RaceTrac, Nice N Easy and other c-stores have already turned to the restaurant talent pool to bring culinary expertise to our industry. Consider starting at the source: a culinary school.
The growth of our food culture and ongoing idolization of chefs continues to drive young adults to the culinary arts. But for every celebrity fıgure are plenty of well-trained chefs eager to start cooking. The c-store industry is an opportunity for them to avoid the restaurant rat race, be on the front lines of a growing industry, and be home nights and weekends—a dream for most young chefs.
These students are also trained in the business of foodservice including purchasing, cost control, menu development and more.
The Culinary Institute of America (ciachef.edu) in 2015 is holding two-day career fairs at its Hyde Park, N.Y., campus: April 14-15, June 9-10, Sept. 22-23 and Nov. 3-4. Employers from across the country go to recruit externship candidates, students seeking jobs upon graduation, management candidates and alumni looking for new positions. Kendall College (kendall.edu) in Chicago—home of our “Ask the Chef” columnist Chris Koetke (see p. 88)—hosts career fairs in the spring and fall and offers online job boards, employer spotlights and more.
But you certainly don’t have to travel far to recruit. Look to local culinary schools for externship programs and job recruitment. Help them see the opportunity in our industry, and benefıt from skilled culinarians and foodservice professionals on your roster.
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