Applebee’s is holding a National Hiring Day at all 1,600 of its restaurants nationwide on May 17. The restaurant chain is looking to hire 10,000 new team members, with starting positions ranging from full-time and part-time host, server, bartender, cook, dishwasher and management jobs.
The chain is also offering an “Apps for Apps” deal to these potential new hires: Those who come in for an interview will get a voucher for a free appetizer to be used for dine-in only. It’s an incentive designed to draw more applicants amid a labor shortage in the restaurant industry — right as the weather warms and more people want to go out to eat.
Restaurants and bars lost 5.5 million jobs from March to April of last year when states went into lockdown and restaurants were ordered to close their doors, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Now, as more people get vaccinated and want to eat out, restaurants are re-opening, and they’re hiring. Unfortunately for those hiring, many former restaurant workers who lost their jobs at the start of the pandemic have found other work in the meantime, leaving the restaurant industry with plenty of open positions and no one to fill them.
Independently owned restaurants are hiring in many parts of the country, and like Applebee’s, chains are set to hire thousands of workers. Subway is looking to hire 40,000 new employees to fill multiple positions, from entry-level to management, and IHOP is hosting a National Recruiting Day on May 19 to fill 10,000 positions, “Today” reports.
Applebee’s “Apps for Apps” offer represents just one instance of the restaurant industry getting creative amid the current labor shortage. Business Insider reported that a McDonald’s in Florida is paying applicants $50 to come in for an interview.
If you’re interested in working at Applebee’s, you can see a list of current job openings at your local restaurant by visiting their website. To attend the hiring event, you can schedule an interview for May 17 at your local restaurant between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. local time. Same-day walk-ins are also welcome.
With the Apps for Apps offer, every candidate 18 or older who gets an interview during the event will also receive a voucher for a free appetizer, available for dine-in only at participating locations, and only one can be used per table. The free appetizer voucher includes any appetizer aside from the Classic Combo.
Will you be heading to your local Applebee’s on May 17 to interview for a job?
About the Author
Kaitlin is a freelance multimedia journalist with a degree in journalism and psychology. Along with Don't Waste Your Money, she also writes for Simplemost, where she covers new product and food launches and overall general news. You can email her at kaitlingateswrites@gmail.com or find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/KaitlinGatesWrites. More.
