Is there a lack of motivation in the air for young people? © DR
After a complicated year for finding internships, work experience or extras, students in hospitality schools or colleges are not all there. With the recovery, there is no shortage of offers, but applicants are becoming rare.
Is there a lack of motivation in the air? This is the question that many hoteliers and restaurant owners are asking themselves, as they look for staff the day after the reopening of bars, brasseries and other gourmet restaurants and on the eve of the summer holidays. Classified ads are proliferating on LinkedIn or in the columns of the professional press. Despite this, not all positions are filled. “We have a lot of offers in service and cuisine, few CVs, including a number of overqualified profiles or others that have nothing to do with the sector,” confirm Estrella Maillet and Philippine Freiman, the duo at the head of Talent Developer. In other words, there is a lack of young people, “while companies are looking for trainees for periods of 4 to 6 months”, observes Estrella Maillet.
Passion, an essential element in the hotel and restaurant industry, without which our young people become demotivated © Ian Schneider
An “unprecedented” staff shortage
Demotivation, demobilisation or a change of direction along the way are some of the reasons given by both teachers and recruiters. However, several schools and high schools have organised, in record time, days to find internships, summer jobs or even permanent contracts. Despite this, Olivier Bon, co-founder of the Experimental Group, speaks of an “unprecedented” shortage of staff in the group’s schools in Paris, London and New York. With nearly 30% fewer teams in France, where periods of short-time working have prompted some to change their path and their life. “Especially among young people,” said Emmanuel Sauvage, co-founder and managing director of the Evok group. As for the Michelin-starred chef Alexandre Gauthier, he is going to adjust his capacity to receive guests in his establishments in the Pas-de-Calais to his kitchen and dining room staff.
Welcome breakfast for the arrival of our trainee Jose Carlos © T.D
Young people in their final year of the BTS assessed by Estrella Maillet before entering the job market! © T.D
Lunch at the Tuileries for Elena, our apprentice, and Jose Carlos, our trainee! © T.D
The team is growing at Talent Developer…
Finally, what about the start of the 2021 school year in establishments that train for the hotel and restaurant professions? Will the young people be there? How will teachers be able to adapt their courses to the new expectations of professionals and their customers, after a year of health crisis? It is still too early to tell. In any case, within Talent Developer, the team has been strengthened with the arrival of two young recruits. Namely: Elena Pereira, a student on a Master’s degree in business unit management, with a marketing and communication option, on a work-study programme until the summer of 2022. Jose Carlos Elena is doing an internship as part of a Master’s degree in business administration and international relations. His mission with Estrella Maillet and Philippine Freiman is to develop international markets and in particular that of Spain, the country from which the student comes.