As a restaurant owner, do you want to know what questions to ask job candidates? This blog post and video show you the top 9 interview questions you should ask.
There are a lot of jobs available in the restaurant industry. But theres one thing between you and the role you want: the interview. It tells you if the restaurant is a good fit for you and shows your boss that you’re a good fit for the job.
Even though each restaurant is different, there are a few questions that you can expect at almost all of them.
We’ve put together a list of 17 questions that you might be asked in a restaurant interview, whether it’s for a front-of-house or back-of-house job, along with some tips on how to answer them. Plus what kind of questions to ask the interviewer. We’ve also put together a list of interview tips you should know before you go talk to the hiring manager.
Landing a job as a server can be competitive but going into your interview prepared can help you stand out. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the 10 most common serving interview questions as well as tips for how to answer them.
Background and Experience Questions
Tell me about your past restaurant experience.
For this question, you’ll want to walk through your relevant work history in the restaurant industry. Mention your previous serving roles, where they were, and some of your core responsibilities. Highlight any successes or awards you earned on the job. Try to demonstrate a clear progression and growth in your experience and skills over time.
How did you get into the restaurant industry?
Share what first sparked your interest in restaurant work. Maybe you started out as a hostess in high school or you had family members in the business. Talk about the pathway that led you to pursue serving as a career. Convey your passion and enthusiasm for the industry.
Have you held any other foodservice positions other than server?
Even if you don’t have direct serving experience highlight any other restaurant roles you’ve held like busser, hostess, or bartender. Discuss skills you developed in those jobs that translate well to serving, like multitasking, teamwork, and customer service. Mention if you worked your way up to server.
Describe a time you disagreed with another server about how to handle a challenging customer.
For this behavioral question, recount a specific story about a conflict you had with a coworker surrounding a customer service issue. Explain your perspective professionally, without placing blame. Share how you worked to resolve the disagreement and came to a compromise or agreement. Emphasize teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Skills and Qualities Questions
What skills are most important for a server to be successful?
Pick 2-3 top skills from the job description that you possess, like attention to detail, multitasking, and friendliness. Explain why each skill is crucial for servers. Then give examples of how you’ve demonstrated these skills in past roles. Highlight any training that enhanced these abilities.
How would you describe your work style?
Share qualities that make you a strong server, like your positivity, high energy, efficiency, and teamwork Describe yourself as attentive, hard-working, composed under pressure, and dedicated to providing excellent customer service Give examples of how you embody these qualities.
How comfortable are you using a POS system?
Discuss any POS systems you’ve used in previous serving jobs. If you don’t have direct experience, share your ability to quickly learn new technology. Mention any prior experience working with computers or other systems. Convey your enthusiasm to master their POS system.
What would you do if you noticed a coworker was giving poor service?
Explain how you would politely point out any issues to the coworker to make them aware, while maintaining team rapport. Share that you would inform a manager if problems persisted that jeopardized customers’ experiences. Emphasize discretion, constructive support for coworkers, and commitment to quality service.
Scenario and Problem-Solving Questions
The kitchen is backed up and customers are complaining about the long wait for their food. What do you do?
Describe how you would calmly acknowledge and apologize for the delay to customers. Explain that you would communicate with the kitchen to get an estimated wait time, then update customers and offer complimentary items like appetizers or desserts to ease frustration. Emphasize customer service recovery skills.
You notice your tables aren’t tipping as well as usual. How would you improve this?
Share proactive steps you’d take to boost tips, like enhancing your friendliness, attentiveness, and suggestions for add-ons. Discuss how you’d monitor feedback from customers about what influences their tips. Highlight your commitment to continuously improving your service based on diners’ preferences.
If you had a large party and one person’s meal came out wrong, what would you do?
Explain you would apologize and immediately have the incorrect meal remade. Share how you would comp the affected guest’s meal or offer a free dessert. For large parties, preventing one issue from ruining the entire group’s experience is key. Convey your understanding of service recovery.
How would you handle unhappy customers who blame you for issues that are out of your control?
Discuss remaining polite, actively listening to their concerns, apologizing and validating their frustrations. Share that you would explain the issues are out of your control in a kind, customer-focused manner, and relay feedback to managers. Highlight patience and de-escalation skills.
Motivations and Fit Questions
Why do you want to be a server?
Express your passion for serving – you enjoy fast-paced environments, interacting with all different types of people, making diners’ experiences special, and forming relationships with regulars. Convey this role utilizes your top strengths like attentiveness, positivity, and problem-solving.
Why are you interested in working at our restaurant specifically?
Do some research on their establishment. Mention specific things that attract you, like their commitment to local sourcing, fun team culture, or community involvement. Share why their values and brand align with what you want in an employer. Demonstrate you’re interested in them specifically.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years? How does this role fit in with your goals?
Explain your short-term goals of excelling as a server, taking on more responsibility, and growing your skills. Share your eventual interest in a management role, and how serving provides critical experience. Convey you’re focused on performance and advancement in their restaurant.
Questions to Ask the Interviewer
Along with preparing your own answers, coming prepared with smart questions for the interviewer demonstrates your engagement. Here are some options:
- What are the top qualities you look for in servers?
- How would you describe your restaurant’s culture?
- What training is provided to new servers?
- What opportunities are there for advancement from a server role?
- How are things divided between front-of-house and back-of-house teams?
- What do you enjoy most about working here?
By familiarizing yourself with the most common server interview questions and crafting strong responses, you can present yourself as a polished, knowledgeable candidate restaurants will be eager to hire. Show them serving is your true passion and talent.
Restaurant Interview Questions and Answers [PDF]
Start preparing with our printable restaurant interview questions PDF.
Can you tell me about a time where you and a coworker clashed and how you resolved it?
It’s likely that you’ll work with a lot of people in a restaurant—sometimes dozens by the end of your shift. They want to know if you can work with people who have different ways of doing things without putting the customer experience at risk.
At some point or another, everyone has an employee conflict. Just be honest about it and use it as a chance to show that you can handle healthy conflict.
- Talk about the specific events that led up to and during the fight.
- Be honest. Tell them what they did wrong, don’t blame them for everything.
- Describe the resolution of what happened after the conflict.
- How did the relationship get better or change since then? Talk about what changed on your end.
WAITRESS + WAITER Interview Questions And Answers! (Waitress Interview Prep Guide)
FAQ
What to say in a serving interview?
Why should I hire you as a server?
What is your greatest strength as a server?
