Every year around the third week of September, Frankenmuth’s Bavarian Inn begins an annual tradition of harvesting and processing all the squash they use throughout the year for sides and desserts in their restaurants and eateries.

The “squash team,” as it has been dubbed, takes the blue hubbard squash brought in from the fields and cuts, cooks, scrapes, and packages it.  This process takes five to six weeks and is an effective “trial” employment period for participants. Those who prove to be reliable employees with a good attitude and work ethic are placed elsewhere within the restaurant. Many move on to waitressing or working in the bakery while others have been promoted to supervisory roles.

Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! helps recruit for the squash team, providing interested job seekers with a prep workshop for mock interviews, resume preparation, background checks, and work clothing.

“Those we interview, who are prepared by Michigan Works!, have much more polished resumes, their posture and attention during our presentation is better. Their attitude while waiting to be interviewed is even better,” says Kathy Walstead of Bavarian Inn. This year, one interviewee was hired on the spot to be a hostess.

Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! has been working with the Bavarian Inn for years helping with hiring events, job fairs, providing resume searches and posting jobs on Pure Michigan Talent Connect.

If you are interested in discussing innovative hiring solutions, contact Kristen Wenzel at kristenw@michiganworks.com or talk to your business services team representative.