Chipotle Mexican Grill recently announced plans to hire 20,000 new employees in anticipation of the upcoming "burrito season." This recruitment initiative aims to prepare for the approaching peak dining period. The company's Chief Human Resources Officer, Ilene Eskenazi, stated that these positions offer a great starting point for applicants, helping them achieve their career goals within the company. Eskenazi noted that many current employees have proven that Chipotle's work environment can serve as a foundation for their careers.
To enhance recruitment efficiency, Chipotle is actively utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) technology, particularly a virtual team member named "Ava Cado." This technology has nearly doubled the flow of applicants to Chipotle and reduced the average time from application to onboarding from eight days to just four days. Ava Cado's functions include communicating with candidates, answering their questions about Chipotle, collecting basic information, scheduling interviews, and sending job offers to selected candidates.
Chipotle's AI technology was developed in collaboration with a company called Paradox and has significantly improved the efficiency of the company's recruitment team since its launch last fall. Eskenazi mentioned that this technology acts like adding extra administrative support to each restaurant, allowing managers more time to support team members and provide an exceptional dining experience for customers.
By the end of 2024, Chipotle's total workforce is expected to exceed 130,000, with approximately 126,200 employees in the United States, including nearly 1,600 staff in restaurant support centers and onsite leadership positions. Chipotle also plans to expand to 7,000 restaurants in North America, currently operating over 3,700 locations across seven countries.
