3 tips for government agencies trying to hire students and other early career candidates for food service jobs

In an effort to guide a large governmental agency in recruiting the next generation of food service professionals, we’ve gathered insights from top CEOs and founders. From highlighting public sector benefits to promoting growth and impact opportunities, here are three key pieces of advice aimed at government agencies who want to hire college students, recent graduates, and others who are early in their careers.

• Highlight Public Sector Benefits
• Showcase Career Development Paths
• Promote Growth and Impact Opportunities

Highlight Public Sector Benefits

To attract college students and recent graduates to food-service roles, emphasize the unique benefits of working in the public sector, like job stability, career advancement, and comprehensive benefits. Highlight opportunities for hands-on experience and professional growth. Engaging through social media and campus events, and showcasing success stories of young professionals within the agency, can also make these positions more appealing.

Tornike Asatiani, CEO, Edumentors

Showcase Career Development Paths

A government agency that wants to attract college students and recent graduates to food-service jobs should emphasize how starting in food service can lead to career development within the agency and strengthen the skill set of its future employees. Discuss in detail how a food-service job can provide a foundation for agency employees to pursue lateral and vertical career moves towards management, nutrition planning, or public health roles. Mention the names of some employees who had started in food-service positions and attained higher positions within those agencies. Training programs, certifications, and mentorship can enhance the professional career development image of food-service jobs within an agency, attracting young, ambitious employees.

Mark McShane, Founder, Cupid Digital PR

Promote Growth and Impact Opportunities

One effective piece of advice for a large governmental agency looking to attract college students and recent graduates for jobs in food service is to emphasize opportunities for career development and skill acquisition within their job postings and recruitment materials. Young job seekers today are not just looking for a job; they’re looking for an opportunity to grow and make a meaningful impact.

Highlighting pathways for advancement, the availability of professional training programs, and the potential to gain diverse experiences within the food service sector can make these positions more appealing. Additionally, showcasing the agency’s commitment to sustainability and healthy living, which are values highly regarded by the younger generation, can further enhance the attractiveness of these roles. By aligning the job opportunities with the aspirations and values of young adults, the agency can draw more enthusiastic and dedicated applicants.

Shehar Yar, CEO, Software House