Spring is in the air, which means it’s time to start thinking about adjustments your restaurant can make for the upcoming seasons.

As the weather gets warmer, guests head back to the restaurants (and especially the patios) they love to celebrate some of the busiest times of the year — Spring Break, Prom, Mother’s Day, and Graduation, all within a few weeks of each other! Take the time now to set up for success before spring arrives.

Your Spring Team

You may find that you need to increase your FOH and BOH staff as you transition into spring. This is key to supporting your existing staff and preventing burnout. The time to start recruiting is right now! Talk to friends of your existing staff who are interested in applying. Or consider offering a financial incentive to staff for recruiting new employees who stay on the job for at least 90 days.

As you ramp up recruiting and hiring, it’s essential to create job descriptions that paint a clear and specific picture of the roles you are hiring for. Include information about your restaurant to give applicants a sense of who you are as a business. Provide details about the days, times, and length of shifts, what qualifications and experience are needed, and the rate of compensation.

Beyond word-of-mouth recruiting, post listings on employment sites, social media, and professional networks like LinkedIn. Look for job boards at local high schools and colleges, and participate in any career fairs in your area. Share your needs with professional outlets like Gigpro. Their services offer a quick and easy way to meet your staffing needs.

Clear the Air

When interviewing, dedicate enough time to be able to ask and answer questions, give the applicant a clear overview of the position, and introduce them to other staff. Even if the applicant doesn’t get the position, you still want them to have a positive association with your restaurant. They may very well be a future guest, so make sure the interview process is professional and kind. Create a comfortable environment and encourage the applicant to ask questions so that they have a better understanding of the role before coming on board.

Once you hire a new team member, share your employee handbook and provide adequate training, allowing the new hire to shadow senior staff before being put on the floor or behind the line for the first time.

Spring Cleaning

Depending on where you are in the country, the onset of spring may mean it’s time to open up your outdoor dining space. Identify any areas that need improvement — tables, chairs, or other furniture that are damaged or broken, lighting, and landscaping needs. Evaluate the flow of service on your patio to make sure it’s optimized for efficiency and ask experienced staff to identify bottlenecks that may prevent a smooth service.

This is also a good time for a deep clean in and around your restaurant. According to one survey, 89% of restaurant guests say that they feel more comfortable when they see evidence of cleaning in a restaurant. Share the steps you take to create a clean, sanitized environment on social media to instill guest confidence.

It may also be time to refresh your decor to celebrate the season, with fresh flowers or live potted plants inside and intentional landscaping outside. If you plan to host special events during the spring season, create a list of items you’ll need (new menus, decorative touches, promotional swag) and invest in them now so that you can execute your springtime vision without missing a beat.