The Ultimate Guide to Head Server Interview Questions

Interviewing for a head server position can feel intimidating. As a leader in the restaurant you’ll need to showcase your customer service skills management abilities, problem-solving talents, and grace under pressure. Preparing thoughtful responses to common interview questions is the key to landing the job.

This comprehensive guide will explain the most frequently asked head server interview questions, provide sample responses, and offer tips to help you ace your interview

Why Do You Want to Be a Head Server?

This open-ended question allows you to explain your motivation for pursuing a leadership role Share your passion for the hospitality industry and highlight skills that make you a strong candidate, such as

• Experience training, managing, and motivating team members
• Strong customer service abilities
• Organization and multitasking capabilities
• Conflict resolution skills

Focus on how you can help lead the restaurant to success through teamwork, quality service, and operational excellence. Convey enthusiasm for taking on the new responsibilities of a head server.

What Are Your Strengths as a Leader?

With this question, interviewers want to understand your leadership style and abilities. Respond by sharing key strengths such as:

• Clear communication – Keep the team updated and address concerns directly
• Leading by example – Model exemplary behavior for servers
• Multitasking – Balance serving duties with managerial responsibilities
• Problem-solving – Handle issues decisively yet thoughtfully
• Conflict resolution – Facilitate discussions and mediate disagreements

Discuss specific examples that showcase these strengths in action from your serving experience. Demonstrate self-awareness by sharing areas you seek to improve too.

How Would You Handle an Underperforming Server?

This evaluates your conflict management skills. Explain your approach to dealing with underperformance:

• Have a one-on-one meeting to understand reasons behind poor performance
• Provide additional training and resources if needed
• Set clear expectations and provide regular feedback
• Track progress and celebrate improvements
• Involve upper management if underperformance continues despite support

Emphasize patience, empathy, and a coaching mentality focused on enabling success. Outline how you create an environment where servers feel comfortable coming to you about struggles.

What Would You Do If a Server Consistently Showed Up Late?

With this common question, interviewers want to understand your leadership style and capacity to enforce policies. Share how you would address the issue professionally:

• Have a private discussion focused on listening and problem-solving
• Review the attendance policy and impact of tardiness on operations
• Help create an action plan for improving punctuality
• Provide reminders before shifts
• Implement consequences if lateness continues, per company guidelines

Demonstrate firmness on upholding policies while also showing compassion. Convey how you create an environment of mutual respect and personal accountability.

How Do You Train New Servers?

Here, interviewers want to know your approach to onboarding new team members. Discuss techniques such as:

• Thorough training on menus, policies, table numbers, and POS system
• Shadowing shifts with experienced servers
• Ongoing coaching and feedback
• Regular check-ins to address questions
• Tests to evaluate knowledge retention

Emphasize patience and a hands-on mentality focused on setting new servers up for success. Show how you get to know new team members and their strengths to personalize training.

How Would You Motivate Servers During a Busy Shift?

This question allows you to share motivational techniques that keep the team energized even during high-stress situations:

• Lead by example with a positive, calm presence
• Check in frequently – offer encouraging words and lend a hand where needed
• Celebrate excellent customer service wins
• Remind servers of priorities and end goals
• Schedule breaks to recharge when possible

Convey your ability to boost morale while maintaining focus on the tasks at hand. Share how you help servers feel supported through busy shifts.

How Do You Handle Customer Complaints?

With this question, interviewers evaluate your customer service skills and capacity to represent the restaurant positively. Share your approach:

• Listen attentively to fully understand the concern
• Apologize sincerely and promise to address the issue
• Maintain composure and professionalism always
• Thank the guest for the feedback and offer a resolution
• Follow up to ensure satisfaction after resolution

Emphasize how you turn complaints into opportunities to improve operations and service. Highlight customer retention as your top priority.

What Steps Do You Take if a Server Makes an Error with an Order?

This helps interviewers understand your leadership abilities amid challenges. Discuss how you would:

• Listen to the server’s perspective calmly
• Apologize to the customer immediately and fix the error
• Follow up with the server to prevent future mistakes
• Use it as a coaching opportunity, not for blame
• Update standard operating procedures if needed

Convey how you remain composed under pressure and prioritize constructive solutions. Show how you build an environment of continuous learning and accountability.

How Do You Balance Serving and Managing Duties?

This question evaluates your time management and multitasking skills. Share how you would:

• Use available tools like POS systems to automate tasks
• Communicate clearly with the manager about priorities
• Schedule managerial work during slower periods
• Cross-train servers to support each other
• Delegate certain tasks to reliable servers

Demonstrate how you maximize efficiency while still remaining hands-on. Prove you understand how to leverage the team to achieve results.

What Qualities Do You Look for When Hiring Servers?

This reveals what you value in team members. Share key qualities like:

• Strong customer service orientation
• Reliability and responsibility
• Positive attitude and teamwork
• Ability to handle fast-paced environments
• Dedication to learning and improvement

Convey how you look beyond basic skills to hire those aligned with the restaurant’s service philosophy. Show how you identify candidates with potential to grow.

How Do You Ensure Food Safety Standards are Upheld?

Food safety is critical in restaurants, so managers want to know you take it seriously. Discuss how you would:

• Set clear guidelines on food prep, storage, cleaning, and waste disposal
• Conduct regular refreshers on safety protocols
• Model excellent safety practices at all times
• Monitor workspaces frequently for compliance
• Address safety concerns immediately

Prove you have in-depth knowledge of food safety best practices and make them a top priority. Share how you instill a culture of vigilance on your team.

What Do You Like Least About Being a Server?

With this question, interviewers want to see if you can discuss frustrations candidly yet diplomatically. Respond honestly but focus on positive angles, such as:

• The fast pace can be tiring but keeps the job exciting
• Handling rude customers is unpleasant but builds patience
• Remembering extensive menus is challenging but boosts mental stamina

Keep responses concise and constructive. Demonstrate self-awareness by sharing how you manage these frustrations.

Why Should We Hire You as Head Server?

This gives you a chance to summarize your strongest qualifications. Share standout skills like:

• Proven experience training, managing, and motivating restaurant teams
• Deep understanding of food, wine, and service standards
• Ability to multi-task efficiently during busy rushes
• Resolving customer complaints diplomatically
• Leading by example with enthusiasm and integrity

Conclude by expressing passion for the role and excitement to take on the challenge. Keep it targeted to the head server position, not general serving experience.

Head Server Interview Questions: Do’s and Don’ts

Beyond preparing responses, also keep these interview etiquette tips in mind:

DO

• Arrive 10-15 minutes early
• Dress professionally – clean pressed attire
• Make steady eye contact and smile warmly
• Ask insightful questions about the restaurant’s culture
• Send a prompt follow-up thank you note

DON’T

• Check your phone – silence it completely
• Sit down before being offered a seat
• Speak negatively about past employers
• Overshare irrelevant personal details
• Discuss salary or benefits prematurely

How to Prepare for Your Head Server Interview

Follow these best practices to get ready:

• Research the restaurant – Understand their philosophy, menu, specialties, and standards. This shows passion.

• Review your resume – Refresh yourself on key experiences, achievements, and skills you want to highlight.

• Practice aloud – Rehearse responses out loud to improve delivery and reduce ums and ahs.

• Prepare questions – Draft thoughtful questions that show interest in the restaurant’s goals and culture.

• Dress the part – Visit the restaurant beforehand to understand the appropriate attire.

• Review common questions – Read examples so you can tailor impressive, focused responses.

• Visualize success – Envision yourself calmly answering questions with poise to build confidence.

Thorough preparation combined with a positive attitude will prove you have what it takes to excel as head server