Why September Is the Best Time to Apply for and Hire Food Service Interns

The food service industry is gearing up for a crucial hiring period. September presents a unique opportunity for both employers and aspiring interns in the culinary world. Drawing on insights from industry experts, this article explores why September is optimal for food service internship applications and recruitment.

• September Interns Catch the Culinary Hunger
• Secure Talent Before Holiday Rush Begins
• September Hires Excel in Holiday Catering
• Train Interns Early for Peak Season
• Connect with Employers Before Application Influx
• Develop Future Leaders in Food Service
• Align Internships with Academic Year Start

September Interns Catch the Culinary Hunger

September is when you catch the hunger. Students are coming off summer jobs where they’ve seen what mediocre food service looks like, and they’re genuinely excited to learn from places that actually give a damn.

I’ve hired three of my best long-term team members through September internships over the years. They came in when we were developing our autumn specials menu, which meant they got hands-on experience with everything from recipe testing to customer feedback loops. One intern helped us perfect our current Roast Pumpkin Salad recipe that even salad skeptics rate highly — she’s now our weekend supervisor three years later.

September interns also hit the ground running during our busiest prep season. Tourist season is winding down, locals are settling back into routines, and we’re building momentum for the holiday catering season. They see real kitchen pressure, real service challenges, and how a tight team handles the daily grind without the artificial energy of summer chaos.

Janice Kuz
Owner, Flinders Lane Cafe

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Secure Talent Before Holiday Rush Begins

Running restaurants, I’ve noticed September lines up perfectly with students coming back to school, which makes it easier to find passionate interns who are settling into new schedules. Starting the hiring process in September meant we weren’t begging for staff once the holiday rush arrived. I’d advise restaurants not to wait — secure talent when both sides are most available.

Allen Kou
Owner and Operator, Zinfandel Grille

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September Hires Excel in Holiday Catering

\I’ve learned that September hiring gives you access to workers who understand commitment. Students applying in September are planning ahead — they’re not the ones scrambling at the last minute.

Here’s what most employers miss: September is when you can properly train someone before the holiday rush hits. We’ve found that interns who start in September become our strongest performers during our busiest catering season from October through December. They learn our smoking techniques and customer service standards when we have time to teach them properly.

The biggest advantage is retention. Students who commit in September typically stay through graduation and often become full-time hires. One of our best managers started as a September intern five years ago — she learned every aspect of our operation during slower months and now runs our entire catering division.

September applicants also get first pick of the meaningful projects. Early interns work directly with me on menu development and get hands-on experience with our food truck operations, while later applicants usually end up doing basic prep work.

Rudy Mosketti
Founder, Rudy’s Smokehouse

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Train Interns Early for Peak Season

September is the time when restaurants, catering companies, and food service providers gear up for their busiest time of the year: the holiday season. Hiring interns at this early stage will also give employers time to train them well before the peak months of demand so that they are prepared to keep up with the demand and standards required.

Students: Applying in September gives students placements that offer practical experience through the busiest time of the industry, which offers a more enriching learning experience than a quieter time of the year would.

Rory Keel
Owner, Equipoise Coffee

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Connect with Employers Before Application Influx

September is when many businesses begin gearing up for fall and the upcoming holiday seasons. They start planning their staffing needs for the months ahead before they can start advertising positions. Once that happens, there’s going to be an influx of applications. In fact, many of the smaller businesses don’t even post internships publicly right away. They use this time to quietly scout and connect with promising students before the big rush.

For students waiting to apply, it doesn’t get better than this time of the year. You can reach out to employers when their attention isn’t overwhelmed by a flood of winter or spring applications. You’ll have a much better chance of getting noticed and building a relationship.

Mario Hupfeld
CTO and Co-Founder, NEMIS Technologies

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Develop Future Leaders in Food Service

September recruitment is the chance to discover and develop future leaders for the food service sector, providing businesses with an early advantage in the development of future talent. Internships begun by students during this period provide excellent exposure to the realities on the ground when energy and eagerness are highest.

With the right mentorship, they develop crucial leadership, teamwork, and flexibility skills that go far beyond the classroom. Employers gain the best pipeline of highly motivated people who already understand the culture and values of the organization, growing loyalty and leadership potential from the ground up.

Grant Aldrich
CEO, Preppy

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Align Internships with Academic Year Start

September is critical because it’s the start of the academic year when students are actively planning their semesters and looking for hands-on experience to complement their coursework. For employers, recruiting early means securing top talent before students commit to other opportunities, while for students, applying in September ensures access to a wider pool of openings and time to align the internship with their academic schedules.

Oliver Vesi
Chief Revenue Officer, Qminder

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