through her fascinating journey, from handling high-volume nonprofit hiring to steering talent acquisition in a corporate setting. She breaks down the real reasons behind restaurant retention challenges and explains why even the smartest applicant tracking system can’t replace the warmth of genuine candidate care. Along the way, they discuss hot topics like the evolving role of hybrid work, AI’s place in the recruitment process, and even some resume red flags (yes, your email address might be giving you away!).
With a mix of practical advice and real-world insights, Chrystal also reveals how she handles the pressure of managing multiple roles with just a spreadsheet, a smile, and a lot of grit. Whether you’re a seasoned recruiter or just curious about the behind-the-scenes of hiring in hospitality, this episode is packed with valuable nuggets that can help anyone navigating the recruitment maze with too much on their plate and not enough backup.
In this episode:
(00:00:03) Podcast introduction
(00:01:15) Chrystal’s background and journey into recruitment
(00:02:11) Sponsor message and recruitment tech
(00:03:26) Chrystal’s early recruitment experience
(00:04:38) Transition to corporate recruiting
(00:05:17) Tech industry vs. hospitality industry
(00:06:08) AI adoption in hospitality recruitment
(00:08:23) Restaurant staffing and retention challenges
(00:10:30) Corporate recruitment challenges
(00:12:43) Hybrid work environment and candidate expectations
(00:14:09) Building relationships in a hybrid office
(00:16:41) Communicating hybrid work policies to candidates
(00:20:53) Authenticity and AI in applications
(00:22:36) Resume details and LinkedIn consistency
(00:26:00) Candidate follow-up etiquette
(00:28:21) Tracking job applications and networking
(00:30:22) Candidate experience and tech limitations
(00:33:23) Handling candidate rejections
(00:36:40) Recruiter workload and full-cycle responsibilities
(00:37:42) Connecting with Chrystal and closing remarks
This episode is brought to you by HeyMilo AI, the conversational AI built for high-volume hiring. HeyMilo helps recruiters save hours by automating initial screens while delivering smooth, two-way interviews at scale. Book a demo at HeyMilo.ai and see why top teams trust it to elevate their brand.
About Chrystal Gualtieri
Chrystal Gualtieri is the Global Talent Acquisition Leader for CKE Restaurants, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. With 1,500+ hires under her belt and nearly a decade of experience, Chrystal brings high-volume hustle and high-touch heart to every part of the recruiting process. She’s also a big believer in leading with empathy, staying tech-savvy but human-first, and celebrating every small win in a very big job.
Chrystal Gualtieri
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CKE Restaurants
About Joel Lalgee
Joel Lalgee is an internationally known recruitment leader and coach who has helped thousands of recruiters build their brands online. In 2015, Joel started recruiting for a small start-up agency in Milwaukee. He quickly found his passion for recruitment. In 2019, he discovered content marketing, publishing his first posts on Linkedin. Since then, he has grown to over 400k followers, and his content has been seen over 1 billion times. In 2023, he started a business specializing in coaching recruiters, marketing consulting, and influencer partnerships.
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