What Should I Expect from Australian Chef Solutions?
Does Australian Chef Solutions (ACS) accept resumes from anyone other than Chefs?
We don’t normally seek resumes for any craft other than chefs. Very rarely an existing client might ask us to seek someone for a high level speciality within their business and we access such requests on a case by case basis. As a rule of thumb we like to restrict ourselves to working with chefs and are very content to see such assignments go to more general recruitment agencies.
I apply for a Job. What’s next?
If your resume is a very close match for the type of position advertised and a good fit with the type of profile our client is seeking, then you can expect to hear from us very soon. If you don’t receive a personalised response within a couple of days that usually means that we’ve had to focus on other applications ahead of yours. This should not be taken to mean that there is anything wrong with your application. Often when clients approach an agency to work on a vacancy they come with a very specific description of what it is, and who it is, they want. Often these descriptions can be very prescriptive, even excessively so. While we can, and often do, attempt to advise clients to consider a wider range of possibilities we are, in the end, their servant and can only suggest CVs and Chefs who closely match their requirements. Even if you have no success with your initial application it is still worthwhile that you applied because we often fill a lot of positions from our database. In applying to us you’ve let us know of at least one type of job you are interested in. So the next time we’re approached to fill a similar vacancy we are in a position to match you with the job.
Will I be given full details of the employer and position on offer?
Unlike many other agencies, we believe in full disclosure and will provide you with all of the relevant information that we have access to. We believe that it is your right to know as much as possible before making a commitment and part of that is familiarising yourself with the establishment profile etc. It also is best practice as it will help avoid duplicate applications if you are using other agencies to help find you a job. In fact, we would recommend that you ask any other recruiter for the name of the establishment/s that you have been submitted to protect your professional integrity.
I’ve been interviewed by one of your clients, what’s next & when?
We always seek to get feedback from our clients as soon as possible. In theory we hope they’ll be back in touch with us on the day your interview has taken place. In practice this doesn’t always happen. When it doesn’t happen we usually wait until the next day before following up with them ourselves. If we don’t get to speak to the relevant person the next day, we keep at it until we do. If after five working days the client, or the client’s representatives, have not been back in touch with us, or remain otherwise elusive, we will write to them to let them know that they are in imminent risk of losing you as a candidate. The obvious exception to this default is when clients have advised us in advance of special circumstances. In such instances you can expect this information to be passed on to you by us in advance too. We take this proactive approach because we respect the chefs who work through us at least as much as we value the business our clients bring to us. Compromising on this, we believe, would put our reputation with the culinary community at risk. We are happy to lose the patronage of clients who are not prepared to offer our chefs timely feedback. This has happened before, and it will happen again, but when we put chefs into an interview process we expect that they will receive the courtesy and respect our clients would extend to a customer. Our philosophy is that if that isn’t possible then perhaps these clients aren’t very good employers and our candidates would be better off not dealing with them.
Is it OK to register with other recruitment agencies?
This doesn’t create a particular problem for us. If as a job candidate, you feel your best interests are served by registering with more than one agency then that is what you should do. Naturally we prefer dealing with candidates who haven’t made their CV’s ubiquitous but we accept that is a decision for chefs to make about their own CV’s. It is important though that you do tell us about any jobs for which other agencies have made an application on your behalf, especially within the last six months.
What if I apply for the same job through multiple recruitment agencies?
There’s no definitive answer to this but our considered opinion is that no, you will not increase your chances of success and doing so might prove to be completely counterproductive. Before putting any chef forward for a job we’re obliged to ask candidates which jobs they’re recently applied for in order to avoid such duplication. Furthermore, we suggest that if your resume finds its’ way into an employers’ hands more than once, arriving from more than one source, that you may well be sending potential employers the wrong signals which will potentially devalue you as a candidate.
Will I have to pay Chef Solutions to find me a job?
No! We will never seek a fee from any chef for job placement or recruitment service.
Will Chef Solutions check my job references?
When we reference check a chef’s former employers, we do so only with the candidate’s prior permission. However, the majority of reference checks will be carried out by the potential employer rather than the recruitment agency.
Will Chef Solutions respond to my job application?
We think it is best practice to respond to all applications and we endeavour to do so. We do though ask applicants to appreciate that we receive a vast volume of resumes every week before rushing to judgement about responses. Please also see FAQ response ‘I apply for a job. What next?’.
