by Bob Gershberg, CEO/Managing Partner, Wray Executive Search
Virtual interviewing is becoming the new reality for both interviewers and interviewees alike. As you might surmise, we have been conducting many remote interviews for some time, of late more than ever. Effective interviewing is extra challenging without the ability to read body language, gain insight into a person’s energy level, presence and gravitas.
A few tips to share whether you are the hiring authority or candidate:
Set the scene – A simple background is best. A blank wall or similar. Natural lighting is preferred, if possible. Light should come from in front of you or to your side, never behind you. Use your program’s preloaded backgrounds if necessary.
Lights, Camera, Action – Make certain your webcam is at eye level. Use a couple of books under your laptop or raise your Varidesk. We have all had the misfortune of looking up grandpa’s nostrils during a family facetime call. No headphones please. Candidates – dress according to the company’s code but simple. No bright colors or bold patterns. Subtle and boring wins. Look at the camera, not your own image to enable eye contact with the interviewer.
Introducing GLEAM Network: a new mentoring and leadership development organization for the restaurant and foodservice industry
By Rebecca Patt, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Wray Executive Search
We live in a time when restaurants and food service companies face unprecedented disruption, and investment in programs for the professional growth of the work force faces new challenges. In this backdrop, Sanjiv Razdan has launched a bold and ambitious new start-up called the Global Leadership Enhancement and Mentoring Network, aka GLEAM Network, a platform providing free mentoring, coaching, and training programs designed to help people across functions and of various experience levels in the industry. This non-profit organization is aimed at making mentoring and structured leadership development opportunities more accessible across the industry.
Sanjiv is a veteran leader in the restaurant industry whose resume includes being a C-level officer and President with Pizza Hut, COO of Applebee’s, and most recently COO of Sweetgreen. Sanjiv’s idea for starting the GLEAM Network took off in April 2020, after he made a LinkedIn post inquiring about general interest in creating a volunteer-based mentoring program for the restaurant and food service industry. The post went viral with some 35,000 views. Many notable leaders spoke up, saying they wanted to help.
I spoke with Sanjiv about his inspiration for GLEAM Network, what GLEAM is offering, the all-star team already on board to move GLEAM forward, and all the ways people and companies can sign up now to participate in its mentoring and learning programs and support the mission of this fledgling organization.
Knocking Down Restaurant Industry Problems One by One
by John Gordon, Principal & Founder, Pacific Management Consulting Group
We are now almost six months into the COVID era which has affected restaurants like no other in the post World War Two period. The most advanced national mitigation strategy at the moment is to avoid people at any cost. There is no doubt the US will eventually have a vaccine but science and distribution thru the supply chain —and easing of lapsed guest fears—will take time.
There is more restaurant restructuring to come. One day last week, we were greeted with the news of the California Pizza Kitchen Chapter 11 and Pret closing up the Chicago and Boston markets. More will follow. On the independent restaurant side, estimates run from 30% to 70% of sites that will ultimately go dark. While painful, these actions will contribute to eventual industry improvement.
To be sure, there are some good things underway. On the positive side, we should have a pretty good idea now what is going on. US restaurant sales are driven by fear right now. There is some excellent free research[1] that is documenting consumer sentiment. We didn’t have this level of knowledge so quickly in prior years. Also, the initial shock of COVID has been absorbed and some instances of very good management underway can be seen.
“There will be interruptions, and I don’t know when they will occur, and I don’t how deep they will occur, I do know they will occur from time to time, and I also know that we’ll come out better on the other end
~ Warren Buffet – CEO of Berkshire Hathaway
Check out Steve Crichlow's June 2020 Restaurant Industry Snapshot
Yum! Brands Reports Second-Quarter Results; Significant Improvement from Early Quarter Lows with Strong Digital and Delivery Momentum; System Sales Decline of (12)% with a Same-Store Sales Decline of (15)% Offset by 3% Net Unit Growth
