Case Study: First Watch achieves 96% interview acceptance and 103% manager staffing with Paradox’s Olivia

First Watch Employs AI to Extend “You First” Culture and Improve Candidate Experience

First Watch, a 9,000‑employee restaurant group with 380 locations, faced rapid expansion and a competitive labor market that required a more personalized, faster candidate experience. To scale its “You First” culture and improve hiring, First Watch adopted Olivia, Paradox’s conversational recruiting assistant, to engage applicants on the careers site and via SMS.

Paradox’s Olivia screens candidates, auto-schedules interviews and guides applicants through the process—99% of candidates who provide contact info complete the screening, 96% accept interview invitations, 91% are scheduled the same day, and First Watch is 103% staffed for management roles (99% staffed for the next 90 days). By automating outreach and scheduling, Paradox helped First Watch accelerate hiring, boost interview show rates and support rapid restaurant growth.

First Watch

Laura Sorenson

Chief People Officer