KAPAA — Shane Libres is in charge of recruiting a team. He’s looking to help fill between 75 and 100 positions for Kauai’s first Jack in the Box — a 24-hour restaurant slated to open in early July at the
KAPAA — Shane Libres is in charge of recruiting a team.
He’s looking to help fill between 75 and 100 positions for Kauai’s first Jack in the Box — a 24-hour restaurant slated to open in early July at the under-construction Hokulei Village Shopping Center.
“When we first started the job fairs, the response was just so-so,” Libres said. “But the last few have had some good response. We’ll continue to have job fairs every two weeks or so until the store opens.”
On Thursday, they hosted a job fair at the Kapaa Neighborhood Center.
A handful of applicants waited for the doors to open as the Jack in the Box personnel finalized the setup for the afternoon event. They said while fast food work might not be glamorous, it would be a steady paycheck.
“People on Kauai are very judgmental,” one applicant said, who didn’t want to give a name. “I don’t want my name, or picture in the paper because if people see it, they’ll think I’m going to quit, or make fun of where I’m applying to. I work at a health care facility and an airlines. I just looking for something to do.”
Another applicant, who was waiting on her second interview, agreed, noting she was applying for a job after retiring from a hospital following 16 years of service.
“This is to supplement the spending habits of the grandchildren,” she said. “They need a lot of things, and they’re always saying, ‘Grandma, we need money.’ I would like full time, but will consider anything except the graveyard shift.”
Team members start at $9 an hour, an increase since the last job fair, Libres said, adding that employees start at different stations, and get pay rate increases after mastering the different stations.
Libres is Kauai manager for Jamba Juice, which is operated by Scanlan Management, the company that picked up the Hawaii Jack in the Box franchise.
The Kauai store brings the total number of Jack in the Box stores in Hawaii to 29.
“We’re excited,” said Dee Keyser, Jack in the Box training and development manager of Honolulu.“We’re very excited to open the Kauai store, the island’s first.”
One of the interviewees from Lihue battled the traffic to meet in Kapaa.
“Right now, I’m looking for a full-time position, but will take whatever,” she said. “I would prefer a morning shift because I have two kids, a 7-year-old and a teenager. I have been looking for work for three years.”
Info: www.gotjack.com
