Interviewing and Hiring "Nice People"

Last week Kenny and I interviewed a person who reached out to us on LinkedIn about possibly meeting with us for a job. We didn't know her, she didn't know us. Jessie has worked in the restaurant business for years! She came to meet us at the construction sight, where the restaurant will be but we still have a month before we want employees to start work.

We have interviewed about 5 people a few weeks ago but it felt extremely premature. So when Jessie reached out, I was hesitant. 

Jessie is similar to us with her priorities, first is family! She shared a few situations at her current employment, which she did not want to really paint the owners in a negative light but we asked more and more questions to find out why she wanted to leave her job. She manages 2 restaurant locations and makes decent money. The issue of not feeling appreciated, while trying to make sure her employees are taken care of was quickly evident!

By the end of the interview, which ended up lasting way too long because we just felt like she could be part of our family, we naturally began brainstorming soft opening events, grand opening events, getting things set up, having her be my right hand man as I learn how to run the staffing, new equipment, and office items. 

We sent her an official offer of employment the next day and she accepted within hours! In the video where Frank Levinson says that as a company, they hire "NICE PEOPLE", it confirmed to me that Jessie is the perfect fit for us and we hope she feels appreciated by us! We tend to be known as extremely nice people and I thought that in the business world that would be read as naive. Frank's video confirmed to me that when appreciation and kindness is a key element in our personalities, we will find employees that are also kind and appreciative!