ADVICE TO APPLICANTS Click here for: Application for Employment Thank you for your interest in working with us at Stargazers on the Thames. I think that you will find our approach to hospitality to be different from most other operators in the area, and we think this is the secret to our success. Our company has several significant goals. First is to maintain a reputation as the best employer in the area. To achieve this goal, we will hire the most qualified people we can find. We will support their development both within and outside the organization. We’ll talk to them, we’ll listen, we’ll learn from them, we’ll demand a lot from each of them. We will enjoy a high retention rate. We believe that only a happy and professional staff can give the level of personal service we demand. We see an investment in people to be a worthy investment in the future of the company to operate the most successful restaurant in the area. We have developed a loyal repeat clientele and will continue to grow the number of repeat guests. We will maintain a high level of sanitation and we will take the lead in addressing the nutritional concerns of our guests. We will continuously examine our operations to stay fresh and responsive to our market while being stimulating to our staff. Our goal is to be a good citizen of the community and the planet. We support worthy local charities with money, resources and volunteers. We will maintain high visibility in local activities. We will support local suppliers whenever possible, including local farmers, businesses and wineries. We will be environmentally responsible. We recycle, conserve water and utilities and reduce the use of chemicals. Whenever possible, we select suppliers who are environmentally friendly as well. We aim to be a model for open participatory business. The restaurant business cannot get to where it needs to be by the way we have always done it. The industry needs a new model and we are willing to be that new model. We will involve our staff in all areas of policy making. We will always move in the direction of less structure, greater professionalism and more fun. We will maintain a personal working relationship with our staff. Another goal is to have a good time. We recognize that people go out to eat because they are looking for a good time not just a good meal. We will build fun and lightness into our company in the interest of our collective mental health and peace of mind. We are not just another restaurant; we are not looking for just another job applicant. This letter will give you an idea of what to expect and how to proceed from here. Do not try and complete this application now. Please take it home and give it some thought and take your time with it. Be sure to fill it out completely even if you enclose a resume. If a question does not apply to you, mark it N/A so we know you did not avoid the answer. The restaurant business is a business of details and we will only consider people who share our concern about the importance of all the fine points. We will verify all the information on the application. Any false or misleading statements will disqualify you from consideration no matter how talented you may be. Please understand that we are not as concerned as what you tell us as we are that you give us the truth. Honesty is always the best policy, especially if you want to become a part of our team. We are committed to maintaining a drug free workplace. This means we don’t tolerate the possession of drugs or alcohol. We don’t permit our staff to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If an offer of employment is made to you, we may require you to pass a physical examination. We will pay all expenses of this exam although we do not pay for the time required to take it. We will verify all your references. In addition to your supervisors we will want to talk with your co workers and anyone who may have worked for you in your past positions. If we cannot check your references, we cannot consider you for employment so be sure to list valid names, addresses and phone numbers. It doesn’t matter if they still work for your old company or not--- in fact we often get better information from people who have taken other jobs. Please be sure that everyone you list knows to expect a call from us and has your permission to talk to us. It will require some work on your part, but then it takes a little extra work to succeed in this business. Be sure to include the correct telephone number for the Registrar’s office of your college or university and Records department of your school district so we can verify your education. This may take a long distance phone call or two to get the numbers, but we won’t consider applications that don’t have this information. On the last page of this application, we give you an opportunity to make a personal sales pitch. We suggest you give it some thought and make a case for yourself. After all, if you don’t believe in yourself, why should we? Read the final statement on the application carefully before you sign it. If you have any questions, please ask them before you give us this application. We won’t consider unsigned applications. When you have completed the application, call between the hour of 4:00 and 5:00 p.m., and ask to speak with Brooke Alexander (519) 351-9351 to set up an appointment to submit your application. If Brooke is not available please speak to Michael Hunter. The submission appointment should last no longer than 15 minutes and you may or may not be asked to return for a scheduled interview. If you are not asked to return at this point, you may receive a phone call within 1 week to schedule an interview. This interview should last between 30 and 60 minutes. Be aware that what you do and how you do it are being observed throughout the selection process, so dress the part, be on time, and show us your best. Remember the saying about first impressions! Based on our observations, your test results, and a review of your application, we will notify you within 1 week of your interview, of the status of your application. We will either call or send you a letter. If by some chance 1 week goes by and you do not hear from us, call the number above. We take staff selection very seriously. If you are a final candidate you can expect up to three interviews and perhaps several written tests. We may ask you to demonstrate your skills and tell us how you would handle some sticky situations. We won’t take a warm body just to fill the vacancy quickly, so please be patient. We go to this trouble because our goals are very high. If you are good enough to be part of our team, you are truly an outstanding individual. If you need the job right away, we suggest you find something else that will work while we process your application. Because our staff is actively involved with the operation of this company, don’t be surprised to have portions of the selection process to be conducted by persons other than our managers. We give our staff a voice in the selection of their coaches and believe that co-workers are an excellent judge of the talent of their peers. We are an equal opportunity employer. We will only accept qualified staff and that is for every position. We will not discourage you from applying for any position you feel qualified for. We will make selections based on what strengths you bring to our team and how you fit our operating style. We are looking for people committed to professional excellence and legendary guest service who will make a positive contribution to our company for as long as we choose to work together. We often bring new people to the company as part time staff who can get into full time if they choose to or change their duties when opportunities for more hours arises and their work performance justifies additional responsibilities. We expect you to take an active role in your own success and the success of your co- workers. Towards this end, it will be part of your job responsibility to help train your co workers for positions of higher skill and responsibility. Because of this focus, we will evaluate your performance based not only on your own personal growth but by that of your trainees. Our success comes from delighting our guests and earning their regular patronage. Everything in this company is organized and it is focused on achieving this goal. We do not believe in creating any more rules or structure than is necessary to be sure that our guests have a great time every time they dine with us. We value professional curiosity—that itch to continually expand knowledge, skills and effectiveness. We are more interested in what you can learn than in what you know and we will give you all the possible assistance to help assure your success on the job. This represents a significant commitment on behalf of the company and we look for an equal level of commitment on the part of the people we ask to join us. If you are not offered a position, we will keep your application on hand for up to six months. We encourage you to apply again later if you are still interested in working for us. Many of our most successful staff were not selected until their second or third try. You must decide if what we offer you is worth your effort to meet our high standards. Whatever your choice, we hope that you will visit us as a guest and let us know how we are doing. Thank you again for your interest and your time. We wish you the best luck in the future whatever direction your career may take you. Sincerely, Michael Hunter Proprietor Stargazers on the Thames (519) 351-9351   Click here for: Application for Employment